Japan's innovators and entrepreneurs have survived recession in the 1990s to prosper in today's competitive business environment. This volume explores the struggles of entrepreneurs and civic-minded local leaders in fostering innovative activity, and identifies key business lessons for an economy in need of dynamic change. Ibata-Arens offers in-depth analysis of strategy in firms, communities and in local government. The book examines detailed case studies of high-technology manufacturers in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, as well as bio-tech clusters in America — demonstrating far-reaching innovation and competition effects in national institutions