Kiichiro Yagi is Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University and Setsunan University, where he taught political economy and history of economic thought for over three decades. Thus, his research covers the theory of political economy and the history of economic thought, starting with Marxian economics and extending the scope of economic theory in the direction of evolutionary economics.

Since the mid-19th century, Japan has made remarkable strides in industrialization. Beginning with the economic vision of Miura Baien in the 18th century, and employing a detailed comparison with the West, this book delves into the economic thought of the scholars who have played a pivotal role in Japan's modernization process.

1. Prologue: Before Meeting Western Economic Thought 2. Miura Baien's Kagen: In Comparison with the Contemporary European Economic Thoughts 3. Civilization and Political Economy in Fukuzawa Yukichi: Grounds for Laws of Political Economy 4. Economic Liberalism and Industrial Promotion in the Meiji Era: Taguchi Ukichi and Maeda Masana 5. Early Socialism and Social Policy from the 1900s to 1920s: Turn, Split, and Rivalry 6. Yanagita Kunio's Rural Economy: Investigation into the Nationality of Japan 7. Egoism and Altruism in the Sentiment of an Economist: Kawakami Hajime's Difficult Path to Marxism 8. New Liberalism in the Far East: Ishibashi Tanzan and J. M. Keynes 9. Introducing the Social into Economics: Power and Communal Elements in Takata Yasuma 10. Marxian Economics and Japanese Capitalism: Reproduction with Semi-feudal Agriculture 11. Collaboration and Reform under War Economy: Ry¿ Shintar¿ and Shibata Kei 12. Epilogue: Revolving Door for Economists 1945-1950