Resistance and adaptation to globalization: Case studies of the Japanese textile industry.

This article examines corporate survival strategies in response to economic globalization within three Japanese textile industries characterized by weak international competitiveness: the towel industry in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture; the glove industry in Higashikagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture; and the uniform industry in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. It identifies three main strategies: resistance through political voice, offshore manufacturing relocation, and utilization of foreign workers as technical intern trainees. The towel industry pursued political resistance due to rapid import increases and a predominance of small-scale firms unable to offshore production, while the glove industry adopted offshore manufacturing early on, supported by relatively larger firms with overseas bases. The uniform industry, facing labor shortages but limited offshore expansion, primarily used foreign workers and domestic relocation to adapt. Factors influencing strategy choice include the scale of firms, import pressure, and feasibility of offshoring, highlighting varied corporate responses to globalization pressures in Japan's textile sector.