Last spring, the Institute of Economic Research of Hitotsubashi University was honored with a generous grant from the Ministry of Education to conduct this ambitious project. As described in more detail in the newsletter, the Asian Historical Statistics Project continues the tradition of the Institute in carrying out major research ventures. The project also represents, in a sense, an extension, on an even larger scale, of the earlier Long-Term Economic Statistics of Japan project conducted by our predecessors at the Institute in the 1960s.

Hitotsubashi University, one of Japan's national universities, is oriented toward business, economic, legal, and socio-cultural studies, and is especially renowned for producing leaders in the business world. Hitotsubashi was originally founded in 1875 as a business school and was officially designated a university in 1920. There are about 5100 undergraduate and 560 graduate students.

The Institute of Economic Research presently includes about 22 faculty members. The professors participate in the teaching and training activities of the University's graduate divisions and host guest researchers from around the world.

It is our hope that the Statistics Project will advance scholarship not only by compiling valuable academic information but by promoting scholarly exchange as researchers from around the world participate in this vast undertaking.

We hope that you will send your ideas and comments regarding the Project and this newsletter.