Management Accounting Research in Japan : Evolution, Current Status and Way Forward

This paper describes the evolution, current status and way forward of management accounting research in Japan. In this study, Japanese management accounting research published in the past three decades are investigated according to research topics, research settings, research theories, research methods and primary data analysis techniques. The investigation provides not only a picture of the current status of Japanese management accounting research but also the way to forward for research in the discipline. Although diversity of research topics and methods are clearly observed in Japan, more research that focuses on influences of changing income concepts and presentations in financial reporting on management accounting is expected. Increased collaborative management accounting research across disciplines and/or countries is also expected