Hamashita Takeshi is a famous Japanese historian and Sinologist. He is currently Professor of world history at History Department of Sun Yat-sen University and Research Department Head of Toyo Bunko. He worked as a professor at the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University and Ryukoku University. His research areas cover modern and contemporary Chinese social economy, East Asian regional history, Southeast Asian overseas Chinese history, etc. He authors many monographs, and has published Research on China's Modern Economic History--Customs Finance and Treaty Port Market Circle in the Late Qing Dynasty, International Aspects of Modern China, Hong Kong: Network City in Asia, Tribute System and Modern Asia, China, East Asia and the Global Economy: Regional and Historical Perspectives, The Resurgence of East Asia: 500, 150 and 50 Year Perspectives. He enjoys a high reputation in the international academic community.