Robert Pekkanen 　　　　　I feel profoundly honored to have my book receive the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize. As the Ohira Prize is the most prestigious book award in the field, it would be natural for anyone to feel the deep sense of honor that I do now. For me, however, the Ohira Prize also strikes a personal chord. I have spent time in Shikoku, primarily in Kagawa Prefecture. Probably no one can go to Shikoku without coming away impressed by how deeply revered and loved Masayoshi Ohira remains even to this day. Because I saw how powerful his legacy was among those who know him best, I truly value this award that bears his name. The greatness of his legacy is the primary reason why I feel so honored to have my book be awarded the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize. However, I also personally feel especially delighted to receive this Prize because two members of my dissertation committee at Harvard were prior winners of the Ohira Prize (Richard J. Samuels 1988 for Rich Nation, Strong Army and Steven K. Vogel in 1998 for Freer Markets, More Rules). Although I am a poor scholar compared to Dick Samuels and Steve Vogel, I am very pleased to be linked to them in this way. 　　　　　The book examines the causes and consequences of the structure of Japan’s civil society. It argues that the state has been a significant shaper of Japan’s civil society into a dual structure, with a vital local civil society sector featuring many neighborhood associations and a relatively small professional civil society sector. The book also explores the consequences of that arrangement, arguing that a vital local civil society produces social capital but only a vibrant sector of professional civil society organizations can sustain the critical research and other functions that contribute to advocacy and policy influence. In a way, the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Foundation itself furnishes evidence for the thesis of the book, because the important contributions the Foundation makes exemplify the role that civil society organizations can play. 　　　　　I feel truly honored that my book was chosen to receive the Ohira Prize. There were many people who contributed to the process of writing the book, and I would like to thank them again here. In addition, I would like to express my thanks to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, selection committee, and staff.