Professor Usui had a long and meaningful relationship with the University of Edinburgh Business School, serving as a Visiting Professor from 1999 to 2024 and as an Honorary Professor from 2006 until his passing. His early collaboration with Professor John Dawson marked the beginning of a lasting academic partnership with the School, one that spanned more than two decades.
Earning his Doctor of Commerce from Chuo University, Professor Usui went on to build a distinguished academic career. He became a Professor of Marketing at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and later Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Saitama University in Japan (1998-2018). From 2018, he held the role of Special Professor at Saitama Gakuen University.
An eminent scholar, Professor Usui’s research focused on historical and comparative marketing, with a particular emphasis on Japan, UK, Europe and the USA. His notable publications include:
- Research on the History of American Marketing and Marketing Thought: Focusing on the Basis of Marketing Management Thought (1999)
- The Development of Marketing Management: The Case of the USA c.1910–1940 (2008)
- The structure of competition among electrical retailers: focusing on Euronics, Dixons and Media-Saturn, Social Science Review (2012)
- Marketing and Consumption in Modern Japan (Routledge, 2014)
His contributions were also recognised by the Japan Society for Distributive Sciences Award in both 1999 and 2014.
In addition to his publications, Professor Usui played an active role in shaping the global marketing history community. He served as Editor-in-Chief for the Japan Marketing History Review (JMHR), and held editorial and advisory positions with several prominent journals and academic organisations including CHARM, the Journal of Historical Research in Marketing, and the European Business Review.
Here at the Business School, Professor Usui worked closely with our Marketing Group as an active collaborator in both research and publications. He played a key role in expanding our academic networks, generously supported colleagues during sabbaticals, and made a lasting contribution to our international reputation.
On behalf of the School, we extend our deepest condolences to Professor Usui’s family, friends and colleagues in Japan, Edinburgh and around the world. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy.