Why doesn't Japan lead the world in this market?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by FatDog

Back in the 70' or 80' a guy wrote an interesting article about how the Japanese market had much higher prices for identical items that were exported, and had cutting edge devices (like handy-cams with burnable CD-ROMS) that never seemed to be sold outside Japan.

Which is a major reason for the fact that there are NO American TV manufacturers any longer. There were 8 of them when I was a child, but all were undercut by the Japanese market. Casio watches, made in Japan, sell for half the price in the US compared with Japan. And it's not just the automobile industry that is ripping up US manufacturing... It's going on in every field.

He investigated and found that the Japanese electronic companies often sold new devices only in Japan for a year or so as a 'test market'. If it does not sell well in Akihabara - it does not ship overseas. If it does well in the first year, any defects or problems are fixed and manufacturing ramps up for export.

And vice versa... I can't find printers that will print directly onto CD/DVD's here in Japan, but they are all over the world these days. Or laser burners to burn labels onto CD/DVD's too.

His other finding - the Japanese government organizes product development to a huge degree. You basically have to obtain a license to develop a new product. If Sony and Pioneer already have licenses to develop Plasma televisions - you cannot.

I'm not so sure that it's actually a 'license to develop' so much as having the government Ministry actually help finance development, and state particular directions for study that it will back, providing the manufacturer can meet certain standards.

Most Japanese companies are so incredibly diversified that they can afford to hold back in one area while working in another. For example, the Panasonic Company... When you think of them you think of TV's, Stereos, etc. But the fact is, they are just as big in production of Modular Homes, Bicycles, and Commercial LED lighting! And Panasonic is just 'one small division' of the giant Matsushita Denki Corporation, which also builds some of the world's largest ocean-going ships in conjuction with Sumitomo.

Stitchawl

[hidari]

Yes Stitchawl...As a fellow foreigner in Japan...it is amazing how they can be way ahead in keitai (mobile phone) technology...but 6 years behind in other areas....as you have shown above. Definitely Jeckyll and Hyde in the tech zone of NIHON....

[Stitchawl]

When I first moved to Japan in the early '90's I expected to see everyone walking around with a mini-computer around their necks. Instead, I discovered that the University I was teaching in was not even computerized for their records, and there were only two computers on the entire campus that students could use!

I had roughly 500 students in different classes but only two had any idea how to even use a computer. The height of tech was using a dedicated Wordpro... (word processor) but even then, only a few students knew how to do that! E-mails were being sent, but only via mobile phones, and computer e-mails couldn't connect with those!

When I went into the huge Central Post Office in Osaka, the clerks were using soroban (abacus) to calculate costs. The only computer shops were located in one small area downtown!

But everyone had a cell phone in hand if they were old enough, or a 'GameBoy' if they weren't. And I mean EVERYONE!

I think the guy who handles Japan's PR should get a raise...


Stitchawl

[hidari]

hey...I like abacus...soroban...I studied it for two years in Osaka...where I used to live...interesting. tech...the original computer.....amazing machine when you learn how to use it....some of my students are great with email by mobile phone but have no idea how to use email by computa?!?!?!?!.... I don'tr get it...

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by hidari

...some of my students are great with email by mobile phone but have no idea how to use email by computa?!?!?!?!.... I don'tr get it...

I think it's a throwback to their 'GameBoy' days. Everybody could use a GameBoy and a Keitai. I had students who would e-mail each other from one side of the room to each other! Now that they have gotten older and had to put down the GameBoy, they still need to keep their hands busy and do so with their mobiles. E-mail, the same thing. They don't need a passacon, they only need to text!


Stitchawl

[lestatar]

^ lolz. This is sooo true. Not just Japan - I am finding this to be similar for many local HK people as well.