Electronics leader returns to roots for revival
Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
December 8, 2004
The Japanese economy is undergoing historic changes to realize a long-awaited recovery, led by technology and other industries. As a result, stakes are particularly high this holiday shopping season as consumer electronics plays an important role in the turnaround effort.
Tech industry banks on the 'cool factor'
Japanese companies face major tests in products such as digital cameras, high-end television sets and DVD players.
Japanese companies face major tests in products such as digital cameras, high-end television sets and DVD players.
New alliances replace keiretsu dynasties
Global economic developments are forcing important changes in Japan's corporate culture, philosophy and workplace.
Global economic developments are forcing important changes in Japan's corporate culture, philosophy and workplace.
Images of an island nation's neon culture
Depictions of Tokyo's techno-pop society stand in stark contrast to ancient icons of a country obsessed with tradition.
Depictions of Tokyo's techno-pop society stand in stark contrast to ancient icons of a country obsessed with tradition.
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"The digital camera was invented in Japan," said Shyam Nagrani, an analyst at iSuppli. "They jumped on it early."
The actuall historic fact is that this is an American invention.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bldigitalcamera.htm" target="_newWindow">http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bldigitalcamera.htm</a>
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.epi-centre.com/reports/9403cdi.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.epi-centre.com/reports/9403cdi.html</a>
to the Japanese before. Therefore, we must be better than Japan
in economics, society, technology, etc. And thus Japan must
change its ways.
But, Japan didn't understand our ways.So all they could do is
copy the surface effects. Underneath, the historic Japanese
processes still controlled things. That's still the way it is. So
Japanese Banking does not work, Japanese Real Estate does not
work. Japanese corporations do not work, Japanese Government
does not work, and Japanese diplomacy does not work, except
as supported by the historic Japanese culture, et.al.
But when the Japanese want some element of their system to
work, they do it in spades. They're good. They're very good. And
we just don't see the corporate Shoguns involved.
The Gai-JIn may have a level playing field, but no one has told
them what the real game is, or what the real rules of the game
are.
No wonder we tend to get screwed in dealing with the Japanese.
For a couple of seconds I thought you were serious!
Example: General Motors just keep making large cars and make lots of profit, despite the late 1970s and early 1980s gas crunch. Toyota and Honda are kicking GM's butt with hybrids and innovative, consumer-seeking vehicles. GM's excuse: the CEO believes the gas crisis is not a crisis, consumers are all looking for large, gas guzzling SUVs, and hydrogen-fuel cells are the answer. It would take almost 20 years for fuel cells to be effective, and hydrogen is extracted from coal (causing more pollution).
Look in the mirror next time when you read your article.