In the 80’s, we saw many books about Japan e.g. Rising Sun, The Japan That Can Say NO.
Now, the Most Admired Country list seems to say NO to Japan, and places it at number 5.
Versace closed its door there after having sold to all the old people of the laggard group.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e5e6a886-b325-11de-ac13-00144feab49a.html
(in Dalat, Vietnam, a plan to build an all-Japan city for retirees was also scrapped).
Meanwhile, Toyota put out a recall for many of its late- model vehicles (its floor mat made the gas pedal stuck and killed 4 in San Diego).
And last month election results ushered in a new Prime Minister from the opposing party.
Japan needs a quick fix.
Not from Robots, or foreigners, whose labor it needs (especially for the service sector), but whose origin it despises.
Young Japanese, generation without the Sun, got their play book from the Woodstock generation, hence no Versace
or if they needed accessories, they try SampleLab, or knock-off. When you sleep on your parent’s couch,
you don’t want to get caught trading up. Besides, high-end accessories don’t jibe with dark leather.
I admired the Samurai spirit, and how quickly Japan adopts technologies: AI, nano, just-in-time manufacturing, and
of course, the Beatles.
I also respect their stamina when faced with humiliation, from France’s De Gaulle to America’s Japan-bashing era.
I also wowed at their bouncing back , from the real estate fiasco to the Asian crisis of the last decade.
Somehow, Japan, personified by Toyota, seems to be able to pull rabbit after rabbit out of the hat (kaizen?)
Lexus, Scion, Sony (with Samsung “closer than it appears in rear view mirror”).
Its export-driven economy has been its crown jewel. Until neighboring China, India, Singapore, Korea
joined the game. All of a sudden, Japan found itself defending its home turf.
No more shopping trip to destination Vegas (whose show hosts used to greet the tour audience in Japanese in between drum rolls).
The outlet mall which served as a bus stop in between Los Angeles and Las Vegas has seen this boom and burst too well.
Now, at Number 5, Japan needs a miracle to get out from bad loans, to sustain its world tourist life style and to take care of its aging population.
At least, its defense bills have all been paid for since WWII.
Now, it needs to open up to fresh voices and visions. It did that when sending a Toyota designing team to drive up and down California Freeways. The result was the Lexus. It should now do the same, only this time, Kaizen at home.
Thang Nguyen 555 