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Donald Trump’s business history with Japan

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For the last 30 years, Donald Trump has attempted to negotiate deals with Japan. Doing so has been tricky, to say the least. “I have great respect for what the Japanese have done with their economy,” Trump wrote in his ghost-written book "The Art of the Deal" back in 1987 (1), “but for my money they are often very difficult to do business with. For starters, they come in to see you in groups of six or eight or even twelve, and so you’ve got to convince all of them to make any given deal. You may succeed with one or two or three, but it’s far harder to convince all twelve.”

Calling Saudi Arabia and Japan “some of the greatest money machines ever built” back in 1987, Trump often found himself in direct competition with them. In one instance, after a successful day on the stock market, Trump was momentarily relieved to see that Japan was beginning to struggle against other American companies. “The dollar should go down (in value) so that our great companies in this country, Caterpillar Tractor, etc, can for the first time in ten years compete with the Japanese.” (2)

In November 1989, during far more prosperous times in Japan, Trump’s language, as it was presented in "The Art of the Deal," did not have the benefit of a writer and editor. While complaining about the flood of exports coming into America from Japan, Trump delivered his now-standard hyperbolic vitriol: “Japan is truly taking advantage of the United States. They are ripping us off like no one ever ripped us off before.” (3) After Japan bought into the Rockefeller Center in January of 1989, Trump loudly stamped his feet. “Japan is sucking up New York City and it has to be stopped.” (4)

Trump may have said this about Japan, but the truth was that he was still seen in a very positive light back in the 1980s. The Los Angeles Times even ran a gigantic headline in their newspaper, calling Japanese film director Haruki Kadokawa the "Donald Trump of Japan," for his ambitious and expensive 1990 film project, "Heaven and Earth." It was Kadokawa’s publicist who made the comparison between the two men. Perhaps it was his then-outsized ego, since while filming the movie, he delivered comments such as these: “All of what I have — as a poet, an adventurer, a director, a man of religion, a businessman — will be incorporated into this movie…in my country, I am considered a superstar.” (5)

It might seem, judging from the recent headlines, that Trump will say anything to become the next president, but his core message of blaming other countries for U.S. debt has been around since at least 1988. During a press conference in Florida, on Feb 7, 1988, Trump jabbed at Japan as well as Saudi Arabia for pushing the U.S. into debt. “The Japanese are making us look like fools. If Japan is our ally, I’d hate to see our enemy.” Still, Trump admitted that he had dealt with them, but put the onus on American companies for making bad deals. “Economically, the Japanese took advantage of us more than anyone. It’s not that the Japanese are so good at it but our own people are stupid.”

In 1993, while traveling to Asia on a business trip, Trump continued prodding the U.S. government to "be tougher" on Japan when it came to negotiations. Trump hoped Japan would "completely open their markets" and even proposed a product boycott if Japan failed to do so within 30 days ... meaning simply that America would stop selling any and all of Japan’s products. Back then, he was simply working his identity as a tough negotiator, but his sentiments sure sound familiar in 2016.

Trump’s crude denouncement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal should make a bit more sense when seen through his prior comments. Even though his business activities with Japan have declined greatly over the last 10 to 15 years, calling the TPP “a continuing rape of our country ... pushed by special interests” should, despite its regrettable word choice, be seen as one of his most consistent themes throughout his career — America continuing to be "ripped off."

If Trump were to become president, it’s clear from his decades-old comments that there would be an economic contraction of global proportions. Trump would attempt to consolidate America’s business health at home, and reduce partnerships with other countries if they are deemed economically detrimental. For Japan’s industries doing business in the United States, that could mean a complete market transformation, and a reshuffling of all global partnerships.

  1. "The Art of the Deal" was mainly written by Tony Schwartz, who after decades of silence, said this about Trump in July: “I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization.” Source: The New Yorker: 25 July 2016.
  2. Philadelphia Daily News. 20 October. 1987.
  3. Linda Ellerbee. ‘Japan-bashers raising tempest in a made-in-USA teapot’. Reno Gazette Journal, 25 Nov. 1989. Pg. 5F
  4. News-Press (Fort Myers, FL). Letter to the Editor Comment. Mick McGuire. 15 January 1989.
  5. Pat H. Broeske. ‘The Donald Trump of Japan’. The Los Angeles Times. 15 October 1989. Pg. 3 (Pacific Rim Arts).
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19 Comments
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-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Trump would not be an ally of Japan, that's for sure.

All that hard work gone in flames.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

If Trump were to become president, it’s clear from his decades-old comments that there would be an economic contraction of global proportions.

That's such an absurd statement on the face of it. Comments made 30 years ago indicate policy intent this year? Anyway, we are headed for an "economic contraction of global proportions no matter who is elected.

And, yes, the TPP is pushed by special interests. As a "social activist" the author should know that.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

“The Art of the Deal” was mainly written by Tony Schwartz, who after decades of silence, said this about Trump in July: “I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization.”

Another clear reason NOT to vote for Trump. Even the guy who mostly wrote Trump's most famous book thinks he's a nutcase!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

My parents, the bankers, say that Trump came to Japan around 1991 after the bubble burst to become a big player in the Japanese property market. Nobody would listen to him and he got nothing, so now he really hates Japan. His statements are, as people note, decades old, probably because that is the last time he looked into the situation here.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Sounds about right gokai, he just doesn't like Japan personal grudges and all.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

he is counting how many cars are sent to the US from Japan and vice versa and sees its not fair. American is not here for other countries welfare. I agree with him.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Debucho

Very few from Japan since most are constructed in the US.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

@gokai_wo_maneku

Trump came to Japan around 1991 after the bubble burst to become a big player in the Japanese property market. Nobody would listen to him and he got nothing

Similar to News Corp and Rupert Murdoch who came to Japan and bought a huge stake in Asahi Network, wanting to make an Asia-wide network - no one would deal with him and after a bit more than a year News Corp sold up.

It is not so much that these outsiders have problems with Japanese or Asian negotiating style, that Japanese and Asians (like most people) also have trouble with arrogant entrepreneurs who think they know better all the time.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It’s not that the Japanese are so good at it but our own people are stupid

The average of 7 points higher of Japanese people's IQ tells you something here.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Sounds like sour grapes after losing out against Japanese companies at some point in his embarrassing career. He is taking his overreaction to the next level however

7 ( +7 / -0 )

It's no use going back to yesterday, because he was a different person then (!)

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Trump may have said this about Japan, but the truth was that he was still seen in a very positive light back in the 1980s. The Los Angeles Times even ran a gigantic headline in their newspaper, calling Japanese film director Haruki Kadokawa the “Donald Trump of Japan,” for his ambitious and expensive 1990 film project, “Heaven and Earth.” It was Kadokawa’s publicist who made the comparison between the two men.

Lets read the original article in Los Angeles Times.

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-15/entertainment/ca-471_1_donald-trump-of-japan

It would appear that such a monumental project could be pulled off only by a monumental individual. And Haruki Kadokawa is convinced he is such a person. A Resaissance man, age 48, he's been compared by some in the Japanese media to Howard Hughes and hyped by his publicist here as "the Donald Trump of Japan"--a reference he quickly had removed from publicity materials.

I do not think Donald Trump was seen "very positive" in Japan even in 1980s.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Another clear reason NOT to vote for Trump. Even the guy who mostly wrote Trump's most famous book

He was happy to write the book and get the royalties while they were pouring in. Had no qualms about that, did he?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

some14someNOV. 07, 2016 - 04:24PM JST

It's no use going back to yesterday, because he was a different person then (!)

Yeah, right. He'd love you to believe that. How has he 'changed' exactly - all puppies and rosebuds now is he?!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

He was happy to write the book and get the royalties while they were pouring in. Had no qualms about that, did he?

And? Is there a point you're trying to make?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

When the book was published, he more than likely had a ghost-reader, too.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The Japanese have and are doing very well out of the US but vice versa?

Still a long way to go for American products to penetrate the Japanese market.....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Japanese have and are doing very well out of the US but vice versa?

What for instance? Not cars becuase those are made in USA, not Sony because no longer a Japanese company.. US is rapidly increasing Chinese products and reducing Japanese products. Japan has become merely the forth source of US import.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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