JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

nigelboy's past comments

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 01:35PM JST

  Zichi,

  I believe Prius and Lexus are made in Japan and are exported worldwide. There are several models among the manufacturers that are exclusively made in Japan.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  1

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 01:26PM JST

  Gee NetNinja. The last sentence basically proves that with little effort, Japanese consumers indeed will consume foreign products which they deem to be different or superior.

  Thanks for the input.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  5

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 12:55PM JST

  Sfjp330

  This isn't about surviving. The issue here is whether or not U.S. Made an effort to actually make an impact in Japan's market and the answer is no. When the dollar was appreciating and their manufacturing sector was struggling, U.S. basically threatened the developing nations with protection measures. This lead to Plaza Accord which lead to devaluation of USD. Japan, in turn, shifted their focus to establish a manufacturing base in U.S. And as a result, over. overn70% of Japanese vehicles bought in U.S. are made in U.S. Go tell your congressman that you don't need Japanese cars made in U.S. because you're not satisfied with the lack of presence by American automakers in Japan. You'll be dismissed as a right wing, flag waving nut.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  4

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 11:43AM JST

  Cadillac tried with their cool Led Zeppelin tune.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  1

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 11:33AM JST

  Dear Shukan Gendai

  According to NPA's recent statistics, crimes are way down in affected areas compared to the year before.

  Posted in: Potpourri of post-quake crimes contradicts foreign media's reporting of placid Japanese

• 

  1

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 11:23AM JST

  From live performance standpoint, the Ronnie James Dio version is much more powerful and entertaining than the Ozzy version. RIP.

  Posted in: Black Sabbath to reunite for new album, tour

• 

  -3

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 10:31AM JST

  Because U.S. Automakers are whiners. I would have sympathy for them if these so-called non tariff barriers are subjected to foreign made vehicles only but the realities state otherwise. These morons would go far as stating that odometer/speedometer to be displayed in KM is a form of non tariff barrier.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  2

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 12:52AM JST

  Can somebody please explain, in clear, economic, and objective terms, why having a high self sufficiency is a good thing?

  One of the reasons is exporting countries take precedence for their own. If there is a severe drought, countries tend to halt exports which leads to price escalation which the importing countries cannot absorb. It has basically the same effect as an economic sanction. There have been wars because of this.

  Posted in: Food self-sufficiency a weak argument against TPP participation

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 15, 2011 - 12:35AM JST

  naruhodo1 -- maybe you should have taken Econ 102. The fact of the matter is that Japan's 60% is AT LEAST 10% below other major developed economies, like the U.S.

  I have U.S. at 71%, UK, UK at 65%, Japan and Germany at 59%, France at 58%.

  http://www.stat.go.jp/data/sekai/pdf/03.pdf

  As a result, Japan is still too heavily dependent on exports for growth, since domestic consumption has basically been flat for years, due to the aging/shrinking population.

  Great leap there herefornow. As the above link indicates, domestic consumption has been flat for years for many developing countries. As others have on numerous occasions alluded to, Japan's export to GDP ratio is low compared to let's say Germany.

  Posted in: Japan economy rebounds in July-September quarter

• 

  -1

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 02:38AM JST

  Fadamor -- sorry, but you need to do a little more homework. Months ago, before Tohoku, when Japan first started talking about joining TPP, it was made clear that all nine of the existing countries must approve Japan even entering the talks, since they are late to the game. And part of those discussions is Japan having to assure the other countries on certain issues, like truly opening up to imports, including agriculture. So, you are right, Japan can walk. But you are dead wrong if you think Japan is going to bully Australia or the U.S. into accepting Japan's terms. Those countries have managed to thrive for decades with a closed Japan, and can continue to do so. Plus they now have a growing China to focus on. But Japan would really be hurt if their exports to these countries was subject to higher tariffs than their competitors. Like I said, smell the coffee, Japan has little or no leverage

  Agree with herefornow for a change. Those are some of the reasons why Japan shouldn't join in the first place since Japan has FTA or EPA with 6 of the nine participants.

  I thougt it was tacky for Noda to delay his announcement a day later when it's clearly apparent that he made up his mind long time ago. I guess starting his speech with "8 months since the quake" sounds more dramatic. Or giving the appearance that he was "seriously" weighing in the opposition's opinions.

  Posted in: Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 02:09AM JST

  BurakuminDes

  Having more cheaper priced goods is not going to help Japan's economy because they stuck in a deflationary spiral.

  Economy bad-->Job security in doubt, lower wages--->less consumer spending---->economy worsens--->job security more in doubt, even lower wages--->lesser consumer spending--->repeat.

  Posted in: Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

• 

  -1

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 02:06AM JST

  Fadamor

  http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/5/99-0502_article.htm

  These are probably the estimates that CDC put down in 1999. I guess they improved somewhat since then

  http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html

  Posted in: Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

• 

  -1

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 01:45AM JST

  I take it those figures are a few years old? I seem to recall a few people dying here (sadly including one or two kids) this year due to food poisoning caused by eating - can you believe ? - raw beef. There were likely more but that's just from memory. I'm all for free-trade, more choices and lowest possible prices - but yeah - each government has a duty to test her own produce and that which is imported as much as possible.

  It was last year. The year before that was zero. Then you get to numbers between 4~8 during 2003~2008. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/syokuchu/04.html

  I'm glad that you mention that from "memory" because it was such a big deal in Japan due to the heavy press coverage. During the same time, nearly 30 people died in U.S. from rockmelon poisoning but these never got the same press coverage and government scrutinity that it received from their own country.

  Posted in: Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

• 

  1

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 12:58AM JST

  Not overly concerned about the GMO per se but the food safety in general is what should concern Japan. Despite what we hear about Japan's mislabeling of foods and what not, it pales to what is going on in U.S. in terms of consumer safety for the CDC estimates at least 5,000 people die from food poisoning while in Japan, there were 0 (ZERO) cases of food poisoning deaths.

  Posted in: Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 12, 2011 - 12:15AM JST

  This is not a story of Japanese market protection, but of the incredible arrogance of the US to bend the rules when it is in their favor. Cars are not the only example.

  Beef is another example.

  Japan enacted a "Beef Traceability Law" where every cow is recorded for DOB, which offspring it came from, where it was hearded, etc. U.S. didn't want to test every cow. So Japan countered with the age limit. Now U.S. is pressuring Japan to increase the age limit while maintaining their test procedures.

  Posted in: U.S. senator criticizes Japan on auto trade barriers

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 11, 2011 - 11:33PM JST

  If you say market share is a function of quality then you must think German cars are crap since they don't sell nearly as well in Japan, especially their smaller cars. What's the argument? Oh yeah, Germany simply can't build a small car that meets Japanese standards.

  Superlib,

  I'd say market share is a function of quality in Japan but that principle do not necessarily apply to other countries especially in places like China where the autos are quite unreliable and yet cheap. This is still the bulk of the buyers because of their low level of income. Factories are set up domestically especially to cater those consumer. However, in Japan, the Toyotas that are made in Japan and sold domestically are far superior than a similar model made in U.S. And thanks for mentioning why foreign made cars whether it be from U.S. never make it in Japan for they have not set up their own factory, dealership, and service centers in Japan. You simply can't expect that mass population to buy your products even if the quality happens to be equal. German automakers at least figured out that the Japanese market is not that big to begin with and the growth potential is limited. So there is no sense in spending billions into setting up factories, dealerships, and service centers for the risks isn't worth it.

  Posted in: U.S. senator criticizes Japan on auto trade barriers

• 

  1

  nigelboyNov. 11, 2011 - 06:35AM JST

  Overpriced, overrated, bad service, not to mention by high violent crime rates.

  http://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/manual/sydney.html

  http://www.melbourne.au.emb-japan.go.jp/anzen/h19/anzen1901.html

  Posted in: Australian tourism industry 'in crisis'

• 

  5

  nigelboyNov. 11, 2011 - 03:35AM JST

  As the author states, if the IWC is for the "orderly development of the whaling industry", the members should adhere to this spirit.

  Let the scientific committee finally decide on the catch limits for each species, eliminate the moratorium, and implement the already in place like RMP/RMS which will deter going over the catch limits.

  Posted in: Japanese whaling: Why the West is in the wrong

• 

  -1

  nigelboyNov. 11, 2011 - 03:24AM JST

  Have you ever considered counting whales,

  They do. Japan 's method of visual sighting counting is one of the best. But relying such method alone is just plain inefficient simply because whales are not census friendly so one has to estimate based on figuring out the population dynamics which include age distribution, diet, suceptible diseases, growth rate, etc. to achieve a more reliable data. Whether such data can be extracted by visual method alone is a debate alone especially the accuracy part of each of those criteria.

  So in the end, if the community wants more reliable data, then taking more samples is the best course of action.

  Posted in: Japanese whaling: Why the West is in the wrong

• 

  0

  nigelboyNov. 11, 2011 - 02:51AM JST

  Back in 2008, when Japan reacted to the world-wide recession with the Eco Points program and direct government rebates for eco-friendly cars, foreign cars, of course, did not originally qualify. Did you miss that? Or how about the taxes that are deliberately set to penalize foreign cars due to their sizes and/or engine configurations?

  This is exactly what is meant by "excuses". The simple solution to all this is to make eco-friendly cars to qualify for Eco points. The simple solution if to configure the size and specifications to meet the Japanese standards. The Japanese automakers do this every time when there is a change within their own government but apparently U.S. cannot because they are simply not capable of understanding a simple concept that you make products to conform to the buyer as well as the country's environment (i.e. regulations). Instead, they impose their OWN value and standars and try to shove it up at other people's throats.

  Again, is it any wonder that U.S. has sooo much trade deficits with other countries.

  Posted in: U.S. senator criticizes Japan on auto trade barriers

Follow us