The Japanese Myth

Does TOYOTA Spell a Turning Point For Japan? (Part 2)

There’s a strong discourse [formalized way of thinking] in Japan that Japanese, the elite at any rate, are superior to any other races in the world.

And it doesn’t matter how many times they have been proven wrong, the belief still stands out like a cold sore. But that’s hardly the issue.

In a historical context, the fallout from this way of thinking has proven catastrophic. We all know that. But the Japanese ruling class  are at a denial. [Hence interfering with the history books, etc.]

On a day-to-day practical level, there are three disturbing consequences to the discourse: Xenophobia, extreme hubris and unacceptable performance.

Added to Japan’s ills, is the fact that Japanese use China as a benchmark. Perhaps, the line of reasoning goes something like this:

If China can get away with flooding the world markets with their products [low-quality junk]
And since we are superior to the Chinese
Therefore, our products must have a better chance
Consequently, we shall have no problem staying ahead of the Chinese.

That works, of course, but only so long as the accelerators don’t jam, and the brakes operate properly to prevent fatal accidents.

Up to 98 percent of everything we buy in Japan is  made in China.  The kids plimsolls, about $50 a pair last up to three weeks, if we are lucky. But they look terrible well before they meet the bin. Manufacturers glue on thin pieces of plastic to the sole of the shoes, so that they hang from the shoe after just a few hours of walking, looking completely worn-out and ready to throw away during the first day.

Most toys last from about a few minutes to more than a day. This ¥1,200 [$13] ball lasted more than 30 seconds and 6 gentle throws before bursting! Luckily, I had had an encounter with the Toys R Us manager about another toy the previous month, and she refunded me without any squabble this time.

Related Links:

• Does TOYOTA Spell a Turning Point For Japan?
• Do you speak Japanese in America?
• The height of irresponsibility
• Japan Syndrome II
• Japan Syndrome

Does TOYOTA Spell a Turning Point For Japan?

Are Toyota Problems Unique and Due to Quality Control?

How extensive are the problems within the Japanese manufacturing sector?

Cars, washing machines, shoes and sushi bars … 

Japan needs a major rethink because money alone won’t cure her ills, or help it to bail out from self-destruction.

You can understand why the Chinese goods sold in Japan don’t last more than about 15 minutes or two “throws,” but Japan will pay a dear price for its quality-control indiscretions.

There’s an up-market sushi restaurant in town, which the kids like to go to with their grandma once a week, but it’s boycotted by the moderator.

I stopped going there, or eating the sushi bought there 3 and a half years ago, after a piece of packaging foam mixed with the topping on the sushi lodged in my throat and made me to almost throw up.  I sent back the sushi with a strongly worded message.

The restaurant apologized and made a refunded. It was their excuse that made me boycott their sushi. The manager said it was difficult to mix the particular topping and not have pieces of foam accidentally buried in it every now and then.

Imagine if Toyoto told its customers it would be difficult to manufacture cars whose accelerator pedals didn’t stick.

I vowed never to eat their sushi again, and haven’t since. The average cost of a meal for  three adults and two kids previously came to about ¥7,500 ($85).

continued …