Comments on: Japan’s Evolving Superlative Status http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/ Photos, Stories and articles on East Asia Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:54:22 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Adamu http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/comment-page-1/#comment-52891 Adamu Sat, 01 Jul 2006 12:08:41 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/#comment-52891 In terms of software, networking, entrepeneurship, respect for the industry, and non-restrictive (and predictably enforced) corporate laws Japan is most certainly behind the curve. On the web at least, you see very little of the "guy making a living off his website" business model that's pretty common in the US. And as the soaring popularity of Youtube in Japan indicates, if Japanese companies won't fill the gap in demand a US company easily can these days. My Internet is sort of down now but when I get a chance I want to dig into that Keizaidoyukai report. It looks to be pretty brutal and frank about what Japan's real prospects are rather than the propaganda usually doled out by the Keidanren. In terms of software, networking, entrepeneurship, respect for the industry, and non-restrictive (and predictably enforced) corporate laws Japan is most certainly behind the curve. On the web at least, you see very little of the “guy making a living off his website” business model that’s pretty common in the US. And as the soaring popularity of Youtube in Japan indicates, if Japanese companies won’t fill the gap in demand a US company easily can these days. My Internet is sort of down now but when I get a chance I want to dig into that Keizaidoyukai report. It looks to be pretty brutal and frank about what Japan’s real prospects are rather than the propaganda usually doled out by the Keidanren.

]]> By: Joe http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/comment-page-1/#comment-52857 Joe Sat, 01 Jul 2006 06:26:25 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/#comment-52857 I was considering a post about how to live cheaply in Tokyo, but then I decided not to. You really can't cheap out in the metropolis without being really uncomfortable. The basic quality of life (apart from the low crime rate) is just too crappy. Especially if you're an executive who has to work long hours, travel regularly and deal with clients, you need a quiet and comfortable place to live and you need amenities, and those are really expensive in Tokyo. (¥10,000 for an oil change!) Of course the bonus is that you'll have a cost of living-adjusted salary... I was considering a post about how to live cheaply in Tokyo, but then I decided not to. You really can’t cheap out in the metropolis without being really uncomfortable. The basic quality of life (apart from the low crime rate) is just too crappy. Especially if you’re an executive who has to work long hours, travel regularly and deal with clients, you need a quiet and comfortable place to live and you need amenities, and those are really expensive in Tokyo. (¥10,000 for an oil change!)

Of course the bonus is that you’ll have a cost of living-adjusted salary…

]]> By: marxy http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/comment-page-1/#comment-52824 marxy Sat, 01 Jul 2006 02:13:06 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/#comment-52824 <i>Japan needs to put all its eggs in Information Technology</i> Is it wrong to say that Japan is already really, really <i>behind</i> in IT and that their high-tech know-how is still focused around manufacturing? I saw some solid research work recently that says that Japanese consumers are the <i>least</i> enthusiastic about/trusting of technology compared to almost everywhere else in the world. The bigger questions seems not to be "how do we stay at #2 or #3?" which is basically impossible without massive Meiji-scale social reforms, but "how do we make Japan a leader in quality-of-life?" Maybe the latter also requires a Meiji-scale paradigm shift. Japan needs to put all its eggs in Information Technology

Is it wrong to say that Japan is already really, really behind in IT and that their high-tech know-how is still focused around manufacturing?

I saw some solid research work recently that says that Japanese consumers are the least enthusiastic about/trusting of technology compared to almost everywhere else in the world.

The bigger questions seems not to be “how do we stay at #2 or #3?” which is basically impossible without massive Meiji-scale social reforms, but “how do we make Japan a leader in quality-of-life?” Maybe the latter also requires a Meiji-scale paradigm shift.

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/comment-page-1/#comment-52813 Mutantfrog Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:21:36 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/06/30/japans-evolving-superlative-status/#comment-52813 The big problem with those expensive city rankings is that they ONLY measure how much it costs to live exactly the same lifestyle one would have as an executive in New York City. It tells you absolutely nothing about the relative costs of living in a way appropriate to the local environment. The big problem with those expensive city rankings is that they ONLY measure how much it costs to live exactly the same lifestyle one would have as an executive in New York City. It tells you absolutely nothing about the relative costs of living in a way appropriate to the local environment.

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