Japan’s 20th-century innovation was just too cracked. Even though the country was completely totaled after losing WWII, their accumulated scientific and technical know-how didn't just vanish. The nation and its industries rebuilt at a record-breaking pace, and by the 70s, they surged past the US and Europe to re-emerge as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. Their overwhelming dominance in manufacturing warped the global industrial landscape, and Western electronics and appliance makers, unable to withstand the 'Made in Japan' onslaught, went bankrupt one after another.
Sony literally changed the global lifestyle in the 20th century with the development of the Walkman, transistor radios, and Trinitron TVs.
Panasonic was the king of home appliances, led by Konosuke Matsushita, who was hailed as the 'God of Management.'
Sharp was the undisputed leader in LCD (liquid crystal display) and calculator innovation.
Hitachi was Japan’s all-around electrical giant, covering everything from heavy industry to home appliances.
Sanyo was the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer at the time, holding a 41% global market share.
Toyota was a revolutionary company that changed the very way cars were produced globally with the 'Just-in-Time' system. Western auto CEOs who visited Toyota plants back then reportedly said that if things kept going this way, the Western auto industry would be wiped out in no time.
Honda conquered the global motorcycle market after successfully developing high-efficiency engine (CVCC) technology.
Mazda made its mark on automotive history by being the first in the world to successfully commercialize the rotary engine.
Canon led innovation in AF (autofocus) SLR cameras, copiers, and printer technology.
Olympus was the innovator in endoscopy technology and the compact camera market.
Fujifilm was a major innovator that took on Kodak and succeeded in developing film and digital image sensors.
NEC was the company that achieved the #1 spot in global semiconductor market share during the 80s.
Fujitsu was a powerhouse in mainframe computers and telecommunications equipment back then.
Nintendo was the revolutionary company that led the revival of the video game industry with the NES (Famicom) and Game Boy.
Seiko was the main culprit behind the so-called 'Quartz Crisis' after developing the world’s first quartz wristwatch.
Yamaha was a company that innovated not only in musical instruments but also in motorcycle engine technology.
Epson changed the printing paradigm with the world’s first mini-printer and inkjet technology.
Toshiba opened the era of mobile computing in 1985 by releasing the 'T1100,' the world’s first mass-market laptop PC.
Fearing they might all die out and become Japan’s industrial colonies, the Western world began the 'Japan-killing' process in the 1980s. Specifically, the US squeezed Japan from all sides for over a decade with high-intensity tariff hammers, surveillance of Japanese companies, and export restrictions.
Ultimately, Japan’s economy collapsed starting from the mid-to-late 90s. As companies went bankrupt and R&D funds dried up, it naturally shifted into a structure where innovation was no longer possible. Since the 21st century, Japan has become a country unable to produce disruptive, globally successful innovations, a trend that continues today. On the other hand, the US and Europe have dominated new industries like semiconductors, biotech, software, fintech, and AI over the last 20 years, leading to the birth of mega-global corporations that are bigger than countries and now rule the world.
"Users discuss Japan's former glory and how the US basically used 'admin hacks' to shut them down, while noting that Japan's current stagnation is likely due to their aging population and warning about China's rise."
#MixedContinue Browsing
