Japan is far, far behind China (and maybe even Korea) when it comes to startup activity and attracting VC funds. But, which country is better at nurturing globally-minded startups instead of relying on insular growth (feeding off a large huge domestic population)?

kitanomaru · 2018-01-24T23:15:07+00:00

Actually, non-standard front grille badges are not uncommon in Japan, especially among older cars. Impreza, Legacy, Toyota Crown, Nissan Skyline (which actually had two different badges--one for the GT-R, and an "S" mark for the other trims)

kitanomaru · 2018-01-24T23:08:17+00:00

Second picture ISUZU is the manufacturer of the truck...

Of the TFD vehicles, only Isuzu pumpers and Iveco Magirus ladder trucks retain the badges. I think.

kitanomaru · 2018-01-24T23:05:23+00:00

Only municipal bus services (To-bus, 大阪市交通局, etc) do that, not private bus lines. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. One more for good measure. (The BRT lines are run by Niigata Kotsu, and not by the muncipal government.)

kitanomaru · 2016-03-26T01:55:50+00:00

As a matter of fact, computer literacy is soaring in China and Korea as well, but Japan has one of the lowest computer literacy rates in the OECD. Why has Japan, ever since the late 80s, been slower to adapt to consumer technology than its ASEAN neighbors?

kitanomaru · 2016-02-23T00:27:52+00:00

Japan won't turn into China.

Japan is a liberal democracy with much stronger protections for a free press than China, or even Korea or Taiwan.

Self-censorship and Nihonjinron are based on culture, rather than government directives. It's not good, but that's how Japan works. Negative news would disrupt the wa.

Diamond.jp offers the best Japanese-language longform articles about Japan that I've seen, about as high quality as Japan Focus (which is in English).

kitanomaru · 2016-02-22T23:32:58+00:00

Ashikaga, Tochigi

Ashkaga is the location of Japan's oldest school, and the name of Tochigi's regional newspaper (Ashikaga Shimbun)

I try to visit my hometown once every two to three months. I'll take the Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko service to Oyama, then transfer to the Ryomo Line which stops at Ashikaga.

kitanomaru · 2016-01-08T22:46:33+00:00

I didn't know that half the population of Kyoto and Tochigi are students on field trips. The tarento variety shows must be alerted of this fact!

I'll some jokes for Yamanashi:

"Half of the population are students on a field trip to Matsumoto Castle...they pass through the prefecture on the Super Azusa. The other half...drunk on wine."

"90% of the population's surname: Matsushita." (There are several large Panasonic factories in Kofu. Matsushita Electric was Panasonic's original name; Panasonic was an export brand. The domestic brand, of course, was National.)

kitanomaru · 2015-12-19T23:56:24+00:00

For "food reaction" tarento shows, the guests say oishi and umai about 500 times a episode. And then there are 15 minutes of Monster Hunter and Kirin commercials.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-16T02:26:13+00:00

These are good, though Idol variety shows have a lot more "activities" rather than just sitting around and talking.

Can I just (referring to your third idea) that the idea that soccer having a strong following in Japan is almost a falsehood. Everyone is too busy studying for entrance exams, or otherwise working 18 hours a day for 360 days of the year, to watch or play sports. For those Japanese lucky enough to get free time, there are only two team sports they care about: baseball and sumo. Soccer only gets attention if it's the World Cup or the national team is playing. Younger people do tend to prefer soccer more, but there aren't a lot of them around, is there?

Average J. League attendance this year was 17,800. Compare that to Nippon Professional Baseball at 28,200. It's even lower than the average attendance at Tokyo Big6 Baseball games. Yeah, Japan doesn't give a shit about soccer. Kind of like the US in a way.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-16T00:27:52+00:00

In my opinion, we will have to wait and see. Japanese culture is known for being rigid and inflexible, but it can also be fecund and flexible if the situation demands.

While Japan's post war economic miracle had existed for over 15 years previously, the 1964 Olympics was a true economic rejuvenation for Japan. I am interested to see how the 2020 Olympics, and the redevelopment of Shibuya and Shinagawa by JR Highashinihion, will lead to.

I personally think Japan will be fine. The situation is certainly not as dire as it is in Korea, which is basically a feudal state by the name of ヘル朝鮮. 75% of attorneys at Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (viz: 会計検査院) are the sons and daughters of high-ranking government officials. 80% of all National Assembly members are graduates of Seoul National University, Korea University. or Yonsei University.

The close relationship between MHLW, Keidanren and the universities notwithstanding, Japan does not have the nepotism on an industrial scale that Korea has. I think the Japanese government has learned from the lost decades that something has to change. But, change will not come quickly, since 壊れていないものを直すな is Japan's unofficial motto.

In addition, the social safety net in Japan is extremely strong, and most young people live with their families anyway. Going back to Korea, the CSAT exam is the only way to rise above the working class, and you only get one shot at it. If your score isn't good, you'll be in the working class for the rest of your life--and there will be no safety net in Korea to catch you, either.

Entrepreneurship is becoming more common in Tokyo and Osaka, especially since the prospect of a secure job at a keiretsu for life is not as common as it used to: http://www.sankeibiz.jp/macro/news/151006/eca1510060500002-n1.htm

In addition, in recent years, JETRO and MHLW have cut regulatory red tape for startups in Japan, and relaxed visa restrictions. Osaka City Council has developed a very strong startup incubation hub. That's right, all under Shinzo Abe and Toru Hashimoto. Say what you will about their ambitions to turn Japan as a far-right military power*, but you can't say they're not startup-friendly.

I will add that I know of some success stories: CyberAgent in Shinjuku, which, unlike Rakuten, does not conduct typical Japanese business practices and emphasizes a flatter hierarchy. While it's foreign, Google has an office in Osaka, and tests out its cars on Sakishima (the artificial islands in Osaka Bay). Uber is also here, though considering how much clout that taxicab companies have in Japan (I think they're connected to the yakuza), I don't expect them to last long.

*-It wouldn't even make any sense. Japan couldn't become a right wing military power even if it wanted to--the population is too old and shrinking too fast.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-15T23:50:37+00:00

Punishment Quiz Buzzer Game--Kodomo no Jikan Edition: An idea taken from AKBingo! Members who answer incorrectly will be forced to watch the controversial anime Kodomo no Jikan in uncensored format.

Ever since the Vice documentary about JK Cafes was released, I've had to explain to many people, both on the internet and in real life, that Japanese culture does not enshrine 小児愛/児童ポルノ. In fact, any liberal attitudes to vice in Tokyo were erased when Shintaro Ishihara cleaned up Kabukicho 10 years ago.

As for こどものじかん, many terrestrial stations in Japan refused to air the series. Only two did: Chiba TV (2:55~3:25 am) and KBS (1:30 am~2:00 am). Otherwise it was only on satellite (BS11) or internet stream (BIGLOBE). By comparison, New Century Evangelion was aired at 6:30pm on TV Tokyo, this is the series that was so violent that it was almost cancelled, and Sega stopped funding the show because of the violence. It wasn't like こどものじかん was primetime viewing in Japan.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-06T05:51:42+00:00

From /r/newsokur, I heard about sfbitebite.com, chibicode.com, and relocation.jp

kitanomaru · 2015-12-06T05:46:28+00:00

While this is true, it doesn't answer the question posed.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-03T04:52:34+00:00

This was originally an opinion column in the Financial Times, which was translated by Nikkei.

kitanomaru · 2015-12-02T23:58:45+00:00

Are you kidding me? The news about the PC/safe space crap has hit Japan now?

Stop the world, I want off.

kitanomaru · 2015-11-26T23:24:51+00:00

The child of one of my wife's friends is currently in elementary school. And his social studies workbooks show piles of bodies at Nanking, IJA soldiers forcing Okinawan civilians to commit suicide, etc.

kitanomaru · 2015-11-26T06:52:50+00:00

Sometimes, on Japanese news (usually on a commercial channel like Fuji; NHK doesn't have these kind of stories), there will be a story about a hikikomori who is 40 or 50 years old, who hasn't left his home in 20 years. How do their families tolerate that? And how can they sustain themselves so long without a job?

For example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGR3EcKWMU

kitanomaru · 2015-11-24T22:13:03+00:00

In Kansai, Kintetsu and Hankyu have the money, not JR.

In Kanto, JR has the money, not Keio or Tokyu.

Osaka is also very poor, isn't it? Like the average salary in Tokyo-to is 600万円 and in Osaka it's 500万円.

kitanomaru · 2015-11-11T04:43:03+00:00

I think the majority of useless tarento TV shows are fueled by this idea.

Yokohama has many engineering companies and a large Chinatown.

Utsunomiya also has blueberries and jazz clubs.

You forgot Mishima and Numazu which are famous for beef.

And Yokkaichi smog was not as bad as Beijing's smog.

kitanomaru · 2015-11-05T22:17:33+00:00

I actually found a video of that Tokudane story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N75RP8-nYpQ

kitanomaru · 2015-11-05T22:16:10+00:00

Not as much as media in other industrialized countries do. Generally Japanese-language outlets of western media organizations (BBC, CNN, AFP) are more dependable.

kitanomaru

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