World Affairs

Why Apple Isn’t Japanese

Once a technology leader, Japan is now struggling to find its place in the digital age.

By Christian Caryl | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Dec 10, 2007

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  • Posted By: Kiyuu @ 04/15/2008 1:30:06 AM

    It is ironic that you point to Apple's success as being at least partly the result of the fact that Apple is not a Japanese company. Inside Japan, Apple's customer service and support are absolutely awful. As for DoCoMo, they have lost their way inside Japan as well, as they have been losing customers in droves to Softbank and AU, and they still don't get it. Both Apple and DoCoMo seem to have completely lost touch with their Japanese customers.

  • Posted By: BeijingMan @ 01/02/2008 9:21:36 AM

    Good points. If innovation and new ideas are limited in Japan by hierarchy, how is China then? China is limited by Confucian education, hierarchy and Guanxi.but have advantage of big numbers law. While Japanese dinos are slow because of vertical integration, Chinese (former) SOEs are amputated because they want to do everything in growing markets and have no focus. Both peoples are fast with Rubik's cube but it's just repetition. Blog: http://beijingman.blogspot.com

  • Posted By: BeijingMan @ 01/02/2008 9:20:22 AM

    Good points. If innovation and new ideas are limited in Japan by hierarchy, how is China then? China is limited by Confucian education, hierarchy and Guanxi.but have advantage of big numbers law. While Japanese dinos are slow because of vertical integration, Chinese (former) SOEs are amputated because they want to do everything in growing markets and have no focus. Both peoples can be fast with Rubik's cube but repetition leads nowhere. Blog: http://beijingman.blogspot.com

  • Posted By: OZINJAPAN @ 12/09/2007 9:24:14 PM

    The group dynamic vs the individual dynamic, is a key reason for the lack of breaktrhough products. The real pressure to not stand out - has led to the downfall of many who tried to break out of teh traditional mould. As for their prolific patents- how many of those patents are innovative vs incremental ?

  • Posted By: fahimrz @ 12/08/2007 1:53:04 AM

    if the writer is true then how other japanese companies like Toyota, Honda, Sony (in some segments except walkman) are so successful. If Japanese corporate culture is holding DoCoMo and Sanyo, then how other companies go liberated. Confused?

  • Posted By: natural @ 12/04/2007 3:19:50 AM

    Japan of cause is a powerful economic country, however, its atitude of the history seems terrible!!

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