Japan

11 Pages 2870 Words

Japanese in Control


Vandana Gandhi Ms. Livingston 19 July 2000 English 161 Japan in Control Americans who buy Japanese goods, or even US companies that actively source Japanese parts for their products unknowingly help Japanese reach the goal of their economic war. America often complains that Japan must change its ways to become more like us. However, this is not true, as America is not number one anymore. Today, the tables are turned. America, which used to be the world’s largest creditor nation, is now the world’s largest debtor nation. Currently, Japan is the world’s largest creditor nation and we are one of their biggest borrowers (Burnstein 77). Their strategies have helped Japanese industries take over in America. Moreover, Japan has taken control in the economic war with America. Japan is a major or dominant power in almost every world strategic industry including finance, communications, mass-transit, semi-conductors, motor vehicles, and popular-entertainment. Two of the three biggest movie/entertainment companies in America (Universal/MCA), the makers of "Jurassic Park", and Columbia/Tri-star are Japanese. Many big companies in the US like Loews Theatres, and Firestone Tires are Japanese. In fact, today 7 of the 10 largest companies in the world are Japanese. Furthermore, Japan today is the world's biggest manufacturer of autos, having surpassed the United States in the mid 1980's. These all used to be American dominated industries 25 years ago (Information Please! 144). Some claims echoed in America that are commonly dismissed as “Japan Bashing” statements, upon investigation these claims are in fact truthful. The following statements may seem brash right now, but their meanings will become clearer in the explanations and examples that follow. Japan is in a kind of economic war against us. Their objective is for them to win and for us to lose. Through the use of cartels, price fixing, government-corporate "an...