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For some reason I don't know, the Japanese entertainment industry is quite against globalization. I don't know if it's the fear of losing control over their pro

For some reason I don't know, the Japanese entertainment industry is quite against globalization. I don't know if it's the fear of losing control over their product (through digital copies) or an archaic mindset. They have a lot of products that are demanded all over the world and they are letting those opportunities to go to waste. Only very recently I have seen some movement in this regard, like the portal created by Shueisha Inc. to publish mangas online.

konschubert 5y ago
I think is just a result of a nationalistic mindset and xenophobia. I don't think it's rational.
- burntoutfire 5y ago
  Either protecting your culture against foreign influences (the Japanese way) or pursing profit above all else (the US way) are rational or irrational per se, they just represent different value systems.
nindalf 5y ago
Another data point supporting this - it took till 2020 for Studio Ghibli’s back catalogue to appear on a mainstream streaming service for western consumers. They definitely faced the innovators’ dilemma of not wanting to cannibalise the DVD sales gravy train. Better late than never I guess.
user5994461 5y ago
>>> For some reason I don't know, the Japanese entertainment industry is quite against globalization. Alternative explanation: Most companies aren't global because it's too difficult to be. That requires to translate/dub the product to other languages. To support multiple currency and payment systems. To have local stock for physical products. To adjust to each country's taxes, regulations and export controls. To market locally to the target audience. It's very remarkable with tech companies. They try to corner the US market and get billions in funding, before they try to expend to the rest of the world.
- fatbird 5y ago
  This is very important, very unappreciated point, to which I'd add that there's a legitimate fear that, within the organization, as your business infrastructure increases in size to handle international sales, your core business of making the product is a smaller part of the organization. The whole idea of "make great products" gets diffused in a situation like this: you now have sales-driven input coming in from a much wider market, with more competing directions. The core product team has to address a lot more stakeholders, and the domestic market that built them doesn't carry as much sway. I worked for a company that turned down an offer by Walmart to become a top-tier vendor for them. We recognized we couldn't do it in our current form, and would need to rebuild ourselves from the ground up to handle the challenge. Many businesses took the opportunity: Vlassic Pickles most famously became a company 10x as large, but it was a completely different company afterwards, which the president noted was not without certain costs (basically, the family business destroyed, and replaced by being a part of the Walmart supercomplex). Many other companies tried to do the same thing and failed, effectively destroying the business in the process. [Heh... Walmart as the Gom Jabbar of retail. "They tried and failed?" "They tried and died."] Most of the comments here see this as entrenched interests trying to hold back the tide, but there are many businesses that don't survive the transition, and many more internal cultures that don't. It's a legitimate business choice to remain focussed on a domestic market one understands rather than gamble on international expansion.
- R0b0t1 5y ago
  Interesting point. I guess US print and media companies get globalization nearly for free because everyone wants to speak English. There's a lot of people who want to speak Japanese though. Issues getting money into the country?
numpad0 5y ago
Not just entertainment or global expansion - lots of companies are hesitant to promote even domestic sales. There are widespread psychological safety/emotional security issues that effectively sets whole corporates in “deprecated / not accepting new orders” state. Everything is for existing volume customers only, local or foreign. I’m guessing it has to do with salaries and pension plans; average income is steadily declining, and Japanese retirement plans are long said to go bust at some point. One headcount less when “it” happens should it happen is extra couple bucks to you, one mishaps on your resume is couple grands leaving your hands. Briefcases full of cash from guys you’ve never met is nothing, even if you are told it could save the corporate.

konschubert 5y ago

I think is just a result of a nationalistic mindset and xenophobia. I don't think it's rational.

burntoutfire 5y ago
Either protecting your culture against foreign influences (the Japanese way) or pursing profit above all else (the US way) are rational or irrational per se, they just represent different value systems.

nindalf 5y ago

Another data point supporting this - it took till 2020 for Studio Ghibli’s back catalogue to appear on a mainstream streaming service for western consumers. They definitely faced the innovators’ dilemma of not wanting to cannibalise the DVD sales gravy train. Better late than never I guess.

user5994461 5y ago

>>> For some reason I don't know, the Japanese entertainment industry is quite against globalization. Alternative explanation: Most companies aren't global because it's too difficult to be. That requires to translate/dub the product to other languages. To support multiple currency and payment systems. To have local stock for physical products. To adjust to each country's taxes, regulations and export controls. To market locally to the target audience. It's very remarkable with tech companies. They try to corner the US market and get billions in funding, before they try to expend to the rest of the world.

fatbird 5y ago
This is very important, very unappreciated point, to which I'd add that there's a legitimate fear that, within the organization, as your business infrastructure increases in size to handle international sales, your core business of making the product is a smaller part of the organization. The whole idea of "make great products" gets diffused in a situation like this: you now have sales-driven input coming in from a much wider market, with more competing directions. The core product team has to address a lot more stakeholders, and the domestic market that built them doesn't carry as much sway. I worked for a company that turned down an offer by Walmart to become a top-tier vendor for them. We recognized we couldn't do it in our current form, and would need to rebuild ourselves from the ground up to handle the challenge. Many businesses took the opportunity: Vlassic Pickles most famously became a company 10x as large, but it was a completely different company afterwards, which the president noted was not without certain costs (basically, the family business destroyed, and replaced by being a part of the Walmart supercomplex). Many other companies tried to do the same thing and failed, effectively destroying the business in the process. [Heh... Walmart as the Gom Jabbar of retail. "They tried and failed?" "They tried and died."] Most of the comments here see this as entrenched interests trying to hold back the tide, but there are many businesses that don't survive the transition, and many more internal cultures that don't. It's a legitimate business choice to remain focussed on a domestic market one understands rather than gamble on international expansion.
R0b0t1 5y ago
Interesting point. I guess US print and media companies get globalization nearly for free because everyone wants to speak English. There's a lot of people who want to speak Japanese though. Issues getting money into the country?

numpad0 5y ago

Not just entertainment or global expansion - lots of companies are hesitant to promote even domestic sales. There are widespread psychological safety/emotional security issues that effectively sets whole corporates in “deprecated / not accepting new orders” state. Everything is for existing volume customers only, local or foreign. I’m guessing it has to do with salaries and pension plans; average income is steadily declining, and Japanese retirement plans are long said to go bust at some point. One headcount less when “it” happens should it happen is extra couple bucks to you, one mishaps on your resume is couple grands leaving your hands. Briefcases full of cash from guys you’ve never met is nothing, even if you are told it could save the corporate.