For the same reason they didn't create PCs: they had a different idea of what the Japanese market wanted which was calculators, not computers. And this drove t

For the same reason they didn't create PCs: they had a different idea of what the Japanese market wanted which was calculators, not computers. And this drove the entire Japanese semiconductor and electronics industry during the 1970s and 1980s. Different Market. Different Culture. Different Technology Strategies. And the Japanese are super sure of whatever direction they've picked once they've achieved "consensus" - NOTHING can change it; not other markets, and not situational changes. The consensus part combined with risk aversion also meant they'd sooner duplicate the Moto flip phone or Nokia than step out to the iPhone touch screen button design. Honestly it's easy to grok if you've spent time in Japan and/or doing a lot of business with Japanese companies.