In Japan's case, they kicked the ball into their own net 25 times. Because of the Keiretsu market power coupled with Japanese culture (social status, financial

In Japan's case, they kicked the ball into their own net 25 times. Because of the Keiretsu market power coupled with Japanese culture (social status, financial risks, career risk, labor mobility rates and bankruptcy laws) very few startups existed, especially in this space even though the capital requirements are far lower. This left all the market power in hands of Sony, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Sumitomo, etc about 30 companies. And in the case of the major hardware vendors they also owned content libraries and firms eg - sony / sony music, bmi, toshiba warner brothers etc. they were extremely protective against piracy and especially digital piracy - this killed them. We see the same in US, look how much innovation happened in virtually unregulated tech and software but not highly regulated Detroit autos - DOT, DOT, NLRB, OSHA, etc.