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And Japan before that. My mom told me that many years ago "Made in Japan" had the stigma that "Made in China" has (or used to have). But growing up with Nintend

And Japan before that. My mom told me that many years ago "Made in Japan" had the stigma that "Made in China" has (or used to have). But growing up with Nintendo and Sega and with Hondas and Toyotas being the best, I always thought of Japan has a high tech manufacturing hub.

badc0ffee 2y ago
This was a joke in Back to the Future - the people in 1955 associated Japan with junk, and 1985 Marty says all the best stuff comes from there.
thwarted 2y ago
There was a reference to that in Back to the Future 3, the difference between the way Japan was viewed in the 50s compared to the 80s. Doc: No wonder it failed, "Made in Japan" Marty: What do you mean, doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan.
bayindirh 2y ago
The thing is, Americans brought the idea of constant, small improvements to Japan. Japanese took the idea of kaizen and ran amok with it. Turns out kaizen is very fitting to their craftsman mindset.
swsieber 2y ago
Reminds me of something I read in a sermon published oh (checks date) 24 years ago: "More than thirty years ago I stood beside the desk of Professor Richard Rosenbloom, who taught courses in manufacturing management. In those days they called the field 'production.' I was a research assistant, and Professor Rosenbloom had just stood up to welcome one of his students into his office. The student, of medium height, was dressed in a dark suit and tie. He stood before the desk, bowed deeply, and handed to his professor a beautifully wrapped gift. He had completed his studies and was returning to his home in Japan. "The professor murmured thanks and then, to demonstrate his appreciation, he unwrapped the gift. It was a black fountain pen with gold trim. He sat down at his desk, took out a piece of paper, filled the pen from an ink bottle, took the pen in his hand, and began to write. The student beamed. But then he looked stunned, as we all did—the pen was not writing. Professor Rosenbloom pressed harder. The student frowned more deeply. Nothing. Professor Rosenbloom tried swirling the pen. Still, no ink flowed. Finally, in exasperation, the student reached across the desk, grabbed the pen, shook it forcefully, and said with great feeling, 'Cheap Japanese pen!'"

badc0ffee 2y ago

This was a joke in Back to the Future - the people in 1955 associated Japan with junk, and 1985 Marty says all the best stuff comes from there.

thwarted 2y ago

There was a reference to that in Back to the Future 3, the difference between the way Japan was viewed in the 50s compared to the 80s. Doc: No wonder it failed, "Made in Japan" Marty: What do you mean, doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan.

bayindirh 2y ago

The thing is, Americans brought the idea of constant, small improvements to Japan. Japanese took the idea of kaizen and ran amok with it. Turns out kaizen is very fitting to their craftsman mindset.

swsieber 2y ago

Reminds me of something I read in a sermon published oh (checks date) 24 years ago: "More than thirty years ago I stood beside the desk of Professor Richard Rosenbloom, who taught courses in manufacturing management. In those days they called the field 'production.' I was a research assistant, and Professor Rosenbloom had just stood up to welcome one of his students into his office. The student, of medium height, was dressed in a dark suit and tie. He stood before the desk, bowed deeply, and handed to his professor a beautifully wrapped gift. He had completed his studies and was returning to his home in Japan. "The professor murmured thanks and then, to demonstrate his appreciation, he unwrapped the gift. It was a black fountain pen with gold trim. He sat down at his desk, took out a piece of paper, filled the pen from an ink bottle, took the pen in his hand, and began to write. The student beamed. But then he looked stunned, as we all did—the pen was not writing. Professor Rosenbloom pressed harder. The student frowned more deeply. Nothing. Professor Rosenbloom tried swirling the pen. Still, no ink flowed. Finally, in exasperation, the student reached across the desk, grabbed the pen, shook it forcefully, and said with great feeling, 'Cheap Japanese pen!'"