Interesting article and it echos my own views of Japan after visiting the country last month for the first time in my life and spending 2.5 weeks there. I grew

Interesting article and it echos my own views of Japan after visiting the country last month for the first time in my life and spending 2.5 weeks there. I grew up in the decade[1] where Japan absolutely dominated the consumer electronics industry hence, I've always long held this view of Japan being one of the most technological advanced economy in the world. But when I actually went there, my view completely changed. They still are, to a certain extent[2], but from a tech industry standpoint they are starting to lag behind IMHO. For example, when I was in Akihabara, I was told it was a electronics mecca filled with all the latest Japanese gadgets and gizmos but when I was there last month, all I saw was a myriad of chinese made/manufactured stuff. Most of the electronics stuff I've already seen in my own country and there was nothing much that looked truly new[3]. Maybe if I was walking down these streets 15 years ago, I would have been pretty wide-eyed. Even if you look at the one electronic device that a Japanese brand still dominates (which is mobile), the Docomo made mobile phones are all mostly using android and majority of them are flip phones[4]! And if you don't see someone using a Docomo made-phone, it will most likely be an iPhone. Don't take me wrong, Japan still is a fairly advanced country[5] but my trip there last month made me realize that they are fast falling behind the rest of their Asian counterparts: China and Korea in particular. These once mighty Japanese tech companies needs to start making bold innovative moves instead of living in the past and being hankered down by bureaucracy. If they don't do it soon enough, one day it will be too late and it will have a devastating effect on the Japanese economy. [1] Child of the 80s/90s. [2] Japan may be losing innovative and competitive ground in terms of anything tech related but they are still quite ahead in some aspects. I.e. The transportation industry (trains in particular) are light years ahead. The Shinkansen(bullet train) itself was built in the 60s but still looks like it was designed in the 25th century. [3] Most of the electronics were "new" and "latest" but none of them were "unique". They were the same Korean, Taiwanese or China branded electronics that you see anywhere else in the world (or at least in my country). You will be hard pressed to find any funky new Japanese gadgets or gizmos. [4] http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/05/ntt-docomo-906i.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/05/ntt-do... [5] One thing I admired when I was in Japan is that, a lot of their technology (transportation system, infrastructure, telecommunications, etc) were built decades ago but it still looks fairly advanced to this day. Though, you will noticed it is starting to age.