4 ms·

> 293 of 500 respondents (59%) were unable to name a Japanese brand. > 37 of 500 respondents (7%) were able to name 5 Japanese brands. I guarantee that most o

by jff 14y ago

> 293 of 500 respondents (59%) were unable to name a Japanese brand. > 37 of 500 respondents (7%) were able to name 5 Japanese brands. I guarantee that most of those respondents have a Honda car, or a Panasonic TV, or a Sony Playstation, or a Yamaha motorcycle, whatever. I think this survey largely shows that people don't know where companies are based, because honestly, does it matter that much? The local Volkswagon dealer is right next to the Honda, Ford, and Jaguar dealers. If I go to the electronics store, I get Samsung or NEC televisions on the same shelf.

baddox 14y ago
But look at the list of "Chinese Brands To Look Out For." These aren't exactly huge brands that Americans are aware of but simply don't know their country of origin. With the exception of Lenovo (and Baidu, since I work in tech), these are brands I've either never heard of, or that perhaps sound vaguely familiar.
patio11 14y ago
"59% of Americans couldn't identify Toyota as Japanese" would motivate a few professional peers of mine in Nagoya to break out the good whiskey and toast their success. Memories are long and they don't want to be the "yellow menace" (again) the next time the US economy tanks and Detroit wants covering fire from their congresscritters. (Though many folks locally would say that this strategy worked much better prior to the GM bailout, after which the US federal government suddenly remembered who was the home team and then accused the away team of, literally, murder, in a slanderous fashion.)
samstave 14y ago
Heh, it would have been funny had you said "...Mazda, Ford and Jaguar" dealers... As Ford owns (owned) both Mazda and Jaguar!
mc32 14y ago
Yeah, I don't know what this survey even means if there is nothing else to compare this to. I.e how well do Egyptians or Russians or Japanese identify foreign brands? Are we on average above, below? Also, I think the trend is for multinationals to appear more local, if so, this might indicate success on that part.

by jff 14y ago

baddox 14y ago

But look at the list of "Chinese Brands To Look Out For." These aren't exactly huge brands that Americans are aware of but simply don't know their country of origin. With the exception of Lenovo (and Baidu, since I work in tech), these are brands I've either never heard of, or that perhaps sound vaguely familiar.

patio11 14y ago

"59% of Americans couldn't identify Toyota as Japanese" would motivate a few professional peers of mine in Nagoya to break out the good whiskey and toast their success. Memories are long and they don't want to be the "yellow menace" (again) the next time the US economy tanks and Detroit wants covering fire from their congresscritters. (Though many folks locally would say that this strategy worked much better prior to the GM bailout, after which the US federal government suddenly remembered who was the home team and then accused the away team of, literally, murder, in a slanderous fashion.)

samstave 14y ago

Heh, it would have been funny had you said "...Mazda, Ford and Jaguar" dealers... As Ford owns (owned) both Mazda and Jaguar!

mc32 14y ago

Yeah, I don't know what this survey even means if there is nothing else to compare this to. I.e how well do Egyptians or Russians or Japanese identify foreign brands? Are we on average above, below? Also, I think the trend is for multinationals to appear more local, if so, this might indicate success on that part.