Japan. When first encountered by western nations Japan gave them the impression it was a quaint little country mostly inhabited by sandal-wearing goldfish tenders, and shy, kimono-clad ladies bearing parasols. Boy, were they wrong! Modern Japan is an industrial powerhouse that rivals and often surpasses the West in all facets of its cutting-edge technological expertise, and prolific production. Japan is incredibly good at everything it does, but the area that shines the brightest is the world of electronics.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. Image Source.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. The modern electronics juggernaut can be said to begin in 1925 with the mass production of radios. In 1953 Japan began making television sets. By the 1960s, Panasonic, Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba, and Sanyo were known around the world for their quality and affordable prices. Pretty soon the Japanese were producing all the major electric appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
It was no longer a question of “Should I buy a Japanese brand?”, it was Panasonic vs Mitsubishi Air Conditioner (Panasonic being a trade name for the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd.) and a win-win for Japan! Made In Japan was a badge of honour for any electronic product it was affixed to, and the “quaint little country” became the dominant power in the field.
As the times and technologies change Japan adjusts, and almost always runs a bit ahead of the competition. Japan was rightfully famous for its excellent cameras, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Canon, Pentax, Olympus, and Panasonic (yes, Panasonic makes everything!), even beating out the Germans.
When film began to look like it would go out of style thanks to new digital technologies in the 2000s, the Japanese were among the first to offer digital cameras, and their innovative models are still at the forefront of that market!
Japan has always been adept at flogging its wares on the international stage, and it’s not just electronics. A sometimes overlooked example of the Japanese phenomenon is culture. Japanese animation, known as anime, has gained a worldwide following, the sophisticated films of producers like Studio Ghibli are nearly as successful as the output of American studios like Pixar, and even industry giant Disney.
The popularity of Japanese culture can also be tasted quite literally in the abundance of restaurants offering Japanese cuisine. Just a few decades ago a Japanese restaurant in the West was as rare as hen’s teeth, now you can find them dotting any major world city from LA to London to Lahore! Sushi was once considered highly exotic fare, now you can buy it at 7-11.
Music and movies are also garnering worldwide affection, and you can enjoy them on your Sony, Hitachi, Pioneer, Maxwell, Ikeda, or Onkyo entertainment system! Don’t get me started on cars…
Australia has a long and fruitful relationship with Japan that benefits both nations greatly. So, the next time you need to buy a new air conditioner, or pretty much any other electronic product, your biggest question remains- Panasonic vs. Mitsubishi? If it’s Made In Japan it’s bound to please.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
