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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
JAPAN'S IMPACT ON THE ASIAN IMAGE
t has long been seen as the fountainhead of consumer electronics technology. Its cars are consistently among the world's most admired. Its corporations own two major Hollywood studios. Its kiddie culture has all but killed off Mickey Mouse and Barbie. Its $4 trillion GDP is number two behind the U.S. and its workers earn 25% more per head than Americans.
Bravo Castrati!
That's how many Asian Americans see Japan. A nation that should command the stature of a powerhouse -- and elevate the image of all Asians in the process -- possesses the geopolitical profile of, say, Switzerland, a nation a thirtieth its size. Japan's leaders are seen as mere hand puppets in a sad half-century charade of democracy. Its homes are cramped. Its men function as soulless drones whose women fly into the arms of western males. Even its vaunted economy has been on the ropes for ten years and looks ready to go down for the count. What little testosterone it possessed seems to have left with Ichiro.
A nation that should champion the Asian image has only reinforced every insulting stereotype. To many Asian Americans, Japan has done less than its smaller, poorer neightbors. Little Hong Kong exports asskicking action stars. South Corea exports people who take hooey from no one. Taiwan exports tech entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley. Impoverished China, Vietnam and even nutcase North Corea showed balls in standing up to the west. But mighty Japan? Spiritually it seems never to have recovered from its defeat in World War II.
Is Japan carrying its weight or slacking in the Asian image department?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:00:34 PM)
Huu76,
It does vary considerably from state to state also, and in some cases "they" prefer to compare the states themselves with other countries. I think places like Iowa (?) seem much more competitive with the rest of the world. Of course, I also know that American kids test scores drop off in relation to other countries as they grow older. While korean/japan (and others like singapore) consistantly score the highest across the board, in term of age, in math/science. (I haven't checked recent data)
Don't you worry your little head about the white kids listening to M&M and potty mouth sports stars, daddy will make sure they have a good life and decent wages at the expense of those "dirty unworthy" immigrants. LoL. Unfortunately. And who is it that complained about welfare? The very people who are on it.
But across the sea, the future looks bright for korea, china, and hopefully japan too, when it gets out of the rut it's in. And I do hope these American auto companies would keep their dirty fingers off of korean labor, even though that's about the only way they'll be able to compete. Take a cue from korea's presence in the shipbuiding and semiconductor industries, cars are next. What can't we do given time? And the broadband coverage for the internet in korea is quite high too. Still the highest in the world?
Soon enough, me thinks the United States will be buying missiles and weapons from China, in case it ever went to war with them in the future, that is, LoL. Hmmm, I guess korea+japan kinda has America by the balls, since these two countries together literally dominate world-wide shipbuilding (80%?). Hate to see that kind of resource go to the "wrong" hands in case someone orders a navy with express delivery. Hehehe.
kimchi devil
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 20:22:37 (PDT)
AC,
Mine too :o)
TSJ,
Europeans have bigger nutted cars because their emission laws are more lenient aren't they? VW has a diesel Jetta that's way better than the weakling we get here.
huu76
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 16:07:34 (PDT)
huu76,
Eminem....hmmm...two trailer park girls around the outside. I think that's the basic composition of the USA right now.
Don't worry smart kids can learn to play dumb to be cool. However dumb kids can never learn to play smart. :)
AC Dropout
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 14:25:47 (PDT)
TSJ,
Can some explain to me if we are a superpower how come we get second hand consumer electronics and cars when compared to the rest of the world.
Japan has cell phones that can do anything now. Ours can barely get good reception.
AC Dropout
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 14:23:39 (PDT)
undercover brother? lol :-),
Although the specific details you brought up I can neither confirm or deny. I will agree innovation and inventions follow the rise and fall of nations all over the planet.
As for Korean and Japanese monopolistic corporations giving all those neat gadgets of the future, I believe they are beneficial to society.
As long as we able able to consume it that is.
AC Dropout
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 10:40:54 (PDT)
TSJ,
That one of the first recorded records of assisted flight in theory. Granted the wings melted and the son died. That'll teach him not to listen to his father.
No comment on the car post. Just too much details. Mine has four wheels and 2 pedals.
AC Dropout
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 10:34:54 (PDT)
AC,
It's kind of sad that North America has to rely on imports (immigrants) to stay intellectually competitive with Asia and Europe.
Overall test marks for the U.S. and Canada consistently stink when compared with overseas kids.
Too bad kids now have Eminem and trash talking athletes as their role models rather than real outstanding citizens (i.e. police, teachers). I guess it's cool to be dumb.
huu76
Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 23:18:46 (PDT)
"I'm pretty sure the S2000 is naturally aspirated. If now, how about the RSX Type S?"
RSX Type S has the same engine as S2000, but detuned to only produce 200 hp. In fact, it's also the same engine in the European made CTR, which we will likely never see here in the states. The CSi is a joke. Europe has all the best cars in the world, not Japan. By that I mean, they even get better Japanese cars than Japan does. There is the Accord Type-R, which is Europe only, as well as the Accord Coupe Type-R. You think Audi's S4 is hot? The Euro RS4 will blows its doors off. We get soooo gypped with the cars here in the states. Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of the Scooby STi and the Mitsu EVO.
TSJ
Eric@KristinKreuk.net
Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 22:53:43 (PDT)
As a side note, I hope North America looks more positively at Japanese industry over here.
Over the last year, Ford has announced it will close the Oakville truck plant and GM closed the St. Therese plant in Quebec. I heard Ford also announced it is closing 4 U.S. plants.
Nissan, Hyundai and Mitsubishi have all opened new plants within the last year, and Honda and Toyota have expanded their current plants in Ontario.
My friend works for Sanyo Machine Works (they work with production lines for these car companies) and they are consistently busy and constantly expanding.
Kind of ironic who's keeping America rolling, isn't it.
Also, Japan has had 2 quarters or economic growth (miniscule but positive), so their economy looks like it's ready to rebound.
huu76
Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 22:38:20 (PDT)
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