Japan isn't in the US news all the time like it used to be. In the 1980s people thought that Japan was going to buy all the real estate in the United States. Japan was producing (and still does) some of the highest quality consumer products. Although every category has a best of the best made in limited quantities and very expensive Japan produces a very high quality product that has a more affordable price.
Automobiles made in Japan started getting big in the 1970s. Today they produce some of the finest automobiles in the world. Turn back the clock to the seventies. American cars were big heavy sleds that got terrible fuel economy and some quality of manufacture issues. The Japanese autos of that time were simple, reliable, got good fuel economy and less expensive. People of my generation started buying them. Now after forty years they dominate the market. Even the American companies were putting their brand on Mazda, Toyota, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi products.
Consumer electronics were also dominated by Japan made products. Being a budding audiophile Japanese products were and are my go to components. This is old school as the smart phone is a do all including music reproduction as well. But all my stereo equipment is Japanese. In brand name anyway. As in the late eighties and nineties they shifted production to Korea and later China. The Sony Trinitron was the benchmark television. It used to be Curtis Mathis for the US back in the day.
Bicycles of Continental Europe, England and America used to rule. My first Schwinn was a 1974 LeTour model. It said Schwinn on it but in tiny letters approved. Every part said Schwinn approved. It was made by Panasonic. Who makes everything on Earth. I have a Panasonic turn table ( for vinyl records youngsters). I gave it away in a weak moment a couple of years ago and the thing probably had ten thousand miles on it and worked perfect. Japan produced many brands of bikes in the 1970s and 80s. Many for house brands of department stores like Sears and Penny's. Now only the most expensive bicycles are not made in Taiwan or China.
Swiss watches had and are the most expensive and most desired. But Japan makes give them a good run for their money. Citizen and Seiko being two of the largest producers of watches. Citizen bought old American brand Bulova. Now only the top line Japanese watches are made in Japan and not elsewhere. And the ones made in Japan proper are very desirable. In a previous post I wrote about Casio. Also Japanese and now most produced off the Japanese islands. The majority of my watches are Japanese.
Just about anything that Japan attempts it excels in. Made in Japan means quality. Not to start any problems but it is true.
