How Japan's Tech industry Failed

In the early 1990s, Japan's electronics industry was the world's envy. But by the end of the decade, the industry was in decline, and today, Japan is a shadow of its former self. There are a number of factors that contributed to Japan's decline in the electronics sector. One was the country's over-reliance on a few large companies, such as Sony, Sharp, JVC, Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic, and Pioneer. These firms dominated the industry and were slow to adapt to changing consumer preferences. In this video, we explore the reasons behind Japan's failed electronics industry, and what it means for the country's future.

This Video answers the Questions:
Technology in japan facts.
Japanese electronics companies.
How japan lost its electronics crown.
Does japan still make electronics?
What technology did japan invent?
Japan technology vs South Korea.

[brandonwiles-nt]

Another crucial point is missing. Japanese aversion to startups (post 80s). Although all of their major companies were once basically startups emerged from garages and backyards, ironically, the traditional Japanese corporate environment is more like that of the yakuza. It's extremely difficult for independent young entrepreneurs to penetrate the market without any association to the traditional conglomerates. The last successful tech start-up that made into the global scene was I think Wacom in 1983. After that there is nothing.

[kairossoteria]

as a 80s kid i grew up with japanese consumer electronics. most of the brands are gone now

[photomamika]

As a Japanese. I use translation. For over 2000 years, the Japanese have always been a geeky people, so they go through periods of stagnation when they adopt culture, and periods of concentrating on development and growth, like making art, every 50 to 100 years. Once they adopt a favorite import from overseas, they completely Japanize it and repeat the development until it reaches 120% of its value. At the same time, people also explore the breadth of various genres to 120%. Because they have this personality in every aspect, they expand rules, laws, social ideas, technology, cooking, and more in a geeky way. They are currently in a stagnant period, but if they make a sudden change of direction, they will enter a period of mastering it.

[rayrooney]

Their biggest mistake was the same one American businesses made - outsourcing. American companies sent manufacturing to Japan. Japan sent theirs to Korea and when they got big, sent things to China.

In each case, the world bypassed the original country and went right to the actual maker, cutting out the middleman - America, Japan, Korea.

"He who makes the goods gets the bucks."

[Nonamearisto]

Hardware is almost sacred in Japan due to thousands of years of valuing crafted items, but software is a distinctly modern invention, an abstraction which ancient Japan had no cultural respect for, so it didn't filter down to modern Japan.

[albertteng]

Japan's fall as a tech giant is not a uniquely japanese thing alone. It happens to every great nation. USA in the 1950s have great household name brands like frigidaire, radiowealth, zenith to name a few. After that japan's brands rose to worldwide prominence. As japanese brands fall in the wayside, the koreans came and took its place with goldstar, samsung, LG etc. Now korea's brands are slowly fading although theyre still trying to stay relevant by introducing new interesting product. This time chinese brands are becoming very popular like haier, TCL, midea etc. Who knows what brands will replace chinese brands and from what country in the near future.

[narayanaswami]

Japanese hiring process is outdated, companies struck with outdated aged employees and young talent lacks opportunity to prove their talent

[TSUTENKAKU]

Yes, Japan and Japanese people put all of their efforts to improve Japan's economy during 1960s. They made many new innovative items. But in recent years since around late 1990s, Japan's leadership in many areas were heading down hill. The main reasons are despite Japanese inventions still goes on to this date in different fields, Japan failed to put their invented items into mass production. Therefore what ends up is like China or other nearby nations will make their own productions of what Japan invented in the first place in mass quantities and floods the entire world. Furthermore Japan is not accustomed in making things for worldwide desirability, such as washing machines, refrigerator, mobile phones are just to name few. Japanese mobile phone standard is different so can not be used in almost all other nations. Furthermore Sharp and Sony are hardly making anymore flat screen TVs like they used to. Sharp was partly sold to Taiwan firm few years ago as such event never happened in the past. I believe all of Japan's downfall is to be blamed on people's mentality as they don't seem to have the will power and desire to making much needed improvement. And above all, their labor cost is way too high compared to many other Asian nations.

[keith]

japan is a socialist soul trapped in a capitalist body, while China is a capitalist soul trapped in a socialist body. Japanese society values conformity, while Chinese society, at its core, is incredibly rebellious. Thus, Japan does well in industries require conformity, sadly, there are fewer and fewer industries in that category

[tj]

Uncle Sam backstabbed them. End of story.

[onetruekeeper]

Korea made cheaper electronics than Japan. But when it came to cars Japan still dominates.

[Pattern-Recognition]

Sadly, I don't see why the next cycle should play more into Japan's strength at all. Tesla is the best example. This new era does require exzellent hardware engineering - but 60% of the value added in a Tesla car is software. This balance may even become more "unfavourable" vs Japan's strengths if you factor in the effects of AI. There are currently only two relevant players in this: The US and China. Hard to see how Japan can possibly catch up. Hard to see how Japan can become better at integrating hardware and software innovation. And Japan is not alone. Germany is no better. Stuck in the "pre-software", mechanically/eletrically focused innovation-cycle, too.

[Maharang]

Sony may no longer be a tech giant but it is still one of the largest and most influential media and entertainment company in the world. Sony owns Sony Music Entertainment one of the largest music conglomerate, Columbia Pictures and of course it also produces the Playstation gaming consoles.

[aps]

Japanese firms still play crucial role in tech. Ordinary consumers are ignorant because the back end business has very little visibility to non-tech people.

[rickybhattacharya]

That also includes camera companies like Cannon, Nikon, Ricoh. We don't hear anything about them anymore. I guess their Pro DSLRs are still sold.

[sophistcated]

Technical progress has made many products unnecessary. In the past those products were very expansive, for .e.g. CRT TV, Videocassette recorders, Camcorders, Stereo Sets, etc. In the 90s only few people had a camcorder due the high price, but today everyone has one in his smartphone with far better quality. So what should they make today? Favourite sold electronics today are smart phones, tablets, soundbars and flat panel tvs.

All those electronics are made in china and sold in the shops for cheap price. So there is really no margin left to make money today.

[asimpleguy]

i can still remember when the name or sticker says Made in Japan, made in Japan meant quality, durable and valuable

[jkeagle]

Cars are in a similar situation. The advanced features of the cars are far behind compared to hyundai. This is because cars are turning into electronic products.

[anandnairkollam]

When i was a kid, Sony was to tech, what Mercedes Benz was to automobiles. Today, Mercedes is overengineered and a moneypit and Sony is nowhere around in our country.

[LCTesla]

Japan has been living in the year 2000 for the last 44 years