I heard there aren't any Wal-Marts in Japan. Wal-Mart seems to want to spread it's corporate presences all over asia, autstrailia, even latin america for god's sake.
So why aren't the Japanese buying merchandise at always low prices, <I>Always</I>?
Status, maybe? Their buying habits are markedly different from everyone else.
The Japanese market also used to be, and probably still is, a bitch to break into due to political tape.
Political tape?
Highly protectionist. It is extremely difficult for foreign companies to break into Japan, due to all the red tape that exists. Let's just say they get the permanent run-around. Meanwhile, the Japanese corporations and keiretsu and eating them for lunch locally.
On the one hand, economists will argue this protectionism is a bad thing, and the reason their economy is stagnant (and in part it well may have been). Less competition caused a lot of poor decisions with regards to loans to be made. On the other hand, this protectionism combined with US investment worked well to make Japan one of the world's most powerful economic engines today, from a smoking wreckage of WWII.
I think it's a wise move to retain it. Foreign interests are not your friend, nor is the race to the bottom resulting from the unfortunate combination of globalism and corporatism. <cue discussion of state power and interest>
How difficult is extremely difficult?
Difficult enough that even the most powerful of US and EU corporations usually just settle for joint ventures with Japanese companies instead. Even then they're usually roadkill when competing against major Japanese competitors.
Caveat: this was true several years ago. It may be out of date (but I doubt it).
Wal-Marts has already bought the Seiyu, Ltd., one of the largest Japanese retailer. Wyoming Holding GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has 38% of total voting right.
>>1
Well, can you tell me if they offer their goods at what price? I'd appreciate it if I can buy what I want at competitive price as long as it's high quality. Note: we've already had "100 yen shops", which means covinience-store-like shops where you can pick out from a variety of merchandises a commodity for 100 Yen.
Like a dollar general store in USA?
Dollar General stores are generally set up in abandoned storefronts that are maintained very badly, managed by incompotent people, and employ generally the lowest class of people who seem not to shower. Ever. They also carry merchandise that other stores couldn't sell (for example, nameplates and customized name pens that say "Bort" or "Wilhelm") and nobody wants at any price. They have good candy bars though.
How do the 100 yen stores compare? I already know there are no supermarkets etc... and that it's often hard to find shops that are managed well with much stuff at very good prices.
>>10
win for cheap little debbie's too. I think there's a MASSIVE sale on Easter...2 or 3 for one dollar, provided the people running it are religious types. How snack cakes relate to holy easter is confusing, but I'm not gonna be the one to argue.
>Like a dollar general store in USA?
Judging from your explanation, completely unlike it.
Both interior and exterior of the 100 yen stores are well established. Just a click away: http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/
(the website uses the Japanese language, but I think you can enjoy the images in it)
I heard that they can sell their merchandise at reasonable price because they buy tons of goods at a time from wholesalers.
Looks like they actually give a crap... Dollar General Stores buy things like goods close to their expiration date at pennies on the dollar, then dump them on the store shelves.
I must say, I like them better than wal-mart for many things. Wal Mart is a friggen workout just getting from one side to the other. I know, I work at one.
Citizen, that's not entirely true. In some communities (Long Beach, CA, for an example I enjoyed just this morning), dollar stores are totally useful, cheap and wholesome purveyors of food. Trick is that they buy semi-legitimately from wholesalers down on the dock or from farmers who bring stuff in locally. Sneaky, efficient, brilliant, and the best source of vitamins and substantive foodstuffs for a lot of really poor people.
which is a problem i don't even know how Japan would deal with.
>>14
Seems like dollar stores in the US are not the counterpart of 100 yen stores in Japan. True, we have stores which sell food at low price as well. But that kind of stores are not what we call 100 yen stores which usually deal with only commodities for everyday life as in >>12, such as chests, stationary, dishes, or what not.
Speaking of food, I remember Japanese farmers were ordered to crush their vesitables a day or two ago because of low price.. What is free market? I think it was silly.
By the way, people, cost of living in Tokyo is higher than in any other city around the world, even though commodity price in japan has decreased 6 years in a row.. Plus, the Japanese government is trying to take more tax money from us. Alas, life in Japan is getting harder...
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nb20050622a1.htm
The politicians should stop useless roadworks and other civil projects instead of raising taxes.
I'm not sure how much power the Diet actually has. The Ministries are quite powerful. Of course, the Diet is elected, while things like MITI/METI sure aren't.
Sometimes I really have to wonder if Japan is a democracy or just an illusion of one. I'm not informed enough to know though.
Someone enlighten me?
>>16-17
I think both of you make sense. I mean, I don't disagree with spending money in what is needed. But according to the Japanese news media, some corrupted Japanese authoritative people who set up plans on creating some bridges and spent huge money, have enjoyed vested rights behind the scene, which came to light about a month ago. They were well connected to construction companies which offered kickback, and are taken into costody now. As a citizen, I feel very disgusted. The goverment has something to do before raising taxes.
(Sorry if my English is not understandable..)
>>18
Hmm, it's sort of hard to explain in English.. I think it depends. Sure, we have the right to vote, but once they are elected, they often break promises they make during election. Looking back on what prime minister Koizumi said, he pledged he wouldn't raise taxes if he was elected prime minister, which turned out to be a complete lie. But even if what he promised was a lie and if the bill is passed, the law will become effective. A law is a law. In fact, tax raise was supposed to be made at least last year when they decided to reform the pention system. But no politicians won't let it open to Japanese
citizens. They are very foxy. I don't like the way politicians behave. They have to put their money where their mouths are.
Anyway, what MITI/METI stands for?
>>18
That is one of the dark side of democracy - a kind of mobocracy.
>>20
MITI: Ministry of International Trade and Industry, which is an old name of METI.
METI: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
> but once they are elected, they often break promises they make during election.
It's like that everywhere. Japan is no exception in that regard.
> he pledged he wouldn't raise taxes if he was elected prime minister
Most Western commentators watching the 2001 Japanese elections noted that Koizumi appeared to be a reformer (and to some extend he has done just that). However, most believed he'd have little effect, precisely because the real power lies in places other than the Diet.
The amusing part is the same could be said for a lot of governments. C'est la vie.
>>22
Thanks a lot. I get it.
>the real power lies in places other than the Diet.
So you mean the Ministries overpower the Diet? Well, yeah, it must be so.. But some statesmen have started investigating what the Ministries hided from people, though such an action wasn't done before. Is it Ok to think the same goes for your Ministries?
>C'est la vie
I didn't know what the expression meant. My online dictionary said it's French. So are you from France?
I don't think dmpk2k!hinhT6kz2E is french. But "C'est la vie" is a common saying in European countries as well as America.
It basically just means "That's life" and is used whenever there's anger or frustration about something (assumed to be) natural.
>>24
I was going to say that the structure of governments is different, but after some thought I've concluded that the structure of Japan's government is very similar to the places I've lived recently (Canada, Australia, New Zealand). However, ministries in these places are very weak politically, and serve only in an executive role, as well as sometimes advising the legislative branch. They're entirely subordinate to the legislature.
> C'est la vie
No, I'm not French. Most native English speakers know the phrase, and tend to use it in an offhanded manner. Literally it means "that's life", but it might be more accurate to say we mean "that's just the way things are, what can you do? shrug"
I've never seen C'est la vie used in anger, at least where I live. I usually see it used in a more resigned or apathetic manner.
Wal-Mart To Set Up Shop In Hell Soon-ish, Still No News About Japan.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8B0K1O01.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down
Walmart already has more then 40% stocks of Seiyu Ltd. (one of the largest retailters in Japan).
Yesterday, Saiyu announced that it is going to issue and sell new shares to Wallmart by Dec. 31st 2005. Which means more than 50% will be Wallmart's.
this thread, i just realized, is due for an update
So Koizumi takes a chance, election happens, landslide bladibladibla, and the postal savings system is privatized.
What effect will this have on the bureaucracy, is this the first step towards disassembling the corporate-bureaucratic-political power triangle?
What's going to happen to japan post-Koizumi, assuming he doesn't go back on his words and change the rules?
and the mandatory cromartie joke
Does this mean the end of the DARK PRIME MINISTERs (all evil, all caps) reign is at an end?!
> is this the first step towards disassembling the corporate-bureaucratic-political power triangle
Not a chance.
I'm beginning to believe the endgame of most Western-style power structures is a merger of interests between corporate and state. Power gravitates to the hands of a few, and the private/public dichotomy is just a small barrier to be overcome.
What endgame? Don't think you're getting away that easily!
I like to sit in a box arguing with this one guy about what's going on outside! He says he'll leave but the bugger never does.
Wal-Mart has a presence in Japan, it's just DBA as a Japanese chain (forgot which one though).
> is this the first step towards disassembling the corporate-bureaucratic-political power triangle?
I don't know if it'll ever be completely disassembled during my lifetime, but it's a step in the right direction, in my opinion.
>>32
Yeah, but when that happens, they lose the need to be a profitable enterprise.
They do?
And even if they do, so what?