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 It may be out of date (but I doubt it).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.