Category Archives: Manufacturing

Dollars and Dragons

I have just published the article below in  the American Conservative. TOKYO—In the mid 1990s, I published a book entitled Blindside: Why Japan Is Still on Track to Overtake the U.S. By the Year 2000. The prediction in the subtitle … Continue reading

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My $10,000 charity offer: an appearance on Thom Hartmann’s show

I am still awaiting news from Ed Lincoln on whether he will join me for a debate. In the meantime my offer has not gone unnoticed elsewhere. I created quite a splash with my offer last month to pay $10,000 … Continue reading

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An invitation, some surprising facts, and two elusive experts

For thirteen years now I have been trying to organize a public debate on what really happened to the Japanese economy. The effort continues. The facts below have convinced at least one top American economic thinker that a debate is … Continue reading

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A $10,000 offer for Robby Feldman and Ed Lincoln

Let’s sort out once and for all what has really happened to the Japanese economy in the last two decades. Some months ago I offered to make a $5,000 donation to charity if any of ten influential Western commentators joined … Continue reading

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Translating Japan

It took an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster to reveal how little the West understands the land of the rising sun. (This article first appeared in the June 2011 edition of the American Conservative.) TOKYO. The art of reading between … Continue reading

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The strength of Japanese manufacturing

For  two decades the New York Times has reported almost nothing but gloom about Japan’s manufacturing industries. I challenged a recent report in a letter to the editor. Your report ( “Japan Confronts Its New Normal,” May 12 in the … Continue reading

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Earthquake: Interview on Thom Hartmann’s Big Picture

Thom Hartmann interviewed me on his show The Big Picture last week. (Thom is one of the most astute commentators in the American media and author of several great books.)

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The coming crisis in the global manufacturing chain

How much will the Japanese earthquake hurt the global economy? (Article as first published by the New Republic.) Not many people in the American electronics industry had ever heard of the Japanese town of Niihama before the summer of 1993. … Continue reading

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A message to Japan Forum members

My offer to debate the “basket case Japan” story has generated more heat than light at the National Bureau of Asian Research’s Japan Forum. As a matter of policy, I do not participate in online forums but, as friends have … Continue reading

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Japan’s “slump”: editorial page article from The Guardian

Britain’s Guardian newspaper ran an editorial page article last year that closely supported the Fingleton analysis of   Japan’s “slump.” Among the many expressions of support I have had since  I posted a blog  article at theatlantic.com last week on … Continue reading

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