Yes but what does it tell you ? Our eastern neighbors don't have brand names yet or they're still imitating & so no innovation from that side of the border, that I've seen till now ? I'll let you be the judge of that since I do biased reportingGötterdämmerung;3820910 said:Japanese were indeed innovative back in the 1970s but it was not until the middle of the 1980s when Japanese innovation was recognised and accepted here in Europe.
As a child I still remember how the adults talked about Japanese rice cooker on wheels (Japanese cars) and made all kinds of jokes. Later when Japanese cars became more successful they were ridiculed with a different kind of jokes, namely Japanese products as job killers for Germany.
There was a joke about the meaning of Mazda.
What does Mazda mean in German? the answer was: Mein Auto Zerstört Deutsche Arbeitsplätze (My car destroys German jobs).
Does that ring a bell?
It was not until Sony came up with the walkman in the 1980s that Japan became cool.