OT. No, never spent time in Japan. In a previous life I did lots of work with Japanese manufacturing techniques applied to US companies, and I've worked a little with Japanese businessmen and consultants who came to the USA. Way before that I had studied a little Japanese in college - soon gave it up though because I was also studying Chinese language then and started getting confused in class between the two languages. Now I'm having enough trouble just with English.
Only contact now is I eat Japanese food (and drink!)- I'm a big noodle man -g-, attend a few local Japanese cultural events (Nisei Week coming up!), and I like to read stories about the guys in the 442 (Regimental Combat Team).
From what I understand - and I may be very wrong here - because there are interlocking relationships all over the place in Japan, it's not likely for example, that a Sony man would ever consider drinking a Sapporo (if his company were tied to Kirin). And a Toyota guy would never be seen drinking a Kirin brew if his company were aligned with Asahi, for example.
Don't know where my alignment is, but I'm considering adding to my small position in SANNY. Sanyo is way too diversified imo, but worse, still sells at a very high price (imo)even though the stock is hitting a new annual low. They are very good in manufacturing (digital cameras, for example), and I very much like their dominance in cell phone and digital camera batteries. With this company, as in many traditional Japanese companies, the culture has been (maybe it is not now) that the purpose of the company is not bottom line profits for investors or high stock price for investors. The purpose is to provide products/services to society and especially to provide employment within the Japanese societal framework.
(That's my opinion anyway - am I near correct?)
Allen, what is your relationship to Japan, Japanese, Kirin, (and/or giraffes -g-)? |
