politics

Aso, Pence apart over FTA; Japan to ease rules on U.S. auto imports

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Aso looks so fake

5 ( +8 / -3 )

@gogogo

Actually, he looks 100% genuine.

A 24-carat git.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

The remark prompted laughter from Aso, who is also running 

It makes you think Aso knows something that the rest of us don't, don't it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I wouldn't trust either of these 2 as far as I could throw them with a broken arm.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

There are already US auto dealerships here in Japan. What's the problem? (They do sell American cars, right?) Well, I can see the ads now: Get your cheap, but poluting and dangerous, American car now!! Lots of foreign cars here in Tokyo, including Fiats, which are very popular. But wait, doesn't Fiat own Chrysler? Why are there no Chryslers on the road here? Nobody wants them. The main problem is US car makers don't make cars to Japanese taste. Unlike Toyota etc, which have their design and production facilities in the US. They sure know what Americans want.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

What a pair! A raddled old boozer more at home in the Ginza hostess bars and a evangelical Christian who hates blacks, hates gays, hates Muslims and wants to turn the US into a theocracy.

The remark prompted laughter from Aso, who is also running in the contest.

Keeping him as far away from Japan during the electioneering period is a wise move for the LDP. Who knows when he's going to start spouting beserk nonsense about the Nazis?

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Who knows when he's going to start spouting beserk nonsense about the Nazis?

Pence is probably thinking something similar about Trump.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

China is loving Trump's trashing the TPP and his emphasis on bilateral deals - in Asia, China's huge gravity will always prevail if world trade is organized by the latter. The TPP may not be perfect, but it's better than the status quo or anything Trump has alluded to.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@gokai_wo_maneku - Absolute nonsense. There are many great American cars. However great American politicians are NOT being represent here by the POS Pence.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The headline of this article should be; "Caption this!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As far as I know the USA is allowed to try & sell cars in Japan already if they comply with the emission regulations (which many of them don't unless they meet Californian regulations). There is a reason European cars sell well here & American cars don't & it's mostly to do with the fact that Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission regulations are on par or higher with Japanese regulations.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Lol there's no way it will happen seeing as the ldp can't kill it's golden goose, i.e. rural farmers. Incredible!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

One of these guys really loves Hitler. The other wants to "hang" gays. Two peas in a pod.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

A little while ago, Trump declared Japanese automakers in USA as American industry.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yeah... but "where's the beef"?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

American beef is an industry and not a trusted source for food. Beef is overly medicated and feed highly questionable "food". Do not buy it. Keep it out of Japan.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Patricia.... the beef being exported to Japan from the USA is from Ranches that do not use any sort of modified feed. But I'm sure you knew that... or are you just going off of something you heard somewhere in a bar.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Gollum and Voldemort are kidding themselves if they think they can work together. Great photo of the two of them though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

US cannot is not competitive in Japan, unless Yen appreciates to about 90 against the Dollar.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@sandlegolov I didn't say the US didn't make some great cars, I said they didn't make cars Japanese want, especially the interior styling. The other problem is that the US makers try pricing the cars like the much much higher quality European cars. Japanese know the difference.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@gokai - Um, yeah, you did. It wasn't only insulting but inaccurate and stereotypical.

Get your cheap, but poluting and dangerous, American car now!!

I would call that saying that the US didn't make great cars. There is no other way that can be taken.

What you have done is illustrated one of the main problems with why the US does not sell well here. An old image of American cars as gas guzzlers that break down that was partly true but mostly used as a means in the 90's to say that American cars were not good. I seem to remember one ignorant politician saying that Japan should buy American cars and dump them in the bay to help build a tunnel. Real good politician there, just like out Trump. Once an image is set in Japan it is really hard to break, as you so CLEARLY pointed out. Two, I don't really see a big market push by the big three at all in advertising like I do by the Japanese automakers in the USA. You have to spend money to make it. Also, Japanese car companies tend to try to produce every type of car and not so much niche related. That is something that has hurt American car companies a lot from what I have read. Yes, American cars tend to be higher priced in some areas, but not all. Also I have seen many Japanese take to the interior styling of American cars once they actually see them. Once again, this has to do with a lack of advertising by the big three here. Trump is wrong as always about the reasons. The blame belongs on the big three and old stereotypical opinions like yours, of which you don't have actual knowledge about. But there are many really nice American cars out there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As far as I know the USA is allowed to try & sell cars in Japan already if they comply with the emission regulations (which many of them don't unless they meet Californian regulations).

This is a minor point. American manufacturers are loath to retool their assembly lines to build cars that fit to the roads here. The costs outweigh the benefits. American cars by far are larger, handle on the "wrong side" and associated costs with owner a foreign vehicle here, taxes, and inspection fees, makes it highly prohibitive for the average Japanese consumer to purchase them.

American cars here are a niche market. Along with other foreign makers as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

American beef is an industry and not a trusted source for food. Beef is overly medicated and feed highly questionable "food". Do not buy it. Keep it out of Japan.

I truly feel sorry for the folks that buy into the idea that "everything" made or produced in Japan is "better" and "higher" quality. On the other hand, the folks who make these products are laughing at ya'll for buying into their propaganda!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Low sales of U.S. Cars in Japan is a problem of perception and U.S. Manufacturer's unwillingness to try to change them. U.S. Cars have closed the gap quality wise with Japan and they will continue to do so... especially as more robotics are used. The U.S. is great at Software... combine that with Robotics and pretty much every company in the world producing cars will be on a level playing field in about 10 to 20 years. The major difference will be the car's ingredients... not its manufacture.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pence showed cars on streets. Also said we have those cars in Japan Pence said, let's talk about beef then. US needs to have someone who try to promote American auto makers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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