Comments on: BizCast Japan #7: Retail, Uniqlo, Condo Prices, Nova, Mobile Price Wars and the State of the Japanese Workplace http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:12:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: BizCast Japan #7 Released : Japan Economy News & Blog http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-512932 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:04:02 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-512932 [...] Just a quick announcement for tonight…BizCast Japan #7 was released over at Trans-Pacific Radio a short while ago. Once again, Albrecht Stahmer and I discuss a range of business issues, including cell phone price wars, Uniqlo’s failed bid for Barneys New York, and the state of the Japanese workplace. We hit on a few issues outside the purview of this site… [...] […] Just a quick announcement for tonight…BizCast Japan #7 was released over at Trans-Pacific Radio a short while ago. Once again, Albrecht Stahmer and I discuss a range of business issues, including cell phone price wars, Uniqlo’s failed bid for Barneys New York, and the state of the Japanese workplace. We hit on a few issues outside the purview of this site… […]

]]> by: Ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-308402 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:28:58 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-308402 hey Willie...believe me, I wish we could pump them out more regularly...but we're trying. hey Willie…believe me, I wish we could pump them out more regularly…but we’re trying.

]]> by: WillieAmi http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-307958 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:19:52 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-307958 Good Show again guys... anyway we can get the shows more frequently? Good Show again guys… anyway we can get the shows more frequently?

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-272479 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:24:05 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-272479 Eric, Actually that's a good point. Not all of the links to what we discussed are on the right side. I had to get this post up quickly to get our deadline on the 16th and so I left out all the links except the Time article. Now I need to find the time to work them all in...I will, I promise! Eric, Actually that’s a good point. Not all of the links to what we discussed are on the right side. I had to get this post up quickly to get our deadline on the 16th and so I left out all the links except the Time article. Now I need to find the time to work them all in…I will, I promise!

]]> by: ERIC http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-271672 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:34:16 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-271672 HAHA! I'm an idiot. Just as I hit the submit button I glanced to my right and saw "Links". Disregard the above post... HAHA! I’m an idiot. Just as I hit the submit button I glanced to my right and saw “Links”. Disregard the above post…

]]> by: ERIC http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-271667 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:29:45 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-271667 I just found your site last week and I have really been enjoying it. One question, tho: Would it be possible for you to link to the resources you are using to find information on a given topic? One of the best things about blogs is the reader's ability to follow a link and add another website, magazine, newspaper, etc. to the "must read" list. I have been very impressed by the breadth of topics covered and would very much like to know where you go to find so much interesting info. Keep up the great work! I just found your site last week and I have really been enjoying it. One question, tho: Would it be possible for you to link to the resources you are using to find information on a given topic? One of the best things about blogs is the reader’s ability to follow a link and add another website, magazine, newspaper, etc. to the “must read” list. I have been very impressed by the breadth of topics covered and would very much like to know where you go to find so much interesting info.

Keep up the great work!

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-270775 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:36:37 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/08/16/bizcast-japan-7-retail-uniqlo-condo-prices-nova-mobile-price-wars-and-the-state-of-the-japanese-workplace/#comment-270775 Great show overall, guys, but, in the first part, you were too nice. You touched on and skirted around a central issue without mentioning it. Empty office space, expanded construction of luxury condos and class A office space despite a lack of demand, unemployment, and (I thought Albrecht was going to hit the nail on the head), a lack of honesty at Japanese companies. For example, unemployment in Japan is reported based on whether or not a person worked last week, as opposed to last month, as in most Western countries - a difference that many economists agree can make Japan's unemployment rate appear around two percentage points lower than it actually lower. Lying is absolutely central to both big business and government. Report what you want to be true. Cover up scandals. Cook the books. Who even knows what's true anymore? Ken shouts, "Pay higher dividends!" How about paying dividends at all? It's all connected. Stock doesn't exist in Japan to help investors make money. It seems that not a lot has changed since the bubble. Aren't things still asset-driven, rather than profit-driven? It's perceived value, instead of actual value, which is why we still see profit-earnings ratios so much higher than elsewhere. A return on investment is just not expected, nor, unfortunately, is accurate reporting or record-keeping. All of this to avoid "confusion." Great show overall, guys, but, in the first part, you were too nice. You touched on and skirted around a central issue without mentioning it. Empty office space, expanded construction of luxury condos and class A office space despite a lack of demand, unemployment, and (I thought Albrecht was going to hit the nail on the head), a lack of honesty at Japanese companies.

For example, unemployment in Japan is reported based on whether or not a person worked last week, as opposed to last month, as in most Western countries - a difference that many economists agree can make Japan’s unemployment rate appear around two percentage points lower than it actually lower.

Lying is absolutely central to both big business and government. Report what you want to be true. Cover up scandals. Cook the books. Who even knows what’s true anymore?

Ken shouts, “Pay higher dividends!”

How about paying dividends at all? It’s all connected. Stock doesn’t exist in Japan to help investors make money. It seems that not a lot has changed since the bubble.

Aren’t things still asset-driven, rather than profit-driven? It’s perceived value, instead of actual value, which is why we still see profit-earnings ratios so much higher than elsewhere. A return on investment is just not expected, nor, unfortunately, is accurate reporting or record-keeping.

All of this to avoid “confusion.”

]]>