Trade Deficit: First in 31 years.

[gaijinpunch]

Wherever you are in the world, you've probably used or coveted some Japanese product - a Honda four-wheeler; a Toyota Prius, a Sony, a Panasonic TV, a Nikon camera. Since the 1950s, Japan's exports have flooded the world and fueled an economic miracle at home, making that country one of the wealthiest in the world. Well, this week marks a turning point - one of the world's great export engines has run out of gas.
What in the world is going on?
For the first time in 31 years, Japan has recorded a trade deficit. In simple terms, that means Japan imported more than it exported last year. Now this is not that unusual for some rich countries: the U.S. has had a trade deficit since 1975, and yet we've grown. But the U.S. economy is not built on exports. Japan's economic rise on the other hand, has been almost entirely powered by exports.

More...

[gaijinpunch]

With the below quote, we should probably stick this in the "What's up w/ the value of the Yen?!" thread.

China and other East Asian countries can now produce cheaper products and in greater quantities. Add to that a rising Yen, and Japan's exporters have been at a disadvantage globally. Toyota's chief perhaps said it best last year: "It doesn't make sense to manufacture in Japan."

[matsuki]

So while Japan's economy in aggregate has been hurt by this lack of workers, for the average Japanese worker income is still up and quality of life is still very high. That's partly why the country has not felt the pressure to reform

LOL, what Japan is he talking about?

[gaijinpunch]

Quality of life on the surface is high. Nobody's getting laid though, figuratively speaking.

[Guest]

Quality of life on the surface is high. Nobody's getting laid though, figuratively speaking.

Nobody is getting laid because the family law system of Japan has made it effectively illegal to be a man.

That is also why the economy and competitiveness is faltering. What is there to work for if not pussy and family?

[Coligny]

The new Nissan March is made in Thailand... this kind of stuff don't help with the trade balance...

[matsuki]

The new Nissan March is made in Thailand... this kind of stuff don't help with the trade balance...

- insert ladyboy car made by ladyboys joke here -

[Yokohammer]

- insert ladyboy car made by ladyboys joke here -

Don't need a ladyboy joke for that car. The Nissan March is a joke.

Of course there's a certain amount of sour grapes in the above comment, stemming from the fact that I can't even fit in one of those toys. I've seen bigger scale models!

[matsuki]

Don't need a ladyboy joke for that car. The Nissan March is a joke.

Of course there's a certain amount of sour grapes in the above comment, stemming from the fact that I can't even fit in one of those toys. I've seen bigger scale models!

LOL, the boss man here has a convertible Micra that is nice the 6 days of the year the weather is agreeable....but even underneath it's a totally different beast than the other beetle wannabe known as the March.


...at least one company isn't afraid to admit it either

[Coligny]

Don't need a ladyboy joke for that car. The Nissan March is a joke.

Of course there's a certain amount of sour grapes in the above comment, stemming from the fact that I can't even fit in one of those toys. I've seen bigger scale models!

Say the guy who need a shoehorn to step inside his beemer...

Strangely enought, I had much less problem with the driving position in the March K12 and K13 than in the Note, who is really starting to wreck my right knee and hips...
Trouble being the March K13 is ugly as sin... much prefer the badge engineered Renault Pulse:

[Coligny]

Lets not forget the absolutely cutest K12 March/Micra Based Mitsuoka Viewt:



(BTE, the March CC is called Micra because she was made is the English Nissan Factory in Sunderland. Note and Micra made there were much more upscale than the j-made shit on a stick... or wheel if you want)

We nearly bought one viewt, but the boot is in 2 parts, there is the original March boot, then in front -or behind if you prefer- there is the extension, and the door weight half a ton, without and damper... (nearley killed mahself with this crap)

[Yokohammer]

Say the guy who need a shoehorn to step inside his beemer...

You don't "step inside" a Z4 roadster (unless the roof is open).

You sorta squirm in and then expand in the cockpit, enjoying the space and comfort you find inside.

[SIZE="1"]By the way ... are we getting a little OT here?[/SIZE]

[matsuki]

Say the guy who need a shoehorn to step inside his beemer...

Strangely enought, I had much less problem with the driving position in the March K12 and K13 than in the Note, who is really starting to wreck my right knee and hips...
Trouble being the March K13 is ugly as sin... much prefer the badge engineered Renault Pulse:

This looks much much better

You don't "step inside" a Z4 roadster (unless the roof is open).

You sorta squirm in and then expand in the cockpit, enjoying the space and comfort you find inside.

[SIZE="1"]By the way ... are we getting a little OT here?[/SIZE]

LOL, are you saying Germans engineered it for an octopus?

[Mike Oxlong]

[wuchan]

You don't buy a Z4 roadster

This needed fixing.

[Yokohammer]

Originally Posted by Yokohammer
You don't buy a Z4 roadster

This needed fixing.

I suppose if you really prefer tractors ...

But nope, sorry, I'm siding with my Z4. Great fun! You don't know what you're missing!

(Jeez ... and I thought I was a grumpy old fart ... )

[gaijinpunch]

They're trying hard to make it illegal to be a man elsewhere, too...

Mangina ring is more like it.

[Coligny]

I suppose if you really prefer tractors ...

But nope, sorry, I'm siding with my Z4. Great fun! You don't know what you're missing!

(Jeez ... and I thought I was a grumpy old fart ... )

Yeah... the fun of a RWD convertible driven on the snow around maniacs...


(Wont stop any better... but at least will start)

[Yokohammer]

Yeah... the fun of a RWD convertible driven on the snow around maniacs...
(Wont stop any better... but at least will start)

Yeah OK, that is a point. The Z4 is crap on snow (which is why I also have an FWD wagon fitted with winter tires).
Fortunately we don't really get enough snow around here for it to be a serious problem. Nothing like the ridiculous piles of it you're probably seeing on the news ... which is all on the Sea of Japan side (don't tell the Koreans I said that). There's no snow on the ground here at all at the moment. It's still freezing f*cking cold though. Brrr!