Japan worried that Toyota's problems could hurt U.S. ties

not wanting to see a revival of the trade wars of the 1980s and ‘90s.

No, that is rarest of the rare possibility looking at the economic conditions of world's No.1 and No.2 - then? Hatoyama should drop US base issue and buy US treasuries not in trillions but aleast in billions.

Japan shouldn't worry too much about the Toyota fiasco hurting ties with the US. They need to worry about not honoring signed agreements with the US hurting ties...

Some see a new wave of Japan-bashing

Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.

This has nothing to do with Japan-bashing, but everything to do with internal quality problems at Toyota.

Remember the elevator issue a few years ago? If that wasn't bashing of a foreign nation, I don't know what was.

It seems fine for the Japanese to bash foreign companies and such, but want to make a fuss when something happens to one of their own. Hypocrites!

U.S. politicians come down in a way perceived in Japan as excessively harsh.

Poor Japan, forever the victim. Mad Car. Japan has no more money left to bribe the US Congress.

Some see a new wave of Japan-bashing that periodically cropped up in the ‘80s during Japan’s rapid expansion into the U.S. market.

Americans have the South Korean option, in automobiles and quality electronics now, and are vigorously exercising it.

"Japanese political leaders and experts worry that the problem—if handled poorly—"IF HANDLED POORLY,you got to kidding me,and that coming from the government.Well this has started my day laughing,lets see what else is in the news.

Toyota - often recognized as the leader on TQM - Total Quality Management, and the Lean Six Sigma process has now bitten the dust. Too much reliance on cutting costs, etc.

Hato should've backed up his "Trust me" statement. Silly clown he is...

The Toyota recall is about making cars safe to drive. The U.S. government and the Japanese government should put politics aside and focus on safety issues if they really care about making car safe.

Shouldn't there be an independent council to oversee the Toyota recall instead of politicians trying to win brownie points?

Here is another article about Toyoda visiting the U.S. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100212/bs_nm/us_toyota

I guess the Americans have a right to get angry when another countries company is selling them dud cars - and that company at first wasn't taking the issue seriously!

Face it Japan, it's not just Toyota, it's lots of little things that are starting to add up that are making you look more and more like a selfish little kid than a team player on the global field.

A random list:

Kicking out U.S. Troops

Continued Whale Hunting

Refusal To Sign Hague Convention

Poor Cars And a Failure to Acknowledge them

Drunken Ministers at International Meetings

And most recently, that goofball snowboarder and his obvious disdain for the centuries old Olympics.

Get with it Japan, you can't pretend to be isolated any more.

Too late Japan it has already hurt it, because Toyota took so long to actually admit a problem.

Let me see. Toyota has saftey issues, people complain and that is japan bashing? My lord Japanese are so paranoid!! Maybe, just maybe people wanted a company as good as Toyota supposedly is not to lie, hide and twist facts. May work in japan where the local sheep have a five minute memory but not other places!! And the us is scared of no one!! Except maybe china... Now japan Inc, bend over and take your medicene, remember to smile and say thank you, just like companies have to do in your domestic Monoplistical (think I made a new word) market.

Japan has also been criticized for its tax incentive program for “green” cars that Washington said unfairly excluded American vehicles. The program has since been expanded to include more U.S. cars.

The first "Green car" tax incentive program ended in last August where 677017 consumers had got subsidies. The program was very fair and applied to those cars, domestic and imports included, which met criteria such as CO2 emission rate and fuel efficiencies. It turned out that majority of those consumers opted for were imports, where US made were just around 8000. Then Sen Stavenou from Michigan came forward and cried out saying Japanese government was discriminating US cars. In October, Washington, now an owner of Government Motors, insinuated "future trade friction" and asked for an "Affirmative Action Program" for US cars in the US-J trade forum.

This led to inclusion of "Hummer" of GM to next Green (!) car tax incentive program.

Japan should worry that faulty Toyotas do not take any more lives in the USA or elsewhere.

Let's see the recall and safety records of all the other carmakers before deciding that Toyota has more or worse problems than other carmakers.

Am I the only one that remembers that the US govt owns GM, which will be the big winner from this...conflict of interest much?

If Japan should've learned anything, heavy dependence on US consumers for export receipts will never realise Japan's independence from US protection.

Japanese political leaders and experts worry that the problem—if handled poorly—could damage ties between the two nations.

IF??? How about, 'has been handled poorly' and, 'has damaged ties'?

All the jobs provided by Toyota for the Americans that their own government cant provide, will assure that the incompetent, money-ravenous, egomaniacal, but very grateful politicians wont say Boo! The incompetents in Washington know who the Bitch and the Alpha male are is this relationship! NIPPON!

The majority of the world respects their car manufacturing abilities..... what other choices do we have? Buy a Chinese car? Hahahahahahaha! That`s is tooooo funny!

Hate to say it but there is a lot more of this to come. Japan was a leader in the 80s but have been sitting in on their butts for the last 10-15 year. Blame the school system - it is going to get worse. Society is going down the toilet, education is gone, health care/pension is getting worse... How can they expect anything from a country who can't get it together??

Toyota was one of the best things to happen to the US as far as Japan is concerned. When the US started it's "Buy American" campaign, Toyota built factories in the US and became "American Made". Even the good ones slip once in a while...the good news is now they will try harder to make up for a damaged reputation...

As a matter of perspective, how many documented cases of Japanese killed by US beef. To my knowledge ZERO. Japanese government response, complete ban leading to billions and billions in lost sales. How many documented cases of Americans killed by defective Japanese cars, in the low 10's and rising. US government response, measured and reasonable request for information and recalls. How can this possibly be construed as Japan bashing?

Being in the White House for a year, Obama and Chicago Co. are still geared for campaigning rather than governing and never made any progress in foreign affaires. This Chicago inner circle is not interested in or novice in diplomacy. No progress in Middle East and Gitmo, snubbed by China in Copenhagen and Beijing. Stumbled health care reform, series of loss in local elections and two-digit unemployment rate at home. With the sound bite of media circus, very likely to use Toyota to give vent to voters frustration over this 44th president.

Good points about green cars, beef, and the elevator incident. If the US handled things like Japan then Toyota would be banned from the US market and the President would have already gone to the US to bow.

In reality, tho, it's silly to think the US and Japan will do anything but get closer as China rises. Methinks the future will have a very strong relationship between the two, with Europe coming back into the fold.

How cars get into politics? Well, if your gov have a high stake of shares in an automaker, is unavoidable. Ad increased unemployment eroding public support to the adminstration and an overreaction is not so dificult to explain.

To be sure, Japan’s political leaders also have been critical of Toyota’s handling of the safety problems.

Toyota is a good example how to wreck a once good reputation. Here is a six point step-by-step guide:

A) Hide your President. Should the press keep nagging what the president is doing during the biggest crisis in your organizations history, then simply explain he is focusing on "genchi genbutsu". That impresses.

B) Should it be unavoidable to present the president, then ensure that no one understands him. Even if he has studied in the US, he shouldn't speak English. Plus ensure no translator is onside, so that CNN must air the conference in the original with the subtitle "No Translation".

C) Solve big problems with the minimum possible. For example if the accelerator pedal gets stuck just add a small metal plate or better advise your customers to drive without food mats and that they should not press the accelerator so hard. That is cheaper. Should it turn out that the problem has a different cause, then simply start another recall.

D) Shareholders come first. Hence even in the mist of the biggest recall ever, increase you expected earnings that impresses your investors.

E) Take your time and let no one push you. Even if some journalists announce the recall of your top seller four days earlier than you , do not confirm anything.

F) Focus on other things; recall recall recall is a bit boring. Instead announce the new company tombola or that for valentine you offer chocolate versions of your car.

Good luck!

Shackle at 03:45 PM JST - 14th February

The majority of the world respects their car manufacturing abilities..... what other choices do we have? Buy a Chinese car? Hahahahahahaha! That`s is tooooo funny!

Korean Cars, Japan is marginalized, get used to it, like a 45 year old punch drunk boxer wandering around lost. Everyone knows your name, but it has a different meaning now...

Toyota dealers in America are hiring extra staff and staying open around the clock. Minimum labor charge of $42.50 for each half hour. Toyota will pay billions in extra American workers salaries.

A variety of good points popping up here and there. Some seem to be continually contentious as the "love-hate" relationship between the US and Japan continues.

It really started anew with the banning of American beef. A totally illogical and illegal move instigated by the J government. Surprisingly enough the US backed down and let Japan have it their way.

Then there was the Bridgestone/Firestone defective tire incidents where, Japanese owned and operated, Bridgestone literally threw Ford motor company under the bus. Claiming no responsibilty whatsoever. Lawsuits proved otherwise as Bidgestone paid out millions to Ford and the rest of matter remains in the US court system.

Most recently the fiasco over the exclusion of US cars in Japans "Green car" auto promotion has once again raised some eyebrows with Americans. There was absolutely no reason, and no reasonable excuse given, not to include US cars. America didn't ban japanese cars in the "cash for clunkers" promo !

Yamaha 4 wheelers, Schindler elevators, Chinese gyoza, Japanese food and packaging scandals- all indicate a different set of standards and safety requirements exist in Japan. Americans appear to be at their ropes end with 19 deaths, more than 200 injuries, and thousands of claims against Toyota. Obviously ties between the two nations have reached a boiling point- at least here in N.A. Time for Japan to come to the table with much more than a half-assed bow and promises to do better. This kettle has been on the stove simmering for years, and it's about to blow it's lid.

Just my opinion, but overall, Japan makes much better cars than America.

The Japanese auot industry will be just fine.

Can you say Tesla? American and Korean cars are the future, quality is better then Japanese now, Japan is just living on its reputation these days, and that reputation is crumbling. Toyota wont post a money making quarter, in, at the very least, the next ten periods. Thats three, to five, years, from now.

It is obviously a software problem.

How many deaths have been proven to be a result of defective cars, and not driver error?

"How many deaths have been proven to be a result of defective cars, and not driver error?"

Great question ! But I would focus on the reverse- how many deaths were listed as "driver error" but in reality were because of an auto defect in the brakes or gas pedal. An independant investigation will have to go through all the accidents where drivers appeared "failed to negotiate" a turn, slid off wet or icy roads, or simply drifted into oncoming lanes or off the road completely. Looks like the death total will rise substantially now that we know what to look for and those NHTSA execs who were preventing investigations have been exposed.

Japan will not be dictated to.

Japan will not be dictated to.

Apparently, Toyota will.

"Japan worried that Toyota's problems could hurt U.S. ties"

I think Japan is deftly afraid now- especially considering how many of these defective Toyotas are now being recalled in Japan. Sad state of affairs when Japanese citizens seemed to not care about the issue as long as it was in America, China, and Europe- but now ? They are worried- That breeze you just felt was my head shaking side to side in disgust.