politics

Japanese bemused by Trump bowling ball car test claim

47 Comments
By SAUL LOEB

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47 Comments
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Ah yes. The result of a yet another "in-depth" study by the Trumpster.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

Lotsa theories about where that came from, divided into two types: "he's an idiot" and "he was just kidding (but is still an idiot". Spin has more, particularly a link to that Nissan CM that may have gotten the ball rolling. https://www.spin.com/2018/03/trump-japan-cars-bowling-ball-test/

6 ( +9 / -3 )

It was a joke. Nothing to see here.

-27 ( +5 / -32 )

I'd like to test the current president the same way.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Again, Trump is full of BS on this issue and really doesn't understand why nobody here wants to spend their hard earned money on American cra.., I mean American products.

I'm an American living in Japan and I won't buy U.S. products here.

Why?

An IBM laptop computer screen that went blank the first week I bought it. I requested a new one, but they refused. So I sent it in for repairs, a month later it came back. The same thing happened again a few month later. Sent it back again, waited a month for it to come back. Just after a year the same thing, but now they told me I'd have to pay for repairs as the warranty had run out. I told them, "I'm not going to and I'm never going to buy another one of your computers again."

U.S. cars? I've never owned one here, but one of my Japanese friends bought a Ford Mustang here in Japan. His story was remarkably similar to my own experience with my IBM computer. He had problems with his car within the first few weeks. The problem? I would just die. He wanted the car replaced feeling it was defective. Like IBM, Ford told him they couldn't do that and to send the car in for repairs. The exact same scenario repeated itself several times until they told him that he'd have to pay for repairs now as the warranty had run out. Like me with my IBM experience, he told Ford that he would buy a new car and that he would stay away from Ford and the other American auto makers.

The American companies operating in Japan just don't get it when it comes to after service care. Making and keeping customers happy is key to Japanese companies, but the American companies don't give a damn about making and customers happy.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

"It’s horrible, the way we’re treated. It’s horrible."

Every morning, Donald. That's how I feel every. Freaking. Morning.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

Free trade and globalism has a lot of problems and it is true that many lost jobs and companies went bancrupt as a result. But was it not promoted by U.S.? There are many American companies profiting from it and consumers as well.  By the way, cars are tariff free item in Japan.  Since globalism began GNP of the third world increased greatly.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Trump makes it all up as he goes along.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Pfizer, Zimmer-Biomet, Nike, Stryker, Boeing, AIG, Dell, Eli Lilly, HP, Levi’s & on and on in every sector of the economy. Yeah, US companies just don’t get this hyper-demanding market.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

It was a joke. Nothing to see here.

Trump never jokes, he has no sense of humor. Borderline sociopaths are humorless. No, this was

what he truly believes, Some think he is confusing a Letterman stupid trick episode and trade policy.

That is much more likely that he was joking, which he never does. He is a joke but he does not joke.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

It was just a joke, pretty obvious. Trump frequently uses gross exaggerations.

There are a few Jeeps in my neighbourhood, obviously some people are happy to buy big American cars. But they look pretty tough to park in to the tiny car parking spots.

-11 ( +6 / -17 )

I don’t think US cars will ever make it in Japan TBH, they just don’t have the same quality reputation as Japanese and German cars. There are loads of other industries however where American companies excel and dominate so maybe focus on those

6 ( +8 / -2 )

In my j-hood, the only people who have jeeps are Yankees or bosokusa. They have no manners and can’t park properly. But I’m not comparing Jeep owners in japan to the worlds most powerful Man. Maybe.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Trump making up his own 'fake news'.  Just a tad hypocrytical?

This borders on racism.  Making your own country the victims of another country, stamping on others to raise yourself up. 

Joke?  Was the punchline 'It's horrible, the way we're treated. It's horrible'?  Doesn't sound like a joke to me.

Shades of Aso and putting your foot in it.

In the end, Trump is, again, giving negative, derogatory comments about other countries based on...well, nothing really.

John Cage (Ally McBeal) would have one word... 'Please!'

6 ( +9 / -3 )

It was a joke, says Fake45’s fakeChristian mouthpiece.

Except... Fake45’s FanBase NEVER takes Anything he says as a Joke. To them everything that Spews from the CheetoHead is THE GOSPEL. Now, millions of uneducated voters believe Japan drops bowling balls on foreign cars.

They will ignore that Toyotas built in the US have more US-made content than Chevys or Fords. Because the OrangeIdiot hasn’t said so. And he never will because it doesn’t fit with his agenda of MakeTrumpRicher (which he sold to his fanbase as MAGA).

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Fake or not. I am tiered of this President.

I am in agreement with the thought of needing more American dealerships in Japan.

And Yankees and Bozo's are not the only ones buying Jeeps. What a stupid assessment. That's is a discussion for another day. But seriously Trump has got to go before America losses all credibility. The Japanese rightly so should be upset by his not so humorous comments. The twittering. The firing. The radical behavior and excessive repeating himself. Can we please get a viable Republican candidate that can work with both sides of the isles America? Please? Another two and half more years is it? What a joke. Bowling balls. Jeesh! Enough already. Sorry I am not a fan. Egomaniac that guy Trump is.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

For my fellow JT Japanese readers: Is this your first taste of Trump's madness?

For most of us living over here, it's like watching a reality show happening somewhere else. For Americans there's way to much of his banter going around. Trump's tweets and what's going on in his head is like being sucked up into a tornado and seeing a cow flying in there with a basketball hoop around it's neck.

It really is the upside down.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Stormcrow

I cannot understand why it is only in Japan, that people seem to have so many problems and issues with American products.

When I traval I often buy things from the USA and get good quality, and good service along with aftercare service.

I can only deduce that the problems you have unfortunatly experienced only happen in Japan.

But back to the main issue. Good to see a President with a sense of humour.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

It's a joke about non-tariff barriers that are used to skirt around WTO rules rather than openly implementing proper tariffs that are easier to retaliate against. See some of the ridiculous rules that the EU has about food labeling to protect their industries against competition. Countries have been using non-tariff regulations to implement mercantilist/protectionist trade policies for decades.

Trump never jokes

It's hard to understand how someone could honestly believe that Trump doesn't have a sense of humor. It just seems like an attempt to deny objective reality in order to avoid acknowledging that someone they dislike could have any potentially positive qualities.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Good to see a President with a sense of humour.

It would be good to see a President with a sense of humour.

There you go Ex_Res, tidied that one up for you

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Although Trump is joking- he is pointing out that Japan has many built in trade barriers, this is why there are huge trade surpluses. Some one mentioned Coca-Cola. Tell me one thing about Coca-Cola that is not manufactured in Japan?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

President Trump's sense of humor isn't great. I guess that's something all people with a poor sense of humor don't get - that others think their humor sucks. He should stop.

Too bad he don't know or care that his attempted jokes impact peoples' lives, negatively.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's hard to understand how someone could honestly believe that Trump doesn't have a sense of humor. LMFAO well Im glad to see that you have a sense of humor Illyas, well done! As your aware, humor doesn't always need to have be derogatory or a insult attached to be funny. Ive got one, Trump doesn't actually wear a toupee and orange tan, thats actually his real hair and skin color.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

he is pointing out that Japan has many built in trade barriers, well then why does the EU and 10 other TPP countries have a FTA with Japan, America is more than welcome to join in if they like.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Speaking of cars, many years ago, when Japan was building their automotive industry, every new model of American cars, were purchased by Japan, put on a Japan Airlins freighter and flown to Japan.

The American cars were driven over rough roads, severly tested, taken apart and coppied in many ways. Again, this was years ago.

Trade barriers, yes at that time, American cars intering Japan had to be stripped and rewired. This is also true for refrigeration also.

Japan and there are others that cleverly build in hidden trade barriers to inhibit and greatly drive up the cost of imported goods. Today, especially agricultural and processed food.

I am amaized that many people do not see or understand as to why Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and others have for many years large trade surpluses in their favor.

Yes, Donald Trump is correct, "America has been had! Enough is enough!"

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Although Trump is joking

The old 'bowling ball car crash test' shtick isn't really ticking any comedy indicators for me. If he was joking, it's a rubbish joke and shows he doesn't have a sense of humour.

If he wasn't joking, it shows he's an imbecile and doesn't have a sense of humour.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

An IBM laptop computer screen that went blank the first week I bought it. I requested a new one, but they refused. So I sent it in for repairs, a month later it came back. The same thing happened again a few month later. Sent it back again, waited a month for it to come back. Just after a year the same thing, but now they told me I'd have to pay for repairs as the warranty had run out. I told them, "I'm not going to and I'm never going to buy another one of your computers again."

stormcrow, your anti-US prejudice is misguided. If you bother to check, you'll find you'll find your laptop is most likely made in China. And checking further, you'll find that IBM ThinkPad laptops and tablets are owned by Lenovo, a Chinese company based in Beiing, who bought the IBM personal computer division back in 2005.

The next time you fly on JAL or ANA, it will most likely a Boeing aircraft......a U.S. product. Or didn't you know that?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Im not sure why the attention is on cars, if Trump, for example convinced apple to build more in the US then more US made would be brought.. or anything that people actually wanted but tis always easy to blame someone else.

The majority of US cars however, simply don't suit Japan, the size of engine and fuel usage, designed for a different purpose, long straight multi-lane highways, and while its improving the build and material quality has been lacking.

I visit the US regularly and the size and type of cars that are more likely to be useful in Japan on US roads aren't American cars, they are European, Japanese or a lot of South Korean. (perhaps Trump thinks all the Kias and Hyundais are Japanese?)

To the point of an earlier poster about Japan copying car designs, there is some truth to that, in that early on car companies did get overseas models and look at the design and use them as reference, but they weren't American, they were Golfs and Minis from what I have heard.

I recently purchased a car, and went with a Japanese maker, I considered some europeans cars but not american even once, of the cars in the categories I might consider the engines simply don't produce a reasonable amount of power for the size, and I really am not fond of the design as much as the US makers are trying to make their compact cars more inline with Japanese and European design.

On top of which is the service level, while to be fair I have never bought an american car if my experience with US customer service in general (work makes me fly united sometimes) is anything to go by... no thank you.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Halwick

Last time I checked, IBM was an American company.

Anyway, their service is terrible. Never again.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@stormcrow,

You said you had an IBM LAPTOP computer.

Lenovo bought the LAPTOP division of IBM, not the whole company.

ThinkPad is a line of laptop computers and tablets developed by Lenovo. The series was designed, developed, and sold by IBM until Lenovo acquired the division and brand in 2005. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkPad

And I agree with you, its service is terrible.....what do you expect from a Chinese company?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I am going to present some facts here.

Active grill shutters. Designed by Ford engineers. In almost every manufactures car made on the planet.

Toyota Megacruiser- Copied off an H-1

Mitsouka coaches- Copied of Morgan.

2018 Honda NSX-designed by Michelle Christensen an American.

New Toyota Supra. Yet to be released- Sorry JDM gear heads to disappoint it is a BMW German.

Now do you think the President knows these facts? The fact is most mass made products are coming from parts assembled all over the world. It is so intertwined its like trying to read the Tokyo train routes after a bottle of Tequila while seeing double. Each car is designed for that part of the world here it we will be driven. There are only a few Auto manufactures left in world that make their own parts. As hybrids and EV's take hold of consumers. It will become even more diversified. Are there bad cars? Yes by design. Trump wanted to discredit Japanese auto makers with his bowling ball antics. Sorry to say but Trump don't know dump! How he became a real state tycoon and mogul is beyond me. So you do not like American cars. I get it. I am not defending America. Next time you turn the key or hit the start button in your vehicle. I can pretty much guarantee you. You have parts in your car that American made. Chinese made. Korean Made. And God knows where else. Trump is all hung up on the Badge of the car not being seen on every Continent (fact) . Not fair he cries! Tariffs he cries! The fact is he trying to expand American interests in all the wrong ways. I am sorry. He is a bully and has no clue about global business etiquette.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Halwick

I purchased my laptop back in the day before it was sold to the Chinese.

Truly lousy service. Never again.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

President Trump has guts and is not afaid to speak out to tell the truth- which may seem crude to some.

He is no fool, he knows much about the sly clever hidden trade tacticts of our so-called trading partners that has annually, for many years, created huge trade surpluses in their favor.

All Trump has ever asked for is a fair playing field that is truly free trade.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Mr. Bone Spurs has been telling lies all his life. Don't expect anything to change.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The next time you fly on JAL or ANA, it will most likely a Boeing aircraft......a U.S. product. Or didn't you know that?

Well...actually many parts that go into Boeing aircraft are sourced from outside the States. In the Dreamliner for example - and in terms of Japanese input - Jamco makes parts for the lavatories, flight deck interiors and galleys; while GS Yuasa manufactures the lithium-ion batteries used in the aircraft's electrical power conversion system.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

President Trump has guts and is not afaid to speak out to tell the truth- which may seem crude to some.

We have already established that he was not telling the truth. Some state that he was joking, but I don't see anything particularly funny about it.

He is no fool, he knows much about the sly clever hidden trade tacticts of our so-called trading partners

He is a fool quite clearly. If he genuinely knows about the sky tactics, why didn't he describe an actual trade barrier rather than a made-up one about a product that no one wants to buy anyway.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Trump the comedian. Bowling ball test, very funny.  From a man with a high IQ - uh?? Whatever the implication, the message is clear: you can keep your dented hood automobiles.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Trump claimed in a fundraising speech 

This is all you need to know to not take this serious. If you do, then you shouldn't be allowed to operate a toaster.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Trump is frustrated because Asian countries are not importing made in USA cars. He believes Toyota and other Japanesee brand name car makers. in USA are American industry.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sony and many other Japanese companies manufacture their products in USA. Japanese companies do not force Japanese standard to other countries.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

American automakers also create factories outside of USA. GM, Ford, Chrysler.in China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let's just say it's true, and car companies have to test with bowling balls. I'd be interested to see what passes

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ray PayneMar. 17 11:20 am JST

Tell me one thing about Coca-Cola that is not manufactured in Japan?

The flavoring.

The can, water and manufacturing is done outside the USA for outside the market outside the USA, but the Coca-Cola flavoring is made in the USA and delivered to the factories outside the USA. To keep the secret of the flavoring a secret.

Seen a program several months ago about it.

.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is the way Trump talks and tweets all day long from White House. Probably Japanese are. used to now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In USA, cars are left side handles. In Japan, right side handle.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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