Last night, I had a conversation with a friend in Japan, who showed me a set of data revealing that China has overtaken Japan across nearly all of the country’s historically celebrated pillar industries.

Home appliances: At its peak, Japan held around 90% of the global market share; today, it accounts for roughly 7%, while China commands about 50%.

Display panels: Once monopolizing 95% of global production capacity, Japan now holds only 3.5%, with China capturing 52%.

Shipbuilding: Previously responsible for half of all new orders worldwide, Japan’s share has now fallen below 10%, while China claims 70%.

Photovoltaics: Once dominant in core technologies, Japan has largely exited the sector, with China accounting for over 90% of global shipments.

The most striking shift for Japan’s automotive industry lies in exports. For four decades, Japan maintained the top position in global vehicle exports, peaking at 30% of the world market. That position has now changed—China’s vehicle exports have surged to first place globally, with a 35% share, while Japan’s has declined to 13%.

My friend noted that this transformation is palpable in Tokyo. Where once Japanese attitudes toward Chinese manufacturing were marked by indifference or disdain, there is now a growing sense of scrutiny—and in some cases, concern.

This trend extends beyond high-end manufacturing. Japanese firms are also losing influence in everyday consumer markets.

A few years ago, Japanese fashion styles dominated the wardrobes of young people in China. Popular Japanese streetwear items often required purchasing through intermediaries at inflated prices. Today, domestic apparel brands have caught up, matching premium standards in fabric quality and craftsmanship. During major sales events like Singles’ Day, the cost advantage of Chinese brands becomes even more pronounced, with companies such as Anta, Xtep, and Bossini seeing rapid growth on platforms like VIP.com. Youth support is increasingly driving Chinese cultural output into mainstream prominence.

Five industries, five distinct narratives, yet one shared outcome—an outcome both surprising and instructive. What deserves deeper attention is that while Japan continues along its established path, China has already begun shifting direction.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880203558054921/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.