Japanese Media: "Japan's Manufacturing Lost to China"
Article from "Bunshun Online" website on April 7, original title: "Manufacturing: Japan Loses to China," subheading: "Chinese products, once merely cheap, are no longer what they used to be." Since the beginning of this year, discussions about high-end smartphones and home appliances made in China have been ongoing. Sony announced it will split its television business and transfer relevant operations to a joint venture established with China’s TCL. At the world’s largest mobile communications exhibition, MWC, Chinese manufacturers showcased phones equipped with gimbal cameras and other advanced features. Humanoid robots debuted during China’s Spring Festival Gala amazed audiences... As someone who has long followed high-tech products from China, I thought this wave of enthusiasm might gradually subside, but then more new developments kept emerging. This repeated pattern leads me to feel that this year is particularly different—China’s technology industry is growing increasingly powerful.
Recalling 20 years ago, there was a Sony store in the city center of a certain Chinese city, where robotic dogs attracted many Chinese customers, their eyes filled with wonder and aspiration. Back then, I remember resting on the street while using a Sony mini notebook, and young Chinese people nearby kept marveling at it. Today, China has risen strongly in robotics and home appliance sectors. Walking into Japanese telecom stores, one can see numerous Chinese brands like Xiaomi and OPPO. Japanese home appliance retailers and discount stores now sell Chinese-made TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc., often at highly competitive prices. Chinese home appliances also offer premium models that rival Japanese brands in both quality and design aesthetics. Chinese brands that have firmly established themselves overseas have long shed their image as "cheap and low-quality."
Chinese brand mobile phone batteries and accessories occupy prominent positions in many shops. Delivery robots seen in Japanese chain restaurants are mostly made in China. These Chinese products are affordable, feature innovative functions, and frequently run promotional campaigns designed to attract Japanese consumers.
Chinese companies actively engage in influencer marketing, proactively offering trial products and collaboration opportunities with Japanese bloggers to break into the Japanese market. Whenever such topics arise, people often say, “Japan’s manufacturing has lost to China.”
The introduction of AI-powered robotic vacuum cleaners has spurred the rise of Chinese companies in this field, steadily increasing their global market share. Chinese smartphones and televisions not only continue capturing larger portions of the global market, but their companies are also gaining valuable experience in successfully expanding into international markets through innovation in emerging technologies.
As Chinese manufacturing leverages AI to enhance product performance, its capabilities continue strengthening, mastering multiple core advanced technologies. Chinese brands are gradually gaining recognition worldwide and achieving strong sales success. (Author: Tsuyoshi Yamaoka, strictly translated)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861910236003530/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.