TieCon 2007 – What’s Wrong with Japan

Posted by Bill Belew on May 18th, 2007 in Japan | No Comments

I am hanging out at the TiECon 2007 in Silicon Valley…today May 18th and tomorrow May 19th.

More about that here.

What I am looking for here are a couple of things….

1. Entrepreneurship and Venture Capitalist activity, trends, inclinations in Asia.

2. # 1 above…particularly in China, India and Japan.

What I learn, or in some cases don't learn, I will share here.

For example –

Last evening Nobuyuki Idei, the former CEO of Sony sat on a panel. He shared his ABCs of what's wrong with Japan.

A – Japan is Aging

B – Japan is too much bureaucracy. He served as chairman of Japan's powerful Keidanren….so, he ought to know.

C - Japan is a Closed society. Japan can not lose its island mentality and still wants to do things their own way without outside influence – think…keep immigration to a minimum.

Hmmm….one more thing.

What brought Japan out of its 10+ year funk? Nothing that Japan did. The growth of economies worldwide has influenced Japan enough to bring Japan's economy back to life…outside influences…

When will Japan learn?