If you are Japanese who live in a foreign country, you probably have found "what makes Japanese people." I had not understood well when my American friends had told me that I was "very Japanese" until I left Japan.

When I ask Americans what is the most significant image of Japan, they usually say some names of Japanese company or their products: Sony, SHARP, Panasonic, MITSUBISHI, TOYOTA, HONDA, Nissan, Nintendo, Minolta, Nikon, YAMAHA, Canon, Fuji(XROX), Seiko(Epson) - these are the names that everybody knows.

Indeed, I was surrounded with all these company's products in Japan. Nothing special but ordinary. I'd thought that Americans did not think much of them - they would use American products only - until I came to the States. So I was amazed that when I looked at the Japanese products everywhere in the States. Why do Americans buy Japanese products despite the American government complain about the excessive importation of Japanese goods? Sure, I would rather use Japanese products, but this is not why that I am Japanese - It's because of the Japanese products' quality.

I believe that most Japanese people are picky - Well, I should say "perfectionist." Because we do not want to hear complaints later, we try to solve any possible bad problems before in market. We are "good" at looking at the negative side. This way of thinking is opposite to the American's - We count our mistakes we made, then subtract them from the full score. We don't count correct points.

The inspection for the new products is extremely thorough and systematic. They do not let any products that did not meet all the complete qualifications out in market. They wouldn't discount to sell those less-qualified products. "Quality comes first, not the quantity" - This develops people's trust towards the Japanese products.