colonel32 Wrote:America is used to being the source of cheap goods for the rest of the world, whereas Japan is more inward-looking. Maybe.In my experience this is certainly the case, however, those Japanese firms who do try to be more "outward-looking" provide an excellent service. CD-Japan.co.jp is one good example, but of course they specialize in music. Amazon.jp appears to be a nightmare. Books-wise, I've ended up going to Hong Kong based suppliers such as YesAsia for Japanese books because they make it so much easier. However, they are entertainment oriented, so I'm pretty sure you can't get text books there.
I have a friend who has had dealings with the manga publishers in Japan and getting deals out of them - however potentially favourable from their point of view - is like getting blood from a stone. They seem to be much less keen on selling us their cultural output in contrast to their industrial output, as, of course, Japan would not be where it is now if it hadn't been keen on selling us hardware of every kind over the last 50 years or so.
I suppose the flip side of their detachment has meant that fan-subbed TV anime and drama can be freely downloaded without incurring the wrath that typifies the western (particularly American) media industries' attitude. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.