This document compares and contrasts Japan and the United States across political, economic, social, technological, and cultural dimensions. Politically, Japan has a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government while the US has a federal republic with a constitution-based system. Economically, both countries have large GDPs and workforces, though Japan's economy relies more on exports like automobiles to the US. Culturally, Japan scores higher than the US on dimensions like power distance and uncertainty avoidance according to Hofstede's model.

1. Amandeep Kaur
Christy Powell
Sherry Tai
Alexandra Vera

2. Toyota Corporation

3. Political
Japan United States
 Constitutional monarchy with
a parliamentary government.
Japanese constitution includes
a bill of rights similar to the
U.S Bill of Rights
 Federal republic
Constitution based federal
Republic
Strong Democratic tradition
Limited regulation from the
government

4. Economic
Japan United States
GDP
$5.960 trillion (2012)
Industrialized, free market
economy
Third largest in the world
Labor force
64.97 million workers
Fourth largest export market for
United States goods and services
Motor vehicles: 13.6 %
Auto parts: 4.6%
Export to the USA: 17.7%
GDP
15.68 trillion (2012)
Market oriented economy
Imports
Consumer goods (includes
automobiles) 31.8%
Labor force
159.1 million workers

5. Social
Japan
United States
 Population
127.6 million (2012)
Birth Rate
8.23 births / 1,000
population
Life Expectancy
83 years old (2011)
 Population
313.9 million (2012)
Birth Rate
13.66 births / 1,000
population
Life Expectancy
79 years old (2011)
Vehicle usage
around the
World

6. Technology
Japan United States
 The worlds largest market for
hybrids
 Among world’s largest and
technologically advanced
producers of motor vehicles.
 Rapid urbanization also weakens
the demand for automobiles because
Japan’s cities are connected with top
quality public transportation.
 People are finding that owning a
car is not a necessity.
 The US has the largest and most
technologically powerful economy in
the world
 Being risk-takers, no other country can
imitate it’s technological creativity.
 David Kirkpatrick, Fortune senior
editor said,” this is the country where
some of the most important
breakthrough products are still being
created”.

7. Culture
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Power Distance
Japan is more conscious of hierarchical position
while the United States everyone has equal rights.
Individualism
Japan is more collectivist where as the U.S are
more individualistic.
Masculinity
Japan is the most masculine in the world, they
drive for excellence and perfection. The U.S. live
to work to earn their money and higher status.
Uncertainty Avoidance
Japan is most UA on earth because of the constant
threats of natural disasters and changes are so
different to realize in Japan. In the US they accept
new ideas, new products and are risk takers.
Long Term Orientation
People in Japan see their life as a very short
moment, you do your best in your life time and
that is all you can do. Their business is to serve
the stakeholders and society at large for many
generations to come. The US is more short term
orientated where the business performance is
based on a short term basis and profits are on a
quarterly basis.

8. Analysis
Japan was recuperating from the recall of Toyota products and Toyota was on
its way of recovering from the recall fiasco that affected 14 million vehicles
worldwide.
On March 11, 2011 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan and caused many
damages to the Toyota manufacturing facilities.
The earthquake shut down 11 nuclear power reactors and nearly 10% of
Japan’s electrical power generation.
Production was stopped in Japan and American car manufactures were to
concerned because they rely on the Japanese companies for auto parts.
The American manufacturing factories cut production because of the parts
shortages but didn’t fire any employees.
Since Japan is high in masculinity dimension, Toyota’s president and
member of the founding family he repeatedly said the company remains
committed to keeping production and jobs inside Japan.

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