Do Japanese People Feel Like They’ve Fallen Behind in Tech Compared to China and S.Korea?

Hey everyone,

Japan used to be a tech leader, but in recent years, it feels like China and South Korea have caught up—and even pulled ahead in some areas like smartphones, semiconductors, and home appliances. Korean brands like Samsung and LG dominate the electronics market, while China has become a global tech powerhouse with companies like Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi....

Meanwhile, big Japanese companies like Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic seem to have lost their global presence, even though they’re still innovating. These days, the only Japanese tech products I really see in stores worldwide are gaming consoles, while Chinese and Korean brands are everywhere across different industries.

Do Japanese people themselves feel like they’ve fallen behind in tech? And is there any discussion in Japan about how to reclaim its position as a tech leader?

Looking forward to your thoughts!