made in Japan
From Japanese factories
Made in Japan indicates Japanese manufacture, appearing on product labels to show country of origin.
The phrase once suggested cheapness—post-WWII Japan flooded Western markets with inexpensive goods.
By the 1980s, Japanese electronics, cars, and cameras had reversed the connotation entirely: made in Japan came to signal quality, precision, and reliability.
The shift remains a textbook case of national rebranding.
Japanese electronics and entertainment corporation
- PanasonicJapanese electronics manufacturer
- NintendoJapanese video game company
- CanonJapanese imaging corporation
- ToshibaJapanese electronics manufacturer
Hitachi · Fujitsu · Casio · Pioneer · Olympus · JVC · Yamaha · Seiko
Japanese car company
- HondaJapanese vehicle manufacturer
- NissanJapanese automaker
- MazdaJapanese vehicle manufacturer
- SubaruJapanese vehicle manufacturer
Mitsubishi · Suzuki · Lexus · Acura · Infiniti · Daihatsu · Isuzu · hybrid
Skilled manual tradesperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- kintsugiMending ceramics with gold
- lacquerwareResin-finished decorative objects
- potteryFired clay objects
Automaton design field
- automationSelf-operating system design
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- breakthroughSudden important advance
research · patents · miniaturization · efficiency · engineering · kaizen · ASIMO · Hayabusa
Accuracy of measurement
- durabilityResistance to wear
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
- refinementElegance of manner
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
high-grade · premium · flawless · authentic · sophisticated · elegant · perfection · aesthetics
Sony
Japanese electronics and entertainment corporation
- PanasonicJapanese electronics manufacturer
- NintendoJapanese video game company
- CanonJapanese imaging corporation
Toshiba · Hitachi · Fujitsu · Casio · Pioneer · Olympus · JVC · Yamaha · Seiko · Nikon
Toyota
Japanese car company
Subaru · Mitsubishi · Suzuki · Lexus · Acura · Infiniti · Daihatsu · Isuzu · hybrid · fuel-efficient
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- kintsugiMending ceramics with gold
- lacquerwareResin-finished decorative objects
pottery · raku · sumi-e · origami · ikebana · bonsai · kimono · washi
robotics
Automaton design field
- automationSelf-operating system design
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
breakthrough · research · patents · miniaturization · efficiency · engineering · kaizen · ASIMO · Hayabusa · maglev
precision
Accuracy of measurement
- durabilityResistance to wear
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
- refinementElegance of manner
meticulous · high-grade · premium · flawless · authentic · sophisticated · elegant · perfection · aesthetics · attention to detail
made in Japanlow-quality
Substandard in nature
shoddy · disposable · unreliable · knockoff · flimsy
made, make, making, makers, unmade, remake, remade, remaking, Japan