MovieChat Forums > Rising Sun (1993) Discussion > Japan's Economy

Japan's Economy

posted 10 years ago by joebofet
8 replies | jump to latest

What did Japan's economy crash two or three days after this movie came out? If anything, this story is an example of how good writers like Michael Crichton can sometimes be complete idiots at the same time. Not only was everything he predicted conserning Japan's superiority due to conservative practices in business and their personal lives incorrect, but it was proven incorrect almost directly following the release of this terrible movie. Stay out of politics, Chrichton, and stick to writing stories about bringing dinosaurs back to life.

[–] mikko-sandt 10 years ago

Yeah there were tons of people in the US back then who were downright *beep* of Japan's rise. They were calling for all kinds of trade restictions despite Japan being an important ally. (The backstory about microchips was based on what actually happened a few years before the movie got out.)

[–] graham-167 10 years ago

Same thing is happening now with the Chinese.

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[–] wrs6565 9 years ago

The book reads like an extended Wired magazine rant on Japanese business practices from the early 90s that happens to have a generic sex murder mystery thrown into it, and I don't even know if Wired existed then. The way Crichton simply throws his own views into his characters' mouths was hilarious.

As for Japan, well, wasn't there an argument that they weren't really a terribly creative people? That what they really did was take other countries' products and then find a way to work really hard to come up with their own versions and then beat their enemies that way?

[–] janus_keinaerts 9 years ago

So, you're saying that "If you sit by the river long enough, you will
see the body of your enemy floating by"?

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17735) 3 years ago

Yeah the book was dated as well as his later polemic State of Fear. Everyone has an off day. But the movie turned out fine.

[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

also it just makes sense. post ww2 the USA economy was a behemoth. Every single rival/ other powerful nation had been involved in ww2 and been destroyed. whether ti was million of dead men, or their factories and infrastructure bombed and destroyed. American production was booming. The US was in a position to lend billions, then have that money used to buy more American products, further stimulating their economy. other nations had to spend hundreds of billions just to get technologically where the US was at in terms of production capabilities (not output) and they had to buy all that shit form America.

after was a solid 25 year golden age for America with others playing catchup. And while the USSR was powerful in some ways, its impossible to know their true economic capabilities.