Samsung and Alibaba Thriving as Japan Lags Behind Chinese and Korean Companies on the Champs-Élysées
The workshop for making bracelets in the colors of the Olympic rings is very popular among children. There will also be a variety of other events, such as introductions to Chinese products and Chinese food tastings. Alibaba is the Worldwide Partner of the Paris Olympics. This year’s Olympics are being optimized for power consumption and venue capacity with AI provided by Alibaba. To showcase its commitment to the environment, the store is made of wooden materials and recyclable steel. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase the technological capabilities of Chinese companies. We want visitors to know that China is the most technologically advanced country in the world” (pop-up store clerk).
While companies representing China and South Korea were competing for the prestige of their respective countries, there were no pop-up stores of Japanese companies such as Bridgestone, Toyota, and Panasonic, which are also official sponsors of the Olympics.
Toyota used to have a showroom on the Champs-Elysées, but they have already pulled out. Panasonic and Bridgestone are a world apart from Samsung and Alibaba in terms of international name recognition. Even if they open new stores, they will not attract people. It is frustrating, but that is the reality. Like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft, most of the world’s most famous companies today are technology companies like Alibaba and Samsung. I never thought I would see the difference in national power on the Champs-Elysées. …… It makes me sad to think that Japan is falling further and further behind the rest of the world.
On the Champs-Elysées, there was one pop-up store that originated in Japan.
It is Onitsuka Tiger, operated by ASICS, a well-known sports fashion brand. The building is decorated in yellow, the brand’s color, and displays works by Japan’s world-class artists. Onitsuka Tiger plans to open a flagship store on the Champs-Elysées next year, and this time it is also a publicity campaign for that purpose. However, if we had one more corporate store that could compete with Chinese and Korean companies, if we wanted, we could go to ……. Some people may think, ‘We don’t need to compete with other countries,’ but it is in our future national interest to showcase our country’s technological capabilities at international events like this,” he said.
There is no doubt that Onitsuka Tiger is a world-class brand that Japan is proud of. However, is it only the reporter who senses the decline of Japan’s national power when looking at the flourishing booths of Samsung and Alibaba?
