[camus2]

The difference is Japan had it's own industry right from the start,it was its way,like Germany to be proud again after WW2.

It was not american brands manifacturing goods in Japan, it was Japan copying US products and selling them at a cheaper price, with an acceptable quality.

[ams6110]

I remember Japan running rings around US products from a quality standpoint, not just being "acceptable." This is quite unlike China where the default quality is crap (though you CAN get good quality from Chinese manufacturing, you have to demand it and do your own QA to be sure you're getting it).

[busterarm]

You might want to rethink your opinion on this. It's much more accurate to say that the default quality that most outsourcers are willing to pay for is crap. It comes down to going for the lowest price and poor description of requirements from overseas.

The last few years I've been getting tons of small-run, custom manufactured goods from China, ranging from custom keyboards (and CNC'd aluminum cases for them), custom electronics (mostly routers), to handcrafted belts and tailored clothes. All of them are of absolutely outstanding quality and all of the communication I've seen demonstrates some incredibly skilled craftsmen who take pride in their products.

A lot of the knowledge/experience is gone from US manufacturing.

Once they figure out customer service (which is generally poor, but good with some shops), you're going to see a lot more people doing what I've been doing.

[crdoconnor]

Japan used to make crap too, before they moved up the value chain (as China is doing now).

[leokun]

China has its own quality brands. Lenovo comes to mind. Lenovos are probably some of the best laptops out there.

[jonknee]

Purchased from an American company though (IBM). Are there any home grown Chinese brands that are seen as quality?

[pm90]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haier

[welly]

Chamonix View Cameras (http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/) are stunning and incredibly well made. All I can think of off the top of my head.

[crdoconnor]

Huawei make a lot of good stuff nowadays.

[dublinben]

Oppo is the undisputed quality leader in BluRay players.

[vidarh]

Xiaomi springs to mind, though they're not marketed much outside of China (high end, $500+ Android phones)

[seanmcdirmid]

I own an X1 Carbon, its ok but still only half as good as the fruit. Living in china, I'm not sure what is made and designed here that I would say is really quality....mauve noodles?