Abstract

This article focuses on the political and economic development in the microelectronics industry in Japan as of June 1984. By 1970, it was clear that the Japanese computer industry was in trouble, despite the several efforts described above. The special seven-year law enacted to help the industry that was passed in 1957 and renewed in 1964 was due to expire in 1971, and the time was ripe for new legislative action. The concern of the government was that foreign companies, particularly U.S. companies, would take over the Japanese computer industry. That the Japanese computer industry has come from way behind to be a world-class competitor is undeniable. That the principal impetus for this success has come from the competitive drive of each individual company is equally clear. None of the joint research efforts was so important as to have singlehandedly raised the industry to a new level. Indeed, most were of modest significance. Today it is doubtless to say that the U.S. and Japan are no different when it comes to their computer industries.