Most Japanese companies moved up from the bottom in developed countries, but they have chosen to enter developing countries at the top of the consumer pyramid. Afterward they have struggled to move into the middle and low-end segments, where economies of scale and scope - and profits - can be found. As a result, these companies are at risk of becoming also-rans in the world's fastest-growing markets.
That poses a threat to their very existence. After all, growth in the developed economies is slowing to a crawl.
