PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

Why U.S. Cars Struggle to Sell in Japan

 

Despite the popularity of American culture in Japan, U.S.-made cars have never gained a strong foothold in the Japanese market. The reasons go far beyond personal taste—they are tied to structural, economic, and cultural factors that make it difficult for American automakers to compete.

 

1. Size Matters
American cars tend to be larger, both in length and width, than Japanese roads and parking spaces are designed for. In Japan’s dense cities, where narrow streets and compact parking spaces are the norm, maneuvering a full-size American sedan or SUV is simply impractical for many drivers.

 

2. Car License Tax Based on Vehicle Size
Japan’s car license tax system heavily favors smaller vehicles. The larger the car’s engine displacement and dimensions, the higher the annual tax. This immediately puts U.S. cars—which often have larger engines—at a financial disadvantage compared to compact Japanese models.

 

3. Consumption Tax Favoring Domestic Manufacturers
While Japan applies a standard consumption tax, certain subsidies, incentives, and tax breaks are structured in ways that benefit domestic automakers. This makes locally produced cars more affordable and attractive to consumers than imported alternatives.

 

4. Support Infrastructure and Dealer Network
Japanese automakers have extensive dealership networks across the country, providing easy access to sales, maintenance, and parts. U.S. automakers, by contrast, have far fewer dealerships, which means less convenience for potential buyers. Without a strong network, after-sales support becomes a major concern.

 

5. Availability of Skilled Mechanics
Most mechanics in Japan are trained primarily on domestic brands. Specialized knowledge, diagnostic tools, and parts for American cars are harder to find, leading to longer repair times and higher maintenance costs for owners.

 

Conclusion
For U.S. automakers, breaking into the Japanese market has always been a challenge. Without adapting vehicle design, pricing, and support infrastructure to Japan’s unique environment, American cars will continue to remain a niche choice for a small group of enthusiasts rather than a mainstream option.

 

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/536831/why-us-cars-struggle-to-sell-in-japan

 

 

 

Starting October 1, 2025, the State of Washington will begin requiring businesses like ours to charge sales tax on services such as web hosting, web development, and other digital services.

 

Up until now, these were considered “non-taxable services” under Washington State law, meaning they were not subject to sales tax. This change effectively treats these services the same way as physical goods when it comes to taxation.

 

What’s even more concerning is that this decision was made without a public vote. There was no direct input from the people of Washington — the very individuals and businesses who will be impacted. Instead, it was pushed through at the state level, adding a new cost burden to both service providers and customers.

 

For small businesses, startups, and organizations that rely on affordable web services, this means higher costs starting this fall. For providers like us, it also means the added responsibility of collecting and remitting sales tax on services that have never been taxed before.

 

While the state sees this as a way to increase revenue, for many in the tech and service industries, it feels like yet another example of policy changes made without meaningful public discussion or consent.

 

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/536819/sales-tax-on-services

 

 

 

 

PSPINC as a Technology Company

Since the very beginning, PSPINC has always believed in building things ourselves.
There are plenty of companies that resell other people’s services, but we never chose that path. The reason is simple — that approach doesn’t allow you to make the small but important adjustments that customers often need.

 

The Dreamersi hosting service and the various SaaS products we offer are all planned, developed, and operated in-house.
We manage our own servers, write our own code, and provide our own customer support. This gives us the flexibility to add features or change specifications based on our clients’ needs.

 

Another important part of who we are is our role as a behind-the-scenes partner.
We don’t just operate under our own brand — we also work through OEM arrangements and joint development projects with partner companies. Even if our name isn’t in the spotlight, we’re there, powering their business like an engine that keeps things running smoothly.

 

Technology is only a tool.
But whether you can create your own tools or not can make a huge difference in your company’s future.
PSPINC will continue to use our own technology as a strength to support the growth and success of our customers and partners.

 

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/536815/pspinc-as-a-technology-company