In article <3FFFFE55.E4BE1369@yahoo.co.jp>, etakajp@yahoo.co.jp 
says...
 ~ vernon.north@oyama.ca wrote:
 ~ 
 ~ > In article <lPzLb.3039$Wa.2434@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
 ~ > thegoons@bigpond.com says...
 ~ >  ~ Amazing isn't it, the EXPO 2005 in Aichi is supposed to foster international
 ~ >  ~ exchange, yet a look at their website "says it all"
 ~ >  ~
 ~ >  ~ - Tenders for construction services must comply with a specification
 ~ >  ~ document, which they make available only in Japanese language, not English.
 ~ >  ~
 ~ >  ~ - A tender for provision of staff for an international restaurant and stores
 ~ >  ~ facility may only be submitted by hand, mail/fax/e-mail not acceptable; ie:
 ~ >  ~ effectively limiting it to local companies
 ~ >  ~
 ~ >  ~ - Similar tenders for the new Central Japan International Airport
 ~ >  ~ construction and supply of equipment/systems was exactly the same - all
 ~ >  ~ official documentation was provided in Japanese language only.
 ~ >  ~
 ~ >  ~ The Japs are notorious for a closed-door policy. Gaijins can go get stuffed
 ~ >  ~ when there is money or contracts involved, yet they will "make a buck out of
 ~ >  ~ gaijin" by having an International Expo.
 ~ >  ~
 ~ > Do American, Canadian, Australian, and British companies issue
 ~ > specification documents in Japanese?
 ~ 
 ~ Fortunately, English is the international working language, not Japanese, and is
 ~ also more common than French or German, so no, the US does not have to issue
 ~ invitations in all other languages or even every major language. It is however,
 ~ peculiar to issue documents only in Japanese, a language mainly used in a single
 ~ country.
 ~ 
I know the US doesn't have to issue contracts in languages other than 
English, but what would compel Japan to issue contracts in languages 
other than Japanese?  Surely companies from English speaking 
countries can afford translators?  Shouldn't that be part of the cost 
of doing business?

I agree that Japan uses a variety of hurdles as unofficial trade 
barriers, and that this may be one of them.  But IMHO, this is the 
wrong one to focus on since Japan can argue quite rightly that it's 
just following the practices of the complaining countries.

Verno