Resources and Technology

In Japan, there are very little resources available. As I wrote before the major resource on the islands is WATER .
Enegy is the first topic to consider when beginning any project.
To build a house, to buy a car or any home product, enegy consumption is the first priority.

Energy is also the first considaration for any manufacurer.
The automobile industry has been facing this vwey problem for at least last thirty years.
I bought the first model of Toyota Prius a hybrid car that operate on gasoline and electricity. This car wsa for the use in Japan during I was there.
( I stationed in U.S. but I needed a small car when I was back to Japan.)
The first model was adequate.
The performance was not very good on the highway; however the vehicle suprisingly consumed very litttle fuel.
My mother has a newer(second) model.
She bought it when she was 80 years old and she had the license plate (080 OLD)!
The newer Prius performs much better.

The war between the U.S. and Japan started in 1941. The Japanese's Goverment made the decision to go to the war because of the the United States Goverment's decision to shut down the oil supply to Japan.

Douglas MacArthur said to the U.S. Congress"Japan feared that of thoes supplies were cut off, there would go to 12 million people unoccupied in Japan. Their purpose therefore is going to war way laregely dictated by security" after he returned to U.S.

There is an old saying for Samurais' " Do not wait to die while you are setting there!"

The "New Samurais" of today who develope new technology are the same but rather than going to war when oil suppliers raise the price, they just find innovative ways of not using as much oil for the enegy, as seen in the classic case of the Toyota Prius.

(Thank you Craig!)

see, http://www.japaneseweapons.com
http://www.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/japaneseweapons