"Made in Japan," can be found stamped on products sold all over the world, and as labels always do, it leads to certain consumer assumptions. It's no longer just about location of production, it implies a rich history of innovative manufacturing techniques, many of which are tied to Japanese tradition and philosophy.
Although the current economic climate is not ideal, there are a few Japanese industries, such as digital cameras, certain medical instruments and various electronic components, that still have almost 100 percent of their market share. If food and entertainment industries are included, Japan is a leading nation of diverse production that continues to garner interest from all across the globe. And as a nation that considers being not only "number one" but also "only one" (unique) as important facets to success, it's no surprise to see that Japanese culture has fed into the nation's products both in design and production techniques.
"The Sekai-Ichi: Unique Inspirations 'Made in Japan' " at Tokyo's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) takes visitors on a journey through more than 1,000 years of Japanese industry, from ancient traditional crafts to the engineering of Tokyo Sky Tree. By showcasing some of the nation's finest products and pioneering innovative production techniques, it helps explain something particularly unique to Japanese manufacturing: the principle of monozukuri, which is so often too simplistically translated to "making things."