Despite the criticism leveled against Toyota over car safety, Japanese still largely view the world's largest automaker with pride — so much so that some wonder whether pressure on Toyota in the U.S. is a ploy to boost American automakers and undermine Japan Inc.
"I think the Americans are going overboard," said Hirouki Komiya, 40, a Tokyo restaurant employee. "Maybe it's Japan-bashing, because the trouble at Toyota, which has the world's No. 1 share, is a big opportunity for its American rivals."
That notion may seem far-fetched to the millions of Toyota owners in the United States and around the world whose confidence in the company has made it the world leader — and are now simply worried about the safety of their cars.