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Greg Lane’s 2008 Predictions in Japan Inc: The Olympics in China

The new edition of Japan Inc magazine is out, and it contains a nifty set of five predictions by contributor Greg Lane. The one I find the most intriguing concerns China and the Olympics. Here’s Greg’s take:

Don’t expect a wave of ‘Cool China’ in the same way that the ‘02 Football World Cup triggered a wave of interest in all things South Korean. China will however loom ever larger in the Japanese consciousness as the world’s media turns its glare on the slick, shiny showcase taking place in Beijing throughout August. Despite the Games happening in Japan’s backyard and large numbers of enthusiastic supporters making the short trip over, don’t expect too much of the Japanese Olympians. Dismal results in recent athletics and judo world championships as well as fired-up Chinese athletes mean that Japan could take home its lowest medal haul since the paltry three golds won at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

I completely agree on the first part. There will be nothing at all like a “Cool China” wave. No 中流　(churyuu), if you will. There’s bound to be at least one athlete blaming poor performance on bad food. This time, though, they might not even be lying.

I expect to see the media provide a weird Jekyll/Hyde type of coverage on the games in China: When Dr Jekyll gets the camera, food will be featured. There will be close-up shots and oishiis galore. B-list talents will eat Peking Duck, and proclaim it scrumptious. Someone from SMAP will suddenly be an expert on Chinese cuisine, though he’ll probably be missing the ramen back home. Dr Jekyll will also have a few features on ‘cute’ Chinese athletes, and the tall guy who tends to dominate the 110m hurdles (sorry, if an athlete’s not on the Red Sox or Patriots, I have a hard time remembering their names).

Other than that, I expect to hear Mr Hyde in the background, grumbling about pollution, traffic, rudeness, people spitting in the streets, people peeing in the streets, people pooping in (or near) the streets, getting ripped off, double hotel charges, etc, etc. There’s bound to be a negative undercurrent in some media coverage of the games. Then again, one can easily argue that there legitimately should be.

Anyway, go read Greg’s full article.

Disclaimer: This author is also in the same issue.

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