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When did this happen? Arn't you that Down-under guy?
Or are you a Freelance type?
Anyway, those Japanese youth don't have access to much else for hobbies. Japan has 30% the population of the USA cram packed into a Country the size of California. They can't dream of owning a V-8 Mustang Convertible or taking up Golf. The Lucky Educated ones share a 400sq.ft apartment with an Ice-box the size of a suitcase. They are gourmand cooks but the cost of groceries is 5 times the price of any USA grocery store, I've see 4 Japanese sharing a Hagendaz Ice Cream Bar! No wonder they're all skinny. God bless em.
My Daughter-in-law is native Japanese, now living in Sacramento, Staff for the Trader Joes Organization, liv'n life LARGE compared with her life in Japan! She owns a New Subaru Forester and travels the World. She and her Japanese girlfriends all own headphones!
But, In my World Travels, I see women everywhere wearing the little white wires!, even Jason Stoddard's lovely young wife wears white wires. Not my 70 year old Wife though.
As far as that Signage is concerned, I'm happy to live without it. We still seem to be doing close to 10 Billion Dollars in Headphone Sales, not even close to our Car Audio channel or (dare I mention it) iPhone Audio channel!
Those Japanese love the Bass heavy, closed designs in bubble-gum colors & gorgeous packaging. It's the only way they can get a "Legal" dopamine buzz. Let em have their fun, I'm not the slightest bit jealous.
Hafta say that I hardly ever meet anyone as polite as the typical Japanese, hard to think that we were ever at War with them.
Tony in Michigan
ps. I admire your writings, closest thing to Christopher Hitchens or P.J.O'Rourke in Audio journalism. You'd make a great Auto Industry Writer!