Q72 Generally speaking, Japan possesses a high level of technology and, in both the automobile and electronics industries, it enjoys flourishing exports, so why isn't it internationally competi-tive in apparel markets?

A72 Japan's textile industry enjoys high levels of technology. In the areas of yarns, fabrics, dyeing and other processing technologies, it leads the world. Internationally famous designers and major brands use many of Japan's materials. However, Japan's textile and fashion industries make insufficient use of the country's strengths in terms of technology and design and, without its own internationally famous brands, it cannot rival countries like Italy and France, so exports are not growing.