@lewm
I was born in '51. The "made in Japan" joke stayed around to the early 70's when Toyota & Honda started being imported, IME. Then too, much of Europe was destroyed and of course 2, big cities in Japan also. Plus their economies were ruined. They often didn't have the right tools or materials for quality IMO. But craftsmen are in every society. The difference usually comes down to the item they produce and how similar the product you ask them to produce is in their "wheelhouse". There is usually a learning curve.
I was born in '51. The "made in Japan" joke stayed around to the early 70's when Toyota & Honda started being imported, IME. Then too, much of Europe was destroyed and of course 2, big cities in Japan also. Plus their economies were ruined. They often didn't have the right tools or materials for quality IMO. But craftsmen are in every society. The difference usually comes down to the item they produce and how similar the product you ask them to produce is in their "wheelhouse". There is usually a learning curve.