Japanese Competitors Compete to the Death

A key difference in competitive mindset is that, in their home market, Japanese companies often compete "to the death." Their ultimate goal is to drive their competitors out of business entirely.

This is a fundamentally different approach from the Western model, where antitrust laws and business norms often lead to a state of managed competition.

The Implications for Strategy:

• No Room for Complacency: When competing with a company that holds this philosophy, you must be prepared for a relentless war of attrition. They will not give up easily.
• Rules are a Competitive Advantage: They will play by their own rules as long as they can, especially if those rules (e.g., government support, different capital structures) are more favorable to them. They see this as a legitimate competitive advantage to be used in the war.
• Adaptation to Local Norms: When these companies enter foreign markets, they will conform to local rules and business practices, but their underlying competitive drive remains.

Anyone who competes with a company that has this "compete to the death" mindset must understand that they are in a fight for survival. This is a core tenet of the crusader mindset.