Tokyo Commuter

Asia is the Future

I am an American who has lived in Asia for about 14 years. I am often surprised by what I hear coming out of America (as amplified by CNN). But I am much more amused when I hear particular Europeans consider themselves to be "internationalized" because they act concerned about events in other European nations. They learn other European languages and feel very cosmopolitan, like New Yorkers who in times past congratulated themselves when they went on holiday to Texas or California instead of the Hamptons. A European involving themselves in the affiars of other Western European nations doesn't make one "global."

The result of insular thinking is that I see relatively fewer European companies aggressively building in Asia. They prefer to congratulate themselves when they succeed in Spain.  Eastern Europe is the absolute frontier.

Despite what Europeans think, I believe that America's shift from West to East is viewed by Europeans as Americans ignoring the rest of the world, but it is actually just ignoring Europe. Americans are still in love with European culture, but recognize that Asia is the future. Hence over the past few decades we have seen a shift of a lot of power from America's east coast to the west coast. More and more people in the U.S. are looking to the future.

Unfortunately we are forgetting our roots, our past, in Europe.

Alternative Investments

Now that every investment manager in Tokyo is building out their Alternative Investments divisions, I wonder when Alternative Investments will stop being called Alternative Investments. Once it is mainstream, it is no longer Alternative. Soon the category will be sort of like Alternative music, which has been around so long that now it is hardly an alternative form of music.  This opinion is offered as an Alternative to the conventional wisdom. If you disagree, please feel free to offer an Alternative explanation.