An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (September 17,2012) describes automobiles made in Thailand by Nissan but ported back for sales in Japan. At 1 million yen, it is 65% of the price of a Japanese made car and 34 % of the small car volume sold by Nissan. The article cites “an aging population, strong yen and improved manufacturing overseas” as the driver for these flows. Given the Japanese focus on monozukuri or making things, does this trend suggest a rethinking of that focus or just a temporary economic reality? Will Japanese companies that continue to make in Japan focus on higher technology intensive but light product, or on design and technology transfer to plants located across the world ? Will increases in fuel costs or a demand for sustainable supply chains reverse this trend?