RE:I think you'll find that the Japanese aren't famous for inventing  anything new."

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 No offense, but I do not believe that this comment is very accurate.

I have studied the history of Honda Motor Company and while I am sure that Mr Honda analyzed other manufacturers products there is very little in common between early Hondas and vehicles from the US or Europe.

 Henry Ford himself was known to purchase and disassemble competitors vehicles inorder to learn how they had overcome some difficulty that he was facing.

It is easier to build a better mousetrap once you have seen how someone else approached the problem, but you do not have to.

Mark in AK