--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd not underestimate the competitive…" description: "\"I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the Japanese people.\" — John Roos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg" --- # I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the… ![“I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the Japanese people.” quote by John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg) > “I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the Japanese people.” [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognize Japan’s strong competitive drive and strategic capabilities. **In simple terms:** Japan is highly competitive. Key Takeaway Respect and learn from Japanese strengths. Themes competition culture strategy Mood respectful strategic Type observational motivational When to use this quote - business negotiations - market entry - cross‑cultural teamwork Key Concepts Economic power national identity Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage Japanese strengths without over‑reliance? - What other markets deserve attention? A Different Perspective Overemphasis may ignore other global players. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Japanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japanese/) [Japanese people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japanese-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) ## Related quotes > [As an American, you appreciate the importance of our security alliance, the importance of the economic ties between our two countries, and while I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/as-an-american-you-appreciate-the-importance-of-our-security-alliance/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [I think Japanese people like teamwork. Sometimes they don't try to be No. 1 or different to other people. That can be good but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-japanese-people-like-teamwork-sometimes-they-don-t-try-to-be/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [All through the years since World War II, the Japanese people have, I am convinced, made strenuous efforts to preserve and promote world peace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eisaku-sato/all-through-the-years-since-world-war-ii-the-japanese-people-have-i/) [Eisaku Sato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eisaku-sato/) > [Japanese people can feel some attachment in what they are making, whether it is a car or a TV or a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/japanese-people-can-feel-some-attachment-in-what-they-are-making/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Japanese people accept that art and commerce will be blended; and, in fact, they are surprised by the rigid and pretentious Western hierarchy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/japanese-people-accept-that-art-and-commerce-will-be-blended-and-in/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [The situation now is not easy. But I believe in the good sense of the Japanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katsuya-okada/the-situation-now-is-not-easy-but-i-believe-in-the-good-sense-of-the/) [Katsuya Okada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katsuya-okada/) > [I'm afraid Japanese people tend to collective hysteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-yanai/i-m-afraid-japanese-people-tend-to-collective-hysteria/) [Tadashi Yanai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-yanai/) > [In Japan, I was immensely impressed by the politeness, industrious nature and conscientiousness of the Japanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-japan-i-was-immensely-impressed-by-the-politeness-industrious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Japanese people wouldn't come up with ideas of blood splattering all over. Japanese focus more on the intricacies of the actions, the motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoshi-tajiri/japanese-people-wouldn-t-come-up-with-ideas-of-blood-splattering-all/) [Satoshi Tajiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoshi-tajiri/) > [In fact, the whole of Japan is a pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people… The Japanese people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-fact-the-whole-of-japan-is-a-pure-invention-there-is-no-such/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The Japanese people have a strong connection with nature and the ocean and a huge respect for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berehulak/the-japanese-people-have-a-strong-connection-with-nature-and-the/) [Daniel Berehulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berehulak/) > [Japanese people, they're not really one to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirai-nagasu/japanese-people-they-re-not-really-one-to-complain/) [Mirai Nagasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirai-nagasu/) > [They do not depend upon mere legends and myths. They are not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-do-not-depend-upon-mere-legends-and-myths-they-are-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am worried that young Japanese people are not very curious about the outside world - which is so different to the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-am-worried-that-young-japanese-people-are-not-very-curious-about/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Japanese people tend to be much better adjusted to the notion of work, any kind of work, as honorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/japanese-people-tend-to-be-much-better-adjusted-to-the-notion-of-work/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) ## More by John Roos > [Growing up in California, I obviously knew about our deep connections with the Japanese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/growing-up-in-california-i-obviously-knew-about-our-deep-connections/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [What people often ask me is, 'What are the ingredients of Silicon Valley?' While the answer to that is complex, some of the ingredients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/what-people-often-ask-me-is-what-are-the-ingredients-of-silicon/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [My career was always about working with people, and understanding issues and problems and helping them to solve those issues and problems. How you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/my-career-was-always-about-working-with-people-and-understanding/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [I'm inspired by the example of Prime Minister Abe, who overcame many challenges after his first term as prime minister to successfully return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-m-inspired-by-the-example-of-prime-minister-abe-who-overcame-many/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [As an American, you appreciate the importance of our security alliance, the importance of the economic ties between our two countries, and while I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/as-an-american-you-appreciate-the-importance-of-our-security-alliance/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [In running Wilson Sonsini, it's all people-to-people skills. Those people-to-people skills translate into diplomatic skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/in-running-wilson-sonsini-it-s-all-people-to-people-skills-those/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [As the U.S. ambassador to Japan, I see this challenge of our younger generations not knowing each other as well as the prior generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/as-the-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-see-this-challenge-of-our-younger/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [For the sake of future generations, we must continue to work together to realise a world without nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/for-the-sake-of-future-generations-we-must-continue-to-work-together/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [Japan is a well-educated, technological society. It is a free society, protects intellectual property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/japan-is-a-well-educated-technological-society-it-is-a-free-society/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [Diplomacy is fundamentally working with people, bringing people together to deal with difficult issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/diplomacy-is-fundamentally-working-with-people-bringing-people/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [Direct flights facilitate business. They facilitate business-to-business collaborations. I think anything that makes it easier to bring two areas together is a significant benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/direct-flights-facilitate-business-they-facilitate-business-to/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [I wanted to make sure that I didn't spend all my time in Tokyo. I'm the U.S. ambassador to Japan, not the U.S. ambassador…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-wanted-to-make-sure-that-i-didn-t-spend-all-my-time-in-tokyo-i-m/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [People talk about Japanese kids as being inward-looking. But my experience is that if you offer them an opportunity, they'll take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/people-talk-about-japanese-kids-as-being-inward-looking-but-my/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) > [A successful entrepreneur can't be afraid of failures or setbacks. An initial setback can be a great opportunity to take a new and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/a-successful-entrepreneur-can-t-be-afraid-of-failures-or-setbacks-an/) [John Roos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) [Explore all 15 John Roos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/) ## More Competitive quotes > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [My dad is a competitive guy. That's a part of me. It's just a certain drive, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/my-dad-is-a-competitive-guy-that-s-a-part-of-me-it-s-just-a-certain/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [In any competitive environment, whether you're in sales or marketing or whatever it is, you have to know your competition, understand who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/in-any-competitive-environment-whether-you-re-in-sales-or-marketing/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) > [I just love this sport and it's so competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-love-this-sport-and-it-s-so-competitive/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Everyone must be in the same competitive situation, including on the fiscal level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/everyone-must-be-in-the-same-competitive-situation-including-on-the/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [Uruguayans are competitive, and we always want to win. Even though we try to hide it, it is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/uruguayans-are-competitive-and-we-always-want-to-win-even-though-we/) [Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/) > [I'm quite competitive. Not with other models but with myself. I have to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arizona-muse/i-m-quite-competitive-not-with-other-models-but-with-myself-i-have-to/) [Arizona Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arizona-muse/) > [I'll miss the competitive side and the camaraderie of being around the players and competing each and every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ll-miss-the-competitive-side-and-the-camaraderie-of-being-around/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [We always want to see each other do well. And I think we all want to win. As competitive as you are, you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/we-always-want-to-see-each-other-do-well-and-i-think-we-all-want-to/) [Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/) > [Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajashree-choudhury/any-physical-practice-can-be-a-competitive-sport-what-level-you-can/) [Rajashree Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajashree-choudhury/) [Browse all 1,008 Competitive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the Japanese people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Roos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-powers-of-the-japanese-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competitive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-powers-of-the-japanese-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-roos-33164_competitive_i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-po_1591898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd not underestimate the competitive powers of the Japanese people.” — John Roos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Roos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd not underestimate the competitive powers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-powers-of-the-japanese-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roos/i-d-not-underestimate-the-competitive-powers-of-the-japanese-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```