U.S. DOMESTIC MARKET CAR AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET CAR REGULATION

When a guy just brought Honda Fit from Japan and he already owned US-Spec Honda Fit, he realize that his JDM Honda Fit look different to his USDM Honda Fit. When he also brought Mitsubishi Pajero from Japan and he also already owned Mitsubishi Montero, he realize both same models have different name. JDM car speed gauge is just only show kilometer, but USDM car speed gauge use both mile and kilometer. Both steering wheel arrangements are arranging different. Both countries model are base on their government regulation.

US Spec Honda Fit (top)  vs. JP Spec Honda Fit (bottom)

Safety regulation are critical to all countries. However, the model is appear differently.  Like the bumper length since 1974, European market car bumper length is short while in the US, their regulation of the bumper was longer than bumper in International market. The US bumpers are more massive and farther from the bodywork.

Taillight and head are also different in the market. US headlight in 1940-1983 era required sealed beam headlamps while international headlamp required composite headlamps with aerodynamic covered lenses. Taillight regulation is also different too. For example, Euro Spec Mercedes-Benz is equipped with brake lights that flash quickly in response to hard brake pressure while U.S. brake lights are allowed to glow more brightly than the tail lamps and flashing is off-limits. For example, US version of BMW M5 E34 headlights equipped with free form headlight instead of ellipsoid headlights and fog lights in Europe.

Euro Citroen DS Headlamp (top) vs. US Citroen DS Headlamp (bottom)

The mirrors in US market are different to other countries. U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 requires that convex side view mirrors must have a curvature radius of between 889 mm and 1651 mm and not allows for aspheric mirror.  Safety Standard 111 also require the driver side mirror  to provide “unity magnification, an distorted 1:1 reflection achieved with a flat mirror.  The European ECE Regulation 46 permits planar, convex, and aspheric mirrors on either side of the vehicle and also requires that mirrors be mounted such that it swing away when struck by a test cylinder meant to indicate a pedestrian.

Flat Mirror (left) vs Aspheric Mirror (right)

The engine power are different compared in the other countries. For example, JDM Honda Integra engine has more power than USDM Acura Integra. The emission laws in the US cause car in US spec to dull down the Integra’s engine and then shipping to the US a waterdown Integra.

Car model name are different in worldwide. Car model name is base on appropriate language in foreign countries. Remember the first blog from the “Translation Confusion”, some models didn’t sold well in different countries because the name. Like Vauxhall Nova, Nova is only sell in UK while the other European Coutries named Nova as Opel Corsa because in Spain, Nova is really mean “it doesn’t go.” Another example, Mitsubishi Pajero is name after Pampas Cat, but in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries, “pajero” is unintentionally obscene slang for “wanker.” So, Spanish speaking countries call it “Montero”, mountain hunter, instead. In UK, Mitsubishi Pajero renamed as Shogun. Not all car model name that are insulting, but foreign market can change name such as Japan called Mazda Roadster instead of Mazda Miata in the US. Also, Japan called Nissan Fairlady Z instead of 370Z in the US.

Pajero is what other countries called.

The U.S. and Spanish speaking countries would called Montero due to insulted word.  You should say, “Wankermobile” or “Wanker Wagon.”

Overall depend what car you imported from? The UN regulation and US regulation are just simply difference. Therefore, it’s doesn’t matter. Safety is matter.

Is Your Foreign Currency Worth It As US Dollar?

UN recognizes 180 currencies as legal tender. Not all the currencies are same amount of US dollars. Some currencies worth more than dollars. Some currencies worth you a penny. When you exchange US dollar to foreign currency, you must convert foreign currency to US dollar to see how valve it is. Foreign currencies is depend on the wealthy of the countries.

Some currencies worth more than US dollars. Because country with valuable currency earn good economy compared to the United States. How worth a Swiss franc in US dollars? It equal to $0.99 (right now $1.03). Switzerland has a stable prosperous, and high-tech economy. One Euro worth a $1.07 (right now $1.06). Euro is the currency of EU since 1999. It replace West European countries currencies include French franc and German Mark except United Kingdoms and Switzerland. It is second most traded in the world behind dollar. One Pound Sterling equal to $1.51.

Most valuable currency in the world is Kuwaiti Dinar. How worth it is? One Kuwaiti Dinar is equivalent to $3.30. Kuwait is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Kuwait is also one of largest exporter of oil in 2013 and has the sixth-largest oil reserves in the world as of 2014. In US, we have suffer economy issue especially the Obama care.

Those most valuable currency doesn't really mean that the currency is better investment option or that it represents a better economic and health care.

Most of currencies from Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia are inferior to US dollars. Japanese Yen is worth a penny. Dong, South Korean Won, and Zimbabwe Dollar were a housefly or empty pocket.

Vietnamese Dong was suffered devaluation since embargo from Cambodian-Vietnamese War. One Vietnamese Dong worth no penny. How many Dong to exchange for dollar? It's take 22477.50₫ to convert to one dollar. It's that worth it? No, it worthless. That why Top Gear crew attempted to buy the Fiat with 15,000,000₫, but Fiat cost 560,000,000₫ (that equal to $24875.20 and £16,447.77). Top Gear crew's dong were a $440.57. Top Gear's money were enough to buy used motorbike instead of car.

The world worthless currency of all time is Zimbabwean Dollar. To convert to US$ 1, Zimbabwean dollar were ZWD 250,000,000,000,000. This is how you win a lottery, but you got one US Dollar. In June 2015, Zimbabwe discontinued the world worthless currency to favor US Dollar.

Iran Rial, currently the world worthless currency, exchange rate is 30027.00 IRR is equal to dollar. Iran Rial was devalued since UN passed a sanction against Iran because of Nuclear. Every currency suffered devalued because of economy crisis, war, and sanction. North Korean Won is also good example of sanction and poverty cause of devaluation. However, North Korean will take 900 North Korean Won for $1.00.

The worthless currency isn't just apply to property, economic, and politic. For example, South Korea is bunch of industry and good social life. However, South Korean currency, Won, is too inferior to US Dollar and even North Korean Won is little more valuable than the South. The exchange rate of South Korean Won to one dollar is equal to 1148.89 South Korean Won.  

Whenever you want to collect currency as souvenir, you have convert foreign currency to US Dollar to deter is that worth it?

Hanfu: The Real Chinese Traditional Dress

Since late 17th Century, worldwide already recognized the Chinese traditional dress is truly cheongsam. Is that true? Recently in 21st Century, a Chinese man in Zhengzhou, Wang Letian, was the first person to wear forgotten dress called hanfu in public in the 21st Century. His clothes was inspired others to follow the forgotten dress in 2003. Now, Malaysia and Singapore already aware of hanfu movement. I was realize about the dress is truly forgotten from long time ago.

Hanfu Movement in London

When I was kindergarten, I started to know about hanfu since my dad watched the Chinese drama in Vietnamese dub. But, I didn't recognized the name of the dress. In my second grade, I watched inaccurate Disney Mulan, and I admired Mulan's dress. But, I still didn't know the dress name. Since 2012, I surfed in internet, and I founded the name of Chinese traditional clothe, and it's hanfu. First, I thought kimiono was origin in Japan, but now it's Chinese influence in Japan. Not just in Japan. Hanfu was also influenced in Korea and Vietnam. Korea is hanbok. For Vietnamese dress in beginning, I already know áo dài as Vietnamese folk costume. And now, I know áo giao linh, old Vietnamese folk dress in ancient time before Nguyen Dynasty. In US, lot of typical Chinese dress is cheongsam and even some modern Chinese movie and anime. In that time, I was confused.

When I do research about the Hanfu, I founded out hanfu was started 3000 years ago. Hanfu was invented in Shang Dynasty, 1600 BC to 1000 BC. Hanfu consisted of a yi, a narrow-cuffed, knee-length tunic tied with a sash, chang (narrow skirt), and bixi (a lenth of fabric that reached the knees). Hanfu is made of silk and painted in red and green.

Shang Dynasty Hanfu

In the beginning of Western Zhou Dynasty, hanfu began to the distinction between classes. Most decorated dress, length of a skirt, and the wideness of a sleeve is based on rank level. Sleeves was made wider than in Shang Dynasty and yi tunic was also closed with jade decorations with a sash tied around the waist. The collar were crossed and tied to the right while skirts and trousers depend in length from knee-length to ground-length.

Typical Han Dynasty Hanfu for women.

Eastern Zhou Dynasty invented shenyi (the deep robe). Shenyi is a combination of tunic and skirt, and now, it considered that it's part of clothing shaped into shenyi. Shenyi can be worn by anybody. A complete hanfu developed in every dynasty. Now, hanfu consist in each part: Yi - which is any open cross-collar garment and is worn by both gender, Pao - any closed full-body dress, which is only men can wore, Ru - open shirt with cross collar, Shan - open cross-collar shirt or jacket which is worn over the yi, qun or chang - a type of skirt which both gender can worn, and Ku - a type of trousers. It is traditional to decorate hanfu with tassels and jade pendants or ornaments, pei, hung from the sash.  Men wore hat while women wore hairpieces in combination with hanfu. The headgear is based on marked profession or social rank.

Ming Dynasty Hanfu for women

Men Typical Hanfu

Typical Tang Dynasty for Women

Emperor Wu's Hanfu

In 1644, Manchu conquered Ming Dynasty and forced people to wear Manchu style clothes instead of hanfu. People who protested was executed. Men have to shaved hair. In the end of Qing Dynasty, hanfu was disappeared except Confucius and Buddhist monk. Han people favored the western-style dress. Most of Han Chinese wear western-style clothe while hanfu is worn rarely except monks and priests. Since 2003, hanfu is now worn during festivals, ritualistic ceremonies, graduation, and historical recreation.

Jet Li's hanfu in Hero (Chinese film)

Here some photo galley of hanfu:

Aoqun

Banbi

Zhiju

Contemporary hanfu 

Daopao

Panling Lanshan

Shenyi 

Zhiduo 

After I learned all about the hanfu history, I am truly admired hanfu. I consider hanfu is a true national dress of China. But, cheongsam is totally overrated because it's combination of Manchu dress and western-style dress. Cheongsam was invented in 20th Century. Cheongsam is not originated in China, but it's originated in Manchuria. But, I know everybody have a limited knowledge. However, hanfu is one most elegant national dress in China.

Translation Confusion

Not all the appropriate language are positive. Some positive language can be intentionally obscene to foreign language. Verbal language is just similar to gesture. For example, inverted V-sign in US mean "two" in American sign language. But in UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, inverted V-sign is equivalent to US middle finger. Also, a-ok gesture is not offensive in US. But in France, a-ok mean "you're worthless." The marketing name, slogan, title, and movie character name can have different meaning in foreign language. Some of language is unintentionally insulting in translation. Here well known example from brand name, model name, quote, title, and etc.

Chevrolet Nova sell well in the United States. In Hispanic countries, Chevy Nova didn't sell well because Nova really mean "it doesn't go." Simply I say, Chevrolet No-go. Vauxhall Nova, British version of Opel Corsa A, also has similar problem with translation in Spain. Therefore, Opel kept name "Corsa."  In 1993, Vauxhall Nova was renamed Corsa.

Mitsubishi Pajero, SUV model, was named after Pampas Cat, Leopardus pajeros. In USA and Spanish speaking countries, "Pajero" was renamed "Montero", Spanish meaning for mountain hunter. Pajero is vulgar slang for wanker. Just called Pajero the wanker wagon or wankermobile.

Other Japanese car manufacturer made similar situation in translation issue. Mazda LaPuta, a Mazda version of Suzuki Kei, is named came from flying island in Gulliver's Travels, but LaPuta is only sale in Asia. LaPuta in Spanish is really mean "the whore." Nissan Moco, a Nissan version of Suzuki MR Wagon , is also only sale in Asia. Moco is really mean "snot/booger" in Spanish. Honda Fit was called "Fitta." Honda Fit is only in Japan, China, Asia, and USA. In Europe, Fit was renamed "Jazz" because "Fitta" is refer to female genital in Norwegian and Swedish. So, Honda simply called "Fit" instead of "Fitta." Toyota MR-2 didn't go well in France because pronunciation in French was sounded like "merde." Merde is mean "crap" in French. 

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was originally planned to be called Silver Mist. In German, "mist" is really mean "manure." Rolls-Royce model is just simply "Silver Shadow" instead.

The worst car of all time, Ford Pinto, didn't go well in Brazil. In Brazilian Portuguese, "pinto" is vulgar slang for "male genital", but pinto is named after a pinto horse. 

Ikea model GutVik bed for kid was an issue in Germany. Because GutVik is translated as "Good F-Bomb." GutVik in Sweden is a name of very small town. Ikea also have problem with Fartfull workbench and Jerker computer table. 

Nokia Lumia made poor sell in Spain. Nokia Lumia realize they learned to late. Lumia is mean "to prostitute" in Spanish.

Tokyo base Sega is shorten name for "service game", but is refer to "male masturbation" in Italian.

  

Clairol "Mist Stick" didn't sold well in Germany. Similar to Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, "mist" is really mean "manure."

In 1983, Coors created a mascot called BeerWolf for Halloween season. BeerWolf's catchphrase is "Turn it loose!" When it was advertised in Spain, it was lost in translation when it come as "Suffer from diarrhea."

In China, Coca-Cola was named "Ke-Kou-Ke-La", but it was translated as "bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax." It was renamed to "Ko-Kou-Ko-Le", roughly translated as "happiness in the mouth." Also, KFC slogan "finger-lickin good" translated in Chinese as "eat your finger off." In Taiwan, translation of Pepsi's slogan, "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation", into "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead."
  

When Pope John Paul II visited in Miami, Florida in September 1987, enterprising man attempted properly translated "I see the Pope" in Spanish. He put "la papa" instead of "el papa"; so, it  translated as "I see the potato." Enterprising man founded himself a subject of public ridicule. 

Parker Pen slogan is "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." However, company made mistake when company made an advertisement in Mexico. Company thought "embarazar" mean embarrass in Spanish, but it translated into "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."

  

US English and British English both have same word, but different meaning and accidentally rude. For example, Mario Party 8 didn't sell well in UK because Kamek, Mario Party's character, say "spastic." Spastic in American English mean clumsiness. But in Britain, spastic refer to cerebral palsy. In UK version, spastic was changed into "erratic." In US English, "faggot" is refer to "homosexual man" while UK English is refer to kind of meatball from Britain. 

You finally realize naming brand and creating slogan are not easy to introduce to international. So, beware of translation confusion.