Japanese Metal Stolen To 'Feed China's Olympic Boom'

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 3-5-2007 | Justin McCurry

[blam]

Japanese metal stolen to 'feed China's Olympic boom'

Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Monday March 5, 2007
Guardian Unlimited (UK)

A worker pushes parts of a motorcycle at a scrapyard in Guangzhou, southern China. Japanese authorities claim metal stolen across the country ends up with Chinese metal merchants. Photograph: Color China Photo/AP

The next time Japanese children turn up at their local park to find that their slide has disappeared overnight, they could try blaming rocketing world metal prices. Stainless steel slides are among a growing list of metal objects to have vanished in Japan in a spate of thefts that police are blaming on rising copper prices and the insatiable appetite for scrap metal in booming China.

Last year, 5,700 such robberies were reported in locations as far apart as Shizuoka, Hiroshima and Okinawa, the national police agency said.

Thieves have made off with a bizarre array of items, including incense holders from graveyards, hundreds of metres of copper wire, and the roof of a public toilet. Police estimate the damage is worth 2bn yen and fear that the spree is far from over, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

Industry insiders have been quick to point the finger at China, where the stolen metal is allegedly sold as scrap to feed a construction boom ahead of next summer's Olympics.

"Growing demand in China has created a lucrative market over there," one told the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

[TexGuy]

I remember seeing a video on MTV back in my youth (80s) where the announcer said, "And now introducing ... Japanese Metal Masters ... ROUDNESS!" ... and I haven't stopped laughing since.

BTW, It's supposed to be "Loudness"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think that might be my old H-1 in that pile.

[Moonman62]

The same thing happens here in America, except the thieves are usually getting money to buy crack.

[dfwgator]

Japanese Metal?

[ASOC]

THe guy down the street from me has a lot full of junkers, big fat Amrican made junkers. How do I get ahold of one of these metal monsters?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[TXnMA]

I recall, during WWII, my folks talking about all the scrap metal the Japanese had bought from the U.S. being shot back at our troops -- as shrapnel...

[Red Badger]

It happens here, too. Thieves have stolen a lot of "art" and bronze statues from parks just for the copper content..........

[Red Badger]

It looks like a "Where's Waldo" for motorcycles..........

[blam]

"I recall, during WWII, my folks talking about all the scrap metal the Japanese had bought from the U.S. being shot back at our troops -- as shrapnel..."

Then you remember too when 'made in Japan' meant junk.

[GOP_1900AD]

Prior to a well known past war, ironically, Japan was taking in lots of scrap metal, as were Germany and the USSR. Hmmmm .... if I were in Japan right now, I'd be sending letters to my representatives begging for the military to develop nuclear weapons.

[TXnMA]

"Then you remember too when 'made in Japan' meant junk."

Indeed, I do! I remember cheap, stamped and lithographed (printed) "tin" toys -- held together with little tabs stuck through slots and bent over. If you opened them up, the inside surfaces still had U.S. tin can markings...

For years, my worst insult for when our company's manufacturing folks did a sloppy job was a "Made in Japan" stamp...