Nakasone to U.S.: Cater to Japanese Needs to Sell More

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone of Japan told American businessmen today that they could do a better job of selling their products in Japan by putting steering wheels on the right side of their cars and providing instructions written in Japanese.

Nakasone, in the United States for the 40th anniversary of the United Nations, said in a television interview that American businesses should take more trouble to cater to Japanese needs.

“Some problems I see with Americans is that, for example, they do not change the steering wheel of the cars exported to Japan to the right side of the car,” he said.

The Japanese, who drive on the left side, change the steering wheels of cars they export to the United States.

“When various products are exported to Japan from the United States, it is very rare that we find instruction manuals written in Japanese,” Nakasone said.