to me, right from day one bitcoin has always seemed to posses a uniquely japanese flavour that i can't quite put my finger on ...
is it satoshi nakamoto? mt. gox welcomed in japan? the strong ethical incentive structures towards network collaboration ahead of competition?
... and all in stark contrast with BoJ's insane money-printing experiments and desperate straits that the centralised fiat experiment has got their economy into, it feels like Japan has a date with destiny in bitcoin or their fates have been inextricably entwined from the beginning ...
Good point, and it is interesting.
From my limited experience, it seems the asian way to deal with an enemy is to keep smiling and talking, all the while you're slowly pulling your weapon from its hiding place. Its perfect in execution, as the foe has zero idea what is coming until it is far too late. In that sense, Bitcoin is enjoying the same benefit - with pending regulation and laws - all the while the network makes inroads and disrupts business models across the globe.
My only concern, naturally, is if we can gain enough critical mass before the danger is perceived by those who would be threatened by it. This is one of the reasons I'm a bit pissed at the Bitcoin Foundation for basically shouting "OVER HERE" to the government's Sauron-like gaze. It seems they shortened the timetable considerably with that foolish act of trust. However, we have a good chance to prevail, whatever iteration of the Bitcoin protocol survives.
