[o-n-money]

Three toed sloths hate Trump too.

[wastedyears]

I gotta say, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Japanese did something like that. They’re kinda weird, in an endearing way.

[Bikkuri]

Many American car wouldn’t even FIT on many Japanese streets.
:p

I was very surprised a few years ago when I saw a Hummer driving through Shibuya.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks so much for your support to this point... I personally apprecaite it...
FReepers, it's far beyond time to wrap up this FReep-a-thon.  Lets do it today.  Please chip in.

President Donald J. Trump and the Free Republic of the United States of America
President Donald J. Trump's address to the United Nations on 09/19/2017.

Ramirez political cartoon:  Elizabeth Warren LARGE VERSION 03/15/2018: LINK  LINK to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).
Garrison political cartoon:  the Fall of Hillary LARGE VERSION 03/15/2018: LINK  LINK (scroll down) to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).

FReepers, 91.705% of the First Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met.  Click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets end this FReepathon.  Thank you!
...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

Just $260.00 dollars to 92.00%

[jonrick46]

"Transport and Tourism Ministry official in charge of vehicle inspections said the president’s remarks were based on “a mere misunderstanding,” saying Japan has never conducted such tests."

Of course tests using bowling balls were not made. President Trump was using the figure of speech called a metaphor. To take what he said literally reveals a failure of language understanding.

[LibWhacker]

Not a joke. A metaphor.

[Cowboy Bob]

The Japanese have no sense of humor!

[jonascord]

Japanese consumers would do the "ball bearing" test.

They would take a ball bearing and let it roll down the gap between the hood and fender. If the gap wasn't even, from end to end, they wouldn't buy the car.

No US cars could pass the test. They wondered why Americans were tolerating such junk...

[ltc8k6]

http://www.nasva.go.jp/mamoru/en/assessment_car/head_protection_test.html

They do indeed do a “bowling ball” sort of test. It is to simulate head impacts.

[Joe Boucher]

Countries like Japan, Korea, Germany etc sell their vehicles here with NO penalties.
Try selling a Harley or Cadillac in one of these places. Korea, 400 percent import tax, Japan? ya can’t sell there, too many import blocks. Germany? good luck but hey, all youse countries can screw America.
How about duties?

[LostPassword]

Have the “fact checkers” responded yet? Trump’s joke are their favorite chance to increment their “lie counter” - it’s so easy to get an unnamed source to say it’s untrue so the counter goes up. /sarc

[Celerity]

You know we’re going to find out in a few weeks that it’s true.

[hans56]

I was in Japan in 1989 and only saw 1 US car which was in a car lot. It was a Chevy Impala. The price was around $28000 US. Here the same car went for less than $16000.
That’s why we can’t sell cars there.

[DoodleDawg]

Trump’s got to remember that no matter where he is, no matter what group he is with, someone is going to be taping him.

[vladimir998]

I think Trump was referring to videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBBlw3z8hsg The “bowling ball” shows up at the 36 second mark.

[sportutegrl]

Dave Barry made the bowling ball test joke in a column he wrote about trying to sell a house. Not allowing the test meant that you had “something to hide”.

[BobL]

Japanese cars don’t do well with the ‘bowling ball test’. Even at 6 feet I now have to replace my hood.