Since I've owned their (TAMA'S) Japan made Starclassic Bubinga drums since May of 2008, I know the quality of the shells and finishes that come out of their Japan factories and they're second to none. I did not have the same enthusiasm in their China made counterparts...
Maybe their QC isn't all that good.
"You may or may not be surprised to know we operated the factory at our own expense (not at the expense of consumers?) for well over a year making blanks (test shells), before we ever shipped one drum into the market. We wanted to make sure our Chinese production quality level was an exact match to the Japanese factory standards. The same exact standards we built our reputation on."-Terry Bissette
There you go, an exact match in quality, but an up charge for Japan made product.
Give them a chance, they're probably still trying to instill 'pride' in their Guangzhou workers. Unless TAMA filters the air in the factory, the pollution 'is' going to effect the finish.
And these pieces of paper magically made American wealth and prosperity materialize, out of thin air?
Sounds like someone needs an education.
You measure wealth as digits on a computer, or worthless bank notes, while others measure wealth by how free they are. The Chinese government can waltz into TAMA's or any other factory in China and take it over, imprison, or eliminate all the staff/workers and the company would have no-zero legal recourse. And yes, slavery is rampant in China.
You gotta love it, someone posts a email from a TAMA minion defending their move to China and the TAMA faithful here defend it as the word of god. Its nothing but business as usual, just another cynical money grab painted over as 'for the good of the consumer'.