As Yingluck was coming back from her lovely visit to Japan, we ran across an article in the International Herald Tribune about a very similar trip. A Japanese delegation had just returned from China, asking if the Chinese would kindly consider building a few little factories in the tsunami-stricken regions of Northern Japan. Suddenly, we had this horrible feeling that Yingluck had been Lost in Translation.We feel for her. Have you ever been on a business trip to Japan? You hole up at the Tokyo Park Hyatt, drink a lot of Suntory with very kind old Japanese men, wear your tie on your head and finish by throwing up in a gutter. Then you fly back to Bangkok and tell your employer, “Mission accomplished, boss. I think they loved me.”Well, we can only guess what Yingluck must have done to impress her hosts. But if they’re asking the Chinese to build in Fukushima, we have a nagging suspicion they’re not planning on a rebuilding spree in Ayutthaya any time soon.We’d suggest that the PM learn flower arrangement or some serious judo moves to make a more memorable impression on her next trip. But aren’t we missing the point? Japan, isn’t exactly what it used to be. We’re grateful for their B60 shops, the countless pick-ups we bought on credit and the exotic delights of udon noodles, but China is now the world’s second largest economy—something the Japanese seem to have noticed. Shouldn’t Yingluck be brushing up on her Mandarin? Learning to fry up a mean chicken chow mein? Maybe joining the retirees for a spot of qigong in Lumpini? Here at BK, we’ve already started getting ready to welcome our new bosses by extensively researching baijiu and huangjiu rice wines while singing along to Eason Chan on the karaoke. Gãnbãi!