As in other areas of the apparel business, competition from South Korean producers has been tough.
In a press release, Ueto commented, "The song was composed by a Korean producer.
Korean producers can sell their kimchi at a considerable markup in Japan.
She would later collaborate with Korean producers in 2005.
Unlike Fly, the Korean producers were only in charge of recording and mastering the record.
But Japanese companies are now coming to terms with Korean producers.
This protectionism also limits the size of the market for North Korean producers, which prevents taking advantage of economies of scale.
This concerns Chinese and Korean producers in particular.
Korean producers also do not want to cut back.
By contrast, South Korean producers sold 1.1 million cars and light trucks locally and exported 1.5 million more.