BUSINESS ABROAD: An Appeal to Conscience

An old Japanese custom got a new—and somewhat surprising—raking-over in Tokyo last week. On display at the Shirokiya Department Store went more than 70 foreign-made products alongside Japanese copies so cleverly done that only an expert could tell which twin had the patent right. The purpose: a campaign by the Japanese government to shame businessmen out of pirating foreign designs. Said the Ministry of International Trade: "This exhibit is an appeal to the Japanese people's conscience."

Crowds passing through the display saw copies of Ronson and Zippo lighters, Sheaffer and Parker pens, Bell...