] The companies' divergent fortunes -- symbolic of the two
] nations' broader auto industries -- have Japanese auto
] and government officials worried about a replay of the
] "Japan-bashing" trade friction of the 1980s, when Toyota
] and others were blamed for stealing car sales and U.S.
] jobs, prompting outraged auto workers to smash Japanese
] cars in protest.

What's worse? That this could potentially happen again? Or that in today's age, there are actually people who could get this upset about it happening at all?

Toyota fears U.S. backlash as GM struggles