In Japan, an Odd Perch for Google: Looking Up at the Leader (Published 2009)TOKYO � In 2001, a fledgling Internet company named Google opened its first overseas office in Japan, eager to tap a huge technology market. But after eight years, Japan is one of a few major countries Google has yet to conquer. The Web giant still trails far behind Yahoo Japan, the front-runner here, operated by the Japanese telecommunications giant Softbank. In a reversal of the rivalry in the U
