I used to work for a Jap company...No dis there btw...anyways. With all good companies from that area if they have an expertise in something, i.e high quality engineering, then they hit all the markets that they can - or at least did.
Nuff said on the Shimano business model, I'm off to play A-Train on my A500 - rockin' the 90's, old man - old skool....init.
Edit:- Just recalled that they took the fishing market in the UK by storm with a specialist fishing reel called a "baitrunner" - thats 80's fishing shizzle right there kids!