My dad used to be the Technics' distributor from around mid 80s to early 90s. I saw a shift from buying electronic organs, during the big "Lowrey" era back in in mid to late 70s, to buying arrangers throughought the 80s. People's view of arrangers there in Asia is a bit different..people just love the idea of one-touch-button orchestra and those with money, either buy it for themselves or for their children. Lots of one-man-band entertainers also bought arrangers for smaller gigs, for bigger gigs they rent the GN series from my dad's company and bring their own arranger also.

It is not common over there for people to hire a band for weddings or for company's party. People don't really pay much attention to the music, as far as they're concern it's more of something to accompany them while they eat and mingle and they are not much of a dancer either during these functions. SO, people hire musicians with arrangers more than 'live' band because it's costing them less money.

Also I think America is a bit 'prejudice' against arrangers, like they associate it with those (sorry...I am trying to make a point, this is not MY view) cheesy old-lounge player with pasteled color tux playing cheesy elevator music. Also I went to a couple Technics' dealer in town, they are some of the most stuck up people I've known in business. They looked down on me until I told them my family is in the business and I know how much mark up they actually have on their keyboards.