Mazda didn't "steal" the rotary engine design. They bought a license from NSU for the Wankel engine design, just like nearly every other Japanese and American auto manufacturer did. Mazda simply had the guts to stick with it when everyone else gave up. There's even a photo of Nissan's rotary in our Photo Album.

Technically, the americans didn't run up the gas prices. The cartel of petroleum-producing countries (OPEC) restricted the oil supply and thus prices rose per supply-and-demand economy.

But yeah, Japanese industry does have a reputation of taking ideas and (eventually) improving them beyond the original products from other companies. Call it the tireless pursuit of excellence ...