Japanese customers visiting Australia down 40% over past ten years

"the number of visitors from Japan 
has fallen by about 40 per cent, from 751,000 in 1998 to 457,000 last year."





Source:Chinese and Indian tourist numbers to soar in Australia,
By Angela Saurine,Agence France-Presse, August 03, 2009
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25874640-5014090,00.html




Further reading:

Over 16 million Japanese consumers work in small business according to research

"16 million Japanese people work for companies
with less than 30 employees, the largest segment of the labor market"




Source:Starting Up Start-Ups In Japan
Chana R. Schoenberger, 06.23.09, 11:30 AM EDT
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/23/japan-start-up-venture-capital-entrepreneurs-japan.html?partner=alerts



Further reading:

Japanese game maker Nintendo sells over 100 million Ds Lite units, quickest sales ever for a game console

"Global sales of the Nintendo DS hand-held topped 100 million in four years and three months — a milestone reached at the quickest pace for any video game console"





Source:DS sales top 100 million in record time,
By YURI KAGEYAMA
The Associated Press
The Japan Times: Friday, March 13, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20090313a2.html




Further information:



Product - Nintendo Polar White Nintendo Ds Lite w/ BONUS ITEMS

Food exports from Japan in 2007 approximately 434 billion yen and growing

"Food export sales have increased sharply in recent years.
In 2007, such sales amounted to ¥434 billion, up 50 percent from 2003."



Source:High food hygiene costs choking export growth, By MARIKO KATO
The Japan Times: Saturday, March 14, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nb20090314a2.html



Further reading:



Book - Japanese Homestyle Cooking

Japanese Customer - "quality conscious & price sensitive"

"Japanese consumers are very brand-conscious, quality-conscious and price sensitive," he said,
adding that presentation, packaging and wrapping
are also very important to customers.



Source:Former AIG manager cooks up new career as chef,
Financial meltdown prompts insurance expert to act on his passion for pastries
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, By HIROKO NAKATA, Staff writer
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20090815a1.html






Further reading:










See the real Japan at Motorcycle Japan

Book Review - Complete guide to Japanese verbs

Book Review – Complete Japanese Verb Guide

Publisher: Hiroo Japanese Centre, Tokyo.Japan.
Published by: Charles Tuttle, 1999 (13 edition)
ISBN: 0-8048-1564-X, Pages, 352
Dimensions: 13cm wide, 18cm high, 2cm deep, Weight 339 grams

A reference guide to 600 Japanese verbs

The book is split into five sections, 1. Acknowledgements, 2. An Introduction, 3.A guide to Japanese verbs, 4. A list of compounds and 5. A list of Suru verbs

A number of sections that relate to verb groupings, an explanation of verb forms, polite language, transitive and intransitive and a key to symbols and abbreviations are provided.

The book is a stand alone guide to Japanese verbs that explores 600 verbs in great detail. Each verb is given one page. The verb is then shown in a range of various forms including the present form, masu form, imperative, te form, conditional, presumptive, volitional, potential, passive, causative, causative passive and the affirmative and negative contexts for each form. What group it is in 1, 2 or 3 and whether it is transitive or intransitive. The different meanings for the verb are then shown in practical sentences (in romaji and English). The sentence examples provide a range of everyday phrases that are very useful and a wide range of new vocabulary is presented throughout the book.

The content presented is excellent but unfortunately from a self study perspective, no guide is given on how to best use the book and in this respect the book is but a reference.

The book doesn’t provide the Japanese name for each verb form presented, making it hard for you to ask a teacher or study partner for any help you may need. Romaji is used throughout the book which is good for pronunciation but the kanji is missing for each form and sentences examples. The books biggest weakness is when it provides a verb with four different kanji and the reader has no way to discover which form of the verb is being used in the example sentences.

From a students perspective the book is good to gain the context of verbs through practical examples and the various forms. Added to this are the chance to gain new vocabulary as you read each page and drill the different verb forms.

The book is a reference for verbs but unfortunately is not a complete guide.

Rating: ****

Complete Japanese Verb Guide

Japanese Customer: A ritual performed by every home in Japan before the end of the year - year end ososji

Year end osoji - "just before the New Year the entire nation goes through a cleaning ritual, getting rid of the years dirt and grime"




Source: Japanese Family and Culture
JTB, 4th Edition, 2000,
ISBN: 4533020208, Page 49




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Learn about study in Japan at Study Abroad Japan

Japanese Customer: "Digital video cameras, currently a cash cow for Sony's electronics sector"

"Digital video cameras, currently a cash cow for Sony's electronics sector, claim 50% of worldwide sales, with the products' operating margin running above 20%"

Source: Will Sony's Star Rise Again?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Nikkei.net Interactive
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/FR/TNKS/Nni20080430D28VS704.htm



Further reading:


Book - Sony versus Samsung










Learn more
about study in Japan
at Study Abroad Japan