January 30, 2010

What do Japanese customers think of living in Kansai versus Kanto


"Kansai people are more talkative and friendly,
whereas Tokyo people don't really show their opinions or emotions easily."


Y Tanaka
Factory worker (Japan)


Source:

The Japan Times: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fl20091229vf.htm


Further reading:







Eat Japanese food every day!


When you motorcycle japan in 2010

January 29, 2010

Japanese customers spending up 16.3% in France in 2009 according to survey

"Spending by Japanese tourists rose (in France) by 16.7 percent to 100 million euros, or 823 euros per person, owing to the favorable exchange rate, Global Refund said."





January 21, 2010
Jakarta Globe
http://thejakartaglobe.com/business/chinese-tourists-splash-out-in-paris-while-russians-start-to-count-rubles/354067




Further Reading:





Japan Travel Guide for Baby Boomers

January 28, 2010

Japanese consumer profile - Parasite singles




"Parasite singles," ..
a key Japanese demographic: unmarried women and men
in their 20s and early 30s living with their parents"



Source:Japan's Demographics Claim Fashion Victims,
BY JAMES SIMMS
NOVEMBER 26, 2009,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574559250288419052.html?
mod=googlenews_wsj#articleTabs%3Darticle


Further reading:







Hot springs and sushi


Motorcycle Japan in 2010

January 27, 2010

Japanese consumer culture expanding in Asia - Family Mart opens first convenience stores in Vietnam

Japanese consumer culture is expanding in Asia and convenience stores are part of the push.Family Mart has just opened it's first store in Vietnam, click here to watch opening ceremony video.



"Family Mart plans to open 300 stores in (Vietnam)the country over the next 5 years" according to NHK World reporting.

Jan. 26 on Air
NHK World
http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/feature95.html

Further reading:





See Japan in 2010

How to understand the consumer behaviour of Japanese tourists?

"Japan has registered the highest growth in the world in the development of its outbound international tourism.."




Authors: Zafar U. Ahmed a; Franklin B. Krohn b
Affiliations: Associate Professor of Marketing, Department of Business Administration, College of Business, Minot State University, Minot, ND, 58702,
Professor of Marketing, Department of Business Administration, State University of New York College, Fredonia, NY, 14063,
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a904360384


Further Reading:










See Japan in 2010 by motorcycle

Stop when you want and control your expenses

Japanese customers use of facial recognition software increasing




















1/22/2010
Video courtesy of Reuters.
Wall Street Journal



Further reading:





Motorcycle Japan in 2010

January 25, 2010

Japanese consumers pay on average 6 cents per mobile text message versus 21 cents in US according to survey

"Cost per text message


CountrySMS price (in $A)




Japan 6c


United States 21c"




Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
RICHARD WEBB
January 24, 2010
The Age Newspaper
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/consumers-being-abused-by-text-message-price-rort-20100123-mroo.html




Further reading:








See the best of Japan in 2010 on a motorcycle

January 24, 2010

The Japanese consumer market in 2010 - Overview

Here is a slide show detailing the Japanese consumer market in 2010


Mariko Fujiwara,
Hakuhodo

1/19/2010
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/22802656/The-Japanese-consumer-market



Further reading:






Motorcycle Japan the best adventure you can have on two wheels

January 23, 2010

Japanese customers watch the close of the Nikkei 225 in 2009

"the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average--10,546.44--was a whopping 73 percent lower than the record high of 38,915.87 marked exactly 20 years ago during the bubble economy period."



Source: Bubble era a bygone memory /
Nikkei's closing price Wednesday 73% lower than that of Dec. 29, 1989
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Dec. 31, 2009
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T091230004939.htm




Further reading:






Study Japanese in Japan?

January 22, 2010

Japanese consumers will need over 500,000 nurses by 2014 according to new research study

"A study commissioned by the Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac) of the 21-member group showed the United States needing 500,000 nurses by 2025, Japan 500,000 by 2014, and Canada 113,000 nurses by 2014."


Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:39
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/20823-free-trade-pacts-ignore-labor.html


Further reading:








See the real Japan by motorcycle


January 21, 2010

More than 820,000 Japanese tourists visited Taiwan in 2009




"More than 820,000 Japanese tourists visited Taiwan
(during the first ten months of 2009) ,
making Japan the number one source of Taiwan’s
foreign visitors,
even though the number constitutes an 8 percent drop compared to last year".



Source:Taiwan's mainland visitor numbers soar
Publication Date:11/26/2009, China Times
http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=80981&CtNode=414



Further reading:






Wind in your hair and the ride of your life!

Motorcycle Japan

January 20, 2010

Japanese e- book market estimated at 46.4 billion yen in 2008 and expected to rise

"The Japanese e-book market was worth about 46.4 billion yen ($508.5 million) in fiscal 2008."


Source: 21 Japanese publishers to form group to keep Amazon.com at bay
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
13/1/2010
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY201001130243.html



Further reading:






Be a part of the Asian Century


January 19, 2010

A Japanese students four year journey studying abroad in Australia a documentary by JapaneseCustomer.com






Gaman - A Japanese Students Four Year Journey in Australia

A holistic international education documentary






“Amazing insights into a Japanese students
“total” study experience”




Editorial Reviews



"International study is an enormous undertaking for an individual in terms of resources, language, culture & risk. This documentary reveals the four year journey of a Japanese student studying in Australia. “Gaman” is a Japanese word that means endure. JapaneseCustomer.com reveals the students journey from beginning to end. He begins with the student’s life in Japan before study, then follows the student to Australia & the students return to Japan. A fascinating cultural documentary


Book Description:

A holistic international education profile of a Japanese students four year journey in Australia.


Readership:

● Government ● Education institutions ● Third party suppliers ● Employers


Special Features:

● Holistic profile of a Japanese student’s journey – before, during & after study
● 26 page cultural marketing guide
● Unique perspectives of culture, language & experiences.


Product Details:

Title: Gaman – A Japanese Student’s Four Year Journey in Australia
E-Book: Video & 26 page booklet
Publisher: JapaneseCustomer.com
Language: English
ISBN -13: 978-0-9580582-5-4
Preview:  Video
Payment: PayPal
Only available online at www.japanesecustomer.com



Key words:

japanese student research , japanese student research australia, japanese student research, why japanese students are important in international education, japanese students in australia, japanese students studying abroad australia, japanese students studying abroad research, japanese student documentary australia, international education research japanese students australia, social inclusion international students australia japanese, japanese students international research, japanese student international education documentary, holistic profiles of international students studying abroad, japanese student study abroad research, japanese international student market, japanese student market intelligence, international education research japanese students, a japanese students four your journey studying abroad australia, how do japanese students present a foreign qualification to japanese employers, japanese employer reactions to australian qualifications, do japanese students succeed in australian education, how do japanese students use australian education in japan, how do japanese students sell foreign education in japan, Japanese student recruitment, Japanese student management, Japanese student retention, marketing to Japanese students, marketing study abroad programs to japanese customers in japan, understanding japanese student needs in study abroad, how do japanese students select a study abroad program, japanese customers buyer behaviour research international education, international student documentary japanese in australia, study abroad research japanese students, Japanese student independent study abroad research, Japanese employer reactions to foreign qualifications, how do japanese students who study abroad promote foreign education, japanese alumni research, japanese alumni australia, japanese alumni management research, recognition of foreign qualifications in Japan, japanese consumer behaviour international education, JapaneseCustomer.com, japanese buyer behaviour of international education, marketing international services to japanese customers, japanese student marketing, gaman a japanese students four year journey australia, japanese student study experiences abroad, japanese student study experiences australia, why do japanese students choose australian education, how to manage japanese students studying abroad, how to retain japanese students studying abroad.

Japanese Customer: Movie Review: Nana - "a delightful pop fairy tale" - New York Times



Video: Nana

"Movie: “Nana,” a delightful pop fairy tale that speaks to young women in the language of sisterhood and self-direction."


Source: An Unlikely Friendship
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS, Published: April 4, 2008
New York Times
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/movies/
04nana.html?ex=1207972800&en=e38de679e367d715&ei=5123&partner=BREITBART

Learn more about motorcycling in Japan at Motorcycle Japan

January 17, 2010

A Japanese students four year journey studying abroad in Australia a documentary by JapaneseCustomer.com






Gaman - A Japanese Students Four Year Journey in Australia

A holistic international education documentary






“Amazing insights into a Japanese students
“total” study experience”




Editorial Reviews



"International study is an enormous undertaking for an individual in terms of resources, language, culture & risk. This documentary reveals the four year journey of a Japanese student studying in Australia. “Gaman” is a Japanese word that means endure. JapaneseCustomer.com reveals the students journey from beginning to end. He begins with the student’s life in Japan before study, then follows the student to Australia & the students return to Japan. A fascinating cultural documentary


Book Description:

A holistic international education profile of a Japanese students four year journey in Australia.


Readership:

● Government ● Education institutions ● Third party suppliers ● Employers


Special Features:

● Holistic profile of a Japanese student’s journey – before, during & after study
● 26 page cultural marketing guide
● Unique perspectives of culture, language & experiences.


Product Details:

Title: Gaman – A Japanese Student’s Four Year Journey in Australia
E-Book: Video & 26 page booklet
Publisher: JapaneseCustomer.com
Language: English
ISBN -13: 978-0-9580582-5-4
Preview:  Video
Payment: PayPal
Only available online at www.japanesecustomer.com



Key words:

japanese student research , japanese student research australia, japanese student research, why japanese students are important in international education, japanese students in australia, japanese students studying abroad australia, japanese students studying abroad research, japanese student documentary australia, international education research japanese students australia, social inclusion international students australia japanese, japanese students international research, japanese student international education documentary, holistic profiles of international students studying abroad, japanese student study abroad research, japanese international student market, japanese student market intelligence, international education research japanese students, a japanese students four your journey studying abroad australia, how do japanese students present a foreign qualification to japanese employers, japanese employer reactions to australian qualifications, do japanese students succeed in australian education, how do japanese students use australian education in japan, how do japanese students sell foreign education in japan, Japanese student recruitment, Japanese student management, Japanese student retention, marketing to Japanese students, marketing study abroad programs to japanese customers in japan, understanding japanese student needs in study abroad, how do japanese students select a study abroad program, japanese customers buyer behaviour research international education, international student documentary japanese in australia, study abroad research japanese students, Japanese student independent study abroad research, Japanese employer reactions to foreign qualifications, how do japanese students who study abroad promote foreign education, japanese alumni research, japanese alumni australia, japanese alumni management research, recognition of foreign qualifications in Japan, japanese consumer behaviour international education, JapaneseCustomer.com, japanese buyer behaviour of international education, marketing international services to japanese customers, japanese student marketing, gaman a japanese students four year journey australia, japanese student study experiences abroad, japanese student study experiences australia, why do japanese students choose australian education, how to manage japanese students studying abroad, how to retain japanese students studying abroad.

January 16, 2010

CD sales fall in 2009 as Japanese customers buy fewer

"2009 tied with 2007 for the fewest million-sellers in the past 20 years. In 2008, seven CDs reached the 1 million mark. Million-selling CD titles have been in a downtrend since peaking at 48 in 1998."






Source:Million-Selling CDs Seen Down To Record-Low 3 Titles In '09
The Nikkei Dec. 31 edition
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/fr/tnks/Nni20091230D30JFA06.htm



Further reading:









See Japan on two wheels in 2010?

January 15, 2010

Japanese consumers top five 2009 hit products revealed in new survey





Top 5 items "Dentsu's 2009 Hit Products survey"

1. Hybrid vehicles

2. Flu Masks

3. Low-priced fashion

4. Vehicles eligible for government subsidies

5. Energy-saving appliances that earn eco-points


Source:Japan consumers go frugal, green as economy sags
November 27th, 2009, Reuters: Lifestyle
http://www.rssnewsonline.com/rssnews/japan-consumers-go-frugal-green-as-economy-sags.html

Note: "Dentsu's 2009 Hit Products survey"
conducted over the Internet earlier this month with responses from 1,000 people:



Further reading:






Japan on a shoestring?

Visit Motorcycle Japan

January 14, 2010

Japanese made anime DVD sales drop 18% on last years figures






"Sales of Japanese-made anime DVDs slid
18% from a year earlier to 72.8 billion yen
(about $800 million) in 2008,
after peaking at 93.7 billion yen in 2006,
according to the Japan Video Software Association
"


Source:Discontent Seeps Into Japan's Anime Studios
Low Pay, Long Hours and Dwindling Demand Change the Plot for Animation Juggernaut
By YUKA HAYASHI
NOVEMBER 21, 2009
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703819904574551834260925714.html



Further viewing:






Yellow lines and blue sky.

Live the dream

Motorcycle Japan

January 13, 2010

Japanese Customer: Appealing to the needs of new graduates - Aotagai





Aotagai - "some companies do not wait for applicants to come knocking.They grab the best beforehand. This practice is called aotagai"



Source: Japanese Family and Culture
JTB, 4th Edition, 2000,
ISBN: 4533020208, Page 27




Further reading:






Reviews



Be part of the Asian Century in 2010



 Study Abroad Japan

January 11, 2010

Japanese households have less than 7% of all assets in equities




"Japanese households have less
than 7% of their assets invested in stocks."


Source:
Absolute Return,
A Yen For Japan
Lisa W. Hess, 12.10.09, 11:40 PM EST
Forbes Magazine dated December 28, 2009
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1228/finance-japan-yen-currency-absolute-return.html



Further reading:






See Japan in 2010 on two wheels, what are you waiting for?

Visit Motorcycle Japan

January 10, 2010

Japanese supermarket below 1 trillion yen first time in 18 years as consumers reduce consumption




"Supermarket sales plunged 5.4% year on year to 952.6 billion yen in February..the first time in 18 years that the figure fell below 1 trillion yen, the Japan Chain Stores Association announced Monday."


Source:Supermarket Sales Hit 18-Year Low In Feb
Monday, March 23, 2009
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/fr/tnks/Nni20090323D23SS905.htm


How to attract Japanese customers to your education institution in 2010?

Japan is the second largest economy in the world and the largest Asian economy.


Japanese students study all over the world.


Our research allows you to better understand the needs & motivations of Japanese students.


We use qualitative research techniques to gain detailed insights of the Japanese student market.


Our research:


How to Attract:

Buyer Behaviour of Japanese Students - New Zealand








Buyer Behaviour of Japanese Students - Australia





Details & Order information



How to Manage:


Japanese Student Success - High School to MBA





Details & Order information



How to Retain:


Gaman - A Japanese Students Four Year study Journey - Australia






Details & Order information








Learn more about Japanese Customers

at JapaneseCustomer.com

January 07, 2010

Japanese customers needs for safety and trust need to be met before you can sell to them



"I would say Japanese customers are among the toughest
and most discerning in the world
-- factors of safety, factors of trust,
play a bigger role in Japan,"


Bharat Rupani



Source:Undercut of the jeans a must in Japan: private brands
Peter Alford,The Australian, November 26, 2009
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/undercut-of-the-jeans-a-must-in-japan-private-brands/story-e6frg8zx-1225803918828

Further reading:




See the real Japan in 2010

at Motorcycle Japan

Japanese convenience store rankings by number of stores 2009




Top three convenience store chains in Japan

1. 7-Eleven, 12,471 stores.

2. Lawson, 9,665 stores

3. FamilyMart, 8,700 stores






Source:Cash in kids clothes?, Ebiz news from Japan
T E R R I E 'S T A K E
A weekly roundup of news & information from Terrie Lloyd.
http://www.terrie.com
http://www.japaninc.com/TT-542



Further reading:






Get on your bike and ride

See the real Japan at

Motorcycle Japan


Keywords:
Japanese convenience store,
japanese convenience store rankings, 2009 japanese statitics,
japan statistics retail, seven eleven japan, family mart japan, lawson japan, convenience stores japan

January 06, 2010

Japanese consumers targeted to stimulate housing demand with low interest loans, planned to start 2010

"In an effort to stimulate the economy and enhance the housing demand, the government of Japan is planning to introduce a mortgage-reduction program in 2010 to homeowners taking out new loans from a state-affiliated lender, Nikkei reported Sunday."

Source: Japan To Introduce Low-interest Mortgage Program In 2010: Report
12/6/2009 9:27 AM ET
by RTT Staff Writer
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/USEconomicNews.aspx?Id=1148604&Category=Economic%20News&Node=&SimRec=1

January 04, 2010

A study of Chinese characters can help students of Japanese to better understand Japanese customers






"I thought then, and still think, that though an acquaintance
with Chinese characters may be found
useful by the student of Japanese"




Source: A Diplomat in Japan,

By Sir Ernest Satow,
ICG Muse Inc, USA page 14.



Further Reading:








Japan by Motorcycle?


Visit Motorcycle Japan

January 03, 2010

Japanese Customer: A Kyoto festival that originated in the ninth century - Gion Matsuri - one of Japans most famous festivals







Gion Matsuri - "This historic festival originated in 9th century Kyoto"








Source: Japanese Family and Culture
JTB, 4th Edition, 2000,
ISBN: 4533020208, Page 88







Learn more about Japanese culture






Buy the book










Learn about study in Japan at Study Abroad Japan

January 02, 2010

Six reasons why Japanese Customers are important to your business in 2010



Photo: A Japanese Customer




Six reasons why Japanese customers are important to your business in 2010



1. Japan - the largest economy in Asia

"Asia has accounted for 50 percent of world GDP for most of human history".

Source: The Mad Hedge Fund Trader
November 24, 2009
http://www.japaninc.com/Taking_the_Long_View_on_Asia




2. Japan's GDP per person the highest in Asia

"the average Japanese generates more than ten times the GDP as the average Chinese, and the average Taiwanese, more than six times."

Source: Resistance Is Futile, You Will Be Bought
December 12, 2009:
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/china/articles/20091212.aspx





3. Japanese customers are still the world's best savers


"Households have saved up about ¥1.41 quadrillion in financial assets"

Source: Less work, more play to lift economy: DPJ
By AKIKO IKEDA and SATOSHI KAWANO
Bloomberg
The Japan Times: Saturday,
Sept. 12, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20090912n2.html






4. Japanese customers world's best hotel guests

1."The Japanese retained the top prize, with hoteliers worldwide naming them the world’s best tourists, ahead of the British and Canadians. Japanese tourists were ranked the quietest and most polite, as well as the cleanest and least likely to complain."

Conducted by online travel company Expedia


Source: World’s worst and best tourists revealed in new survey
July 9th, 2009
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/worlds-worst-and-best-tourists-revealed-in-new-survey_100215649.html




5. Japanese Customer Service - The world's best

1. "Perhaps it is easiest and most logical to conclude that Japan simply provides the best customer service training in the world and that it is derived from a culture of principles"

Source: Best customer service in the world
By ISAAC UCHIYAMA
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/rc20091220a6.html







6. Japanese customers are online

"Japan is one of the world’s most wired countries, with more than 90 million regular Internet users — of which three-quarters use fast broadband connections and two-thirds also log in from cellphones".

Source: In Japan, an Odd Perch for Google: Looking Up at the Leader
By HIROKO TABUCHI
November 30, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/technology/internet/30google.html





Learn more about Japanese Customers at JapaneseCustomer.com



* Market research reports
* Book reviews
* Statistics
* Videos
* Reference books and more




Be part of the Asian Century in 2010 !