February 27, 2010

Japanese entrepreneurship research shows there is plenty of room for growth

“According to International Entrepreneurship.com, Total Japanese Entrepreneurial Activity Average (TEA) during 2001-2009 was 3.2%, which was one of the lowest rates amongst the world's leading nations.”





Source: 2009年12月21日月曜日
http://fumijp.blogspot.com/2009/12/entrepreneurship-in-japan-and-startup.html





Further reading:







Learn Japanese in 2010?

February 20, 2010

Japanese customers made 1.75 million calls to 110 hotline in 2008

"1.75 million calls made to the 110 police hotline nationwide in 2008,
some 594,000, 33% were frivolous"


Source:Japan Today .com
Dec 28, 2009
http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/police-inundated-with-flood-of-crazy-110-calls



Further reading:







Study Japanese in 2010?

February 17, 2010

Japanese customers enjoying two meal packages at hotels but dont stay the night

"Hotel packages featuring two meals but no overnight accommodation have been growing in popularity since autumn....People who cannot take consecutive days off due to work commitments are said to find the idea particularly attractive. "



Source:2-meal daytime hotel deals proving hit
Tsuyoshi Ito / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Feb. 17, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100216005093.htm?from=rss&ref=dyolwsj


Further reading:




See Japan in 2010 by motorcycle

Visit Motorcycle Japan

Japanese customers according to statistics eat curry and rice every four days

"According to statistics, the Japanese eat curry and rice 84 times yearly, which means every 4 days."


February 14th, 2010 by kirin
Japan Probe
http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/02/14/curry-is-the-no-1-home-cooking-dish-in-japan/




Further investigation:




Eat curry rice when you tour Japan by motorcycle in 2010

February 16, 2010

Japanese customers enjoy over 5 million vending machines

"There are about 5-6 million vending machines in Japan now, of which around 3 million are for beverages. The number of vending machines per capita is the highest in the world"



Source: Helping the world recycle
By Chris Betros
Dec 28th,2009/12/28
http://www.japantoday.com/category/executive-impact/view/helping-the-world-recycle





Further reading:







What are you waiting for?


February 15, 2010

Japanese Customer: What is osechi and how is enjoyed by Japanese Customers?

Photo: Japanese New Years Day Food




Osechi ryori - "Food for the new year is distinctly traditional"


Source: Japanese Family and Culture
JTB, 4th Edition, 2000,
ISBN: 4533020208, Page 74


Learn more about Japanese culture

Buy The book






Learn about study in Japan at Study Abroad Japan

February 14, 2010

Who is using our Japanese customer research?

● Australian Education International, Australia.

● Australian Embassy, Japan.

● Australian Education Union, Australia.

● Asialink, Australia.

● Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Australia.

● The Australian National University, Australia.

● Deakin University, Australia

● Department of Education and Training, Victoria, Australia.

● Edith Cowan University, Australia.

● Education New Zealand.

● Flinders University, Australia.

● IDP Education, Australia.

● Global Daigaku, Japan

● The International School, Milan, Italy.

● RMIT University, Australia

● James Cook University, Australia.

● Monash University, Australia.

● National Foundation for Education Research, United Kingdom.

● National Tertiary Education Union, Australia.

● New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Japan.

● Northern Melbourne Institute, TAFE, Australia.

● Temple University, Japan.

● The University of Melbourne, Australia.

● The University of New South Wales, Australia.

● University of Auckland, New Zealand.

● University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

● University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Japanese customers celebrate valentines day with heart shaped pizza

Japanese customers are celebrating valentines day with heart shaped pizza made by Domino's. The traditional chocolates and flowers have taken a back seat as pizza is another way to share affections for that special person.Valentines day falls on a Sunday this year in Japan so pizza may be just the thing for dinner!




Wall Street Journal
Saturday, February 13, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/video/from-japan-with-love/A4ABBE06-1F8A-4BB7-8E6A-5F391F883C62.html


Further reading:






See Japan in 2010

February 13, 2010

How to attract Japanese students to your university?






Gaman - A Japanese Students Four Year Journey in Australia

A holistic international education documentary

By JapaneseCustomer.com





“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:

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February 12, 2010

Mobile phone book market in Japan estimated at 6million users

"The size of the keitai novel market is unclear, but Maho i-Land Co., one of the largest keitai novel content providers, boasts 1 million online book titles and 6 million users".


By Yuriko Nagano
February 9, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-japan-phone-novel9-2010feb09,0,116266.story


Further reading:




Book Reviews here




See Japan in 2010 on a motorcycle

February 11, 2010

Malaysia continues to attract Japanese customers for retirement

"(Malaysia) would continue to aggressively promote activities to encourage Japanese retirees to participate in the Malaysia My Second Home programme."


From Kristy Inus
January 24, 2010 21:53 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=470753



Further reading:




Tour Japan by motorcycle in 2010

February 10, 2010

Book Review - All About Particles by Naoko Chino reviewed by JapaneseCustomer.com


Book  Review –




All About Particles - by Naoko Chino
















Author: Naoko Chino


Publisher: Kodansha, Tokyo, Japan.


Published: 1991.


ISBN: 0-87011-954-0


Pages: 127.


Rating: 4/5 






A handy Japanese particles reference




Reviewed by JapaneseCustomer.com


Copyright, JapaneseCustomer.com, 2007. All rights Reserved




All About Particles is another great book by Naoko Chino that allows non native speakers to self study Japanese. In this book sixty nine particles are classified and broken down into some two hundred usages. Each entry is classified by order of frequency, by meaning and by gender (those phrases used by men and those by women). What level does it fit into for a language learner? It would be helpful for JLPT level 3 studying for level 2 .Not recommended for beginners. To give you an idea of a sample entry, a typical entry starts with the particle, a grammar explanation, an example sentence in full Japanese script. Then the same sentence in romaji followed by the meaning of the sentence in English. So each particle gets a five point dissection. The book assumes you know the particles already, that is you have learned them in class and the book is really a reference for your prior study.
















Pros




The book is a great size and lightweight that can easily slip into a coat pocket or bag. Finding your way around the book is easy with a clear table of contents and index (that is in romaji). A stand out point is that sample sentences are in full Japanese script, (kanji, hiragana and katakana). So you can practice your reading, learn new words and see the particle in context. There is a good range of sentences that you can start memorizing and using straight away which will help you to start talking in sentences quickly and get the particle usage correct. Sentence topics show real Japanese culture and typical conversations and cover the weather, work, hobbies and dreams. As particles have more than one meaning the book shows how to use the same particle in a range of ways. As a self study learner if you mine the book from cover to cover you will gain a range of new nouns, verbs, adjectives, set phrases and kanji as a bonus.






Cons




As mentioned the book does assume a prior knowledge of particles, sentences, grammar and knowledge. There is no guide on how to best use the book so you have to make up your own. There is no CD but the sentences are ripe for you to record yourself and practice. As a learner you have to do all the work based on your own study plan and goals. No CD or exercises so unable to give five stars.






Summary




A handy reference to particles for the intermediate student in a logical format that helps you to see particles in context that can aid a better understanding and usage.  Provides a range of sentences that cover a range of topics.




Reviewed by JapaneseCustomer.com


Copyright, JapaneseCustomer.com, 2007. All rights Reserved




Rating: 4/5 ****






All About Particles - Naoko Chino - Self Study Japanese






February 09, 2010

Japanese consumers demand over two million tonnes of cotton per year

" The world market for cotton is estimated to be three million tonnes per year, with Japan demanding over two million tonnes. "


Source:A new twist to the yarn
Anthony Gomes
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Gomes-Jan-27_7319880


Further reading





See Japan by motorcycle in 2010

February 08, 2010

Japanese customers enjoy Sapporo's famous snow festival in Hokkaido

Sapporo's snow festival is a famous event on the calendar for many Japanese customers who want to see art, enjoy snow, visit Hokkaido and to eat great foods while they are there.


The snow festival can be seen here on video


Source:Japanese snow festival begins
Feb 5, 2010
Two hundred and ninety ice sculptures, some as high as 15 metres, unveiled at the Sapporo snow festival.
Kirsty Basset reports.


Further reading about visiting Hokkaido in northern Japan:



See the best of Hokkaido by motorcycle


February 07, 2010

Japanese customer addresses in Japan explained

What's the difference between Japanese addresses and Western addresses? 
Watch the video to learn the differences?.




January 30th, 2010 by James
http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/01/30/japanese-addresses-weird-or-just-different/

Further reading:



See Japan by motorcycle in 2010

February 06, 2010

Japanese consumers tempted with 35 year mortagage loans at reduced rates for energy efficient & quake resistant new homes

"Homeowners availing 35-year loans from an affiliated lender will have the mortgage rate reduced by 1 percentage point for the first 10 years. The offer will be available only for those taking loans next year for energy-efficient, handicapped-accessible or quake-resistant homes."


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

Japanese customers pay less per megabit for broadband than US customers according to study

According to a May 2008 study, by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation



"Japanese customers paid $0.13 ...for each megabit of service they purchased whereas U.S. broadband customers paid US$2.83"



Source:Study: US Among World's Leaders in Broadband Use
Grant Gross, IDG News Service
Dec 24, 2009 5:40 am
http://www.pcworld.com/article/185417/study_us_among_worlds_leaders_in_broadband_use.html



Further reading:









Learn more about Japan?

February 05, 2010

Japanese customers account for 39% percent of South Korea's foreign tourists in 2009



"Japanese tourists account for 2.56 million
or 39 percent of foreign tourists (South Korea)



Source:How Japanese and Chinese Tourists in Korea Differ
Nov. 23, 2009
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/23/2009112300377.html



Further reading:






Visit a sumo match and eat sushi for dinner?

Japan on a shoestring

Motorcycle Japan

February 04, 2010

Number of Japanese skiers and snowboarders dropping according to survey

"The number of (Japanese) skiers and snowboarders slipped from a peak of 18.6 million in 1993 to 6.9 million in 2008", according to the Japan Productivity Center, a policy and research group".




JANUARY 22, 2010
By ALISON TUDOR
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423204575016561700779370.html



Further reading:







See the best of Japan in 2010 by motorcycle!

February 03, 2010

Japanese customers can gain full traceability on the beef they buy

"Currently, a Japanese customer can walk into a local grocery store equipped with a cell-phone and find out the following information about the piece of steak they are going to buy: birth date, sex, breed, location of cattle, transfer status, transfer date and the owners name and address .. which surprisingly is available in both English and Japanese."


06 Jan 2010
http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/060110/japan___full_traceability_on_meat_is_par_for_the_course_so_what_is_problems_with_usda.aspx


Further reading:



See Japan in 2010

Visit Motorcycle Japan

February 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 !

February 01, 2010

Qualitative Japanese consumer behaviour research international education




Japanese Student - Buyer Behaviour - Australia

Learn how Japanese students purchase international education



By JapaneseCustomer.com


Qualitative research on the buyer behaviour of the Japanese student market
Behaviour insights across eleven critical decision areas
Ten point customer profiles developed for each visa class
Includes findings, interpretation & recommendations


" how do Japanese students evaluate & buy education? "


Editorial Reviews

" International education is a billion dollar industry, cultural understanding backed with market research is the key to success. JapaneseCustomer.com using qualitative research has undertaken a detailed analysis of the buyer behaviour of Japanese students in Australia. His study uncovered the unique buyer behaviour characteristics of Japanese students across four different education sectors. The findings will be of interest to those wanting to recruit, manage & retain Japanese international students as customers "

Book Description:

Qualitative market research detailing the buyer behaviour characteristics of Japanese international students in Australian education.

Readership:

Government 
Education institutions
Third party suppliers
Employers

Special Features:

In depth interviews with 101 Japanese students results in English

Findings broken down by visa type.
37 charts & 35 references to current articles.


Product Details:

Format: E-Book
Publisher: JapaneseCustomer.com
Language: English
ISBN -13: 978-0-9580582-6-1
Payment: PayPal
Order: Only available online at www.japanesecustomer.com

Key words:

Japanese student experiences Australia, Japanese international student experiences Australia, Japanese student buyer behaviour, japanese student buyer behaviour australia, Japanese students studying abroad research, japanese student international education research, qualitative international education research japanese students, Japanese students, Japanese student market, japanese student recruitment research, japanese student management research, japanese student retention research,international education research japanese student market, marketing to Japanese students, holistic profiles of japanese students studying abroad, how do japanese students select international education abroad, japanese student research australia, communicating with Japanese customers, japanese students studying abroad, japanese student perceptions of studying english abroad, social inclusion of japanese students studying abroad, japanese international student management, english language study by japanese students, vocational japanese students, undergraduate japanese students, private language school japanese students, university Japanese students studying abroad,  JapaneseCustomer.com, japanese student research australia, japanese student research, Japanese student profiles, japanese student profiles by education sector, japanese student buyer behaviour profiles by education sector, Japanese customer buyer behaviour of foreign education, japanese consumer behaviour international education, japanese customer decision making processes education, how japanese students select a study abroad course, marketing study abroad to japanese students, marketing services to japanese customers, attracting japanese students to study abroad programs, managing japanese students studying abroad, retaining japanese students studying abroad, japanese customer service, marketing to japanese customers abroad, marketing international education to japanese students, international education case study Japanese students, qualitative international education research japanese customers, qualitative international education research japanese students.







How does Citigroup meet the needs of their Japanese customers in Japan?




1/25/2010
Alison Tudor-Ackroyd speaks to Douglas Peterson
http://online.wsj.com/video/citigroup-strategy-shifts-in-japan/972E89F8-FDF5-47E9-9754-B35C2CA2810F.html


Further reading:






How to see the best of Japan when you travel?