November 30, 2010

Japanese customers like American most likely to skip vacations this year according to study

"Americans and Japanese Most Likely to Skip Vacations.US (37%) and Japanese (33%) consumers are most likely to say they don't take vacations that are longer than four days."



Source:The Economy is Not Curtailing Vacation Plans, with Most Consumers Worldwide Planning to Spend as Much or More on Their Travels This Year than Last
2010-08-05
PR Newswire
http://media.netpr.pl/pr/166770/the-economy-is-not-curtailing-vacation-plans-with-most-consumers-worldwide-planning-to-spend-as-much-or-more-on-their-travels-this-year-than-last-according-to-new-ssi-r

November 29, 2010

Global marketers yet to discover Japanese consumers as customers

" marketers main objectives today are to be able to identify markets with the greatest revenue potential through market sizing and segmentation;find profitable new prospects;increase response rates;retain customers by identifying and quickly addressing signs of attrition;uncover up-sell and cross sell opportunities by understanding unmet customer demand"



Source: Astute Analytics - data refinement predicts behaviour
By Deborah L. Venice
Marketing News
12/15/07, page 34
American Marketing Association

November 28, 2010

Japanese customers get use to facial recognition vending machines

Video: Facial recognition & gender
drink vending machine - Video - in Japanese



A new facial recognition vending machine that dispensers drinks

Source:Smart Vending Machine
James - August 12, 2010
Japan Probe
http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/08/12/smart-vending-machine-in-tokyo/


November 27, 2010

Japanese businessmen visit the god of business at the start of the new year

The year of the tiger in Japan businessman visit the god of business for good luck and fortune in the new year.






Japan's businessmen flocked to pray to the god of business at the start of 2010.
Video courtesy of Reuters.
http://online.wsj.com/video/news-hub-a-question-of-time-inc/49633099-6512-4384-ADBF-6848C0C4D99C.html





Further reading:









Be part of the Asian Century in 2010

November 26, 2010

Japanese customers get boost in shopping value as yen rises to 15 year high against the Us dollar, Nikkei 225 falls as a result



"..the Japanese currency is also considered a safe haven...the dollar was up 0.3 percent at 85.50 yen, having fallen to a 15-year low on Wednesday...The strength of the yen has been hitting Japanese stocks hard over the last few weeks, as investors worry about the potential negative impact on Japan's exporters...The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average closed down 80.26 points, or 0.9 percent, to 9,212.59."





Source:World markets down again but selling pressure eases after rout
PAN PYLAS
AP Business Writer
August 12, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-world-markets,0,3576276.story

November 25, 2010

Japanese customers buying more camping vehicles, lower priced models sales jumped

"According to the Japan Recreational Vehicle Association, the best-selling camping cars are priced between 4 million yen and 6 million yen. Domestic shipments of minivan camping vehicles priced at less than 2 million yen in 2008 increased by 1.8 times from the previous year."



Source: Drive, cook, sleep--all in 1 all the rage
Masaya Tomizuka
Yomiuri Shimbun
Aug. 12, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100811005254.htm?from=rss&ref=dyolwsj

November 24, 2010

Toll free highway experiment sees Japanese customers enjoy traffic volume double, Tohoku - Chuo express 4.5 times busier according to study





"The ministry says average traffic volume on toll-free sections of the expressways doubled compare to one week before the start of the experiment.
Among highways seeing increased traffic, the ministry says a section of the Tohoku-Chuo Expressway in Yamagata prefecture was 4.5 times busier on weekdays."





Source: Toll-free highways see traffic double
2010/08/12
NHK WORLD
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_16.html

November 23, 2010

Japanese customers loans from Japanese moneylenders dropped by 47 percent in September as new rules impact marketplace according to reports

"Consumer loans at Japanese moneylenders declined by 47 percent in September, according to the website of the Japan Financial Services Association...The decline was a record and comes after tougher rules on consumer lending took effect in June, the Nikkei newspaper reported."


Source: Japanese Consumer Lending Declines by 47 Percent in September
November 23, 2010
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-23/japanese-consumer-lending-declines-by-47-percent-in-september.html

1.87 million Japanese on welfare in April 2010 up 8200 from previous month



"The number receiving welfare began rising in December 2008, as the job situation deteriorated. In the 17 months since then, the monthly increase has exceeded 5,000 households.The rise means more than 1.87 million people were on welfare in April, up nearly 8,200 from a month earlier."



Source: Record 1.35 mil families live on welfare in Japan
2010/08/12
NHK World
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_23.html

November 22, 2010

Food self sufficiency rate in Japan drops 1 % to 40% from year earlier


"The nation's food self-sufficiency rate fell 1 percentage point from a year earlier to 40 percent on a calorie basis in fiscal 2009, the first decline in three years, the farm ministry said Tuesday."



Source:Japan's food self-sufficiency rate drops to 40%
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/08/12
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008110250.html

November 21, 2010

Smoking rate of Japanese customers decreased by 1% to 23.9% from one year earlier according to report



"The smoking rate among adults has fallen to an all-time low for the 15th consecutive year, decreasing 1.0 percentage point from a year ago to 23.9 percent, Japan Tobacco Inc. said Wednesday...The rate among men declined 2.3 points to 36.6 percent, a fall for 19 years in a row, while that of women rose 0.2 point to 12.1 percent, the first rise in two years."


Source: Smoking rate continues fall to record 23.9%
Kyodo News
Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100812b1.html

November 20, 2010

Japanese customers escape the city and head for the countryside to escape stress and get in touch with tradition

Japanese city dwellers head for the countryside to relax and get in touch with rural traditions






Source:Japanese Farming to Relieve Stress
5/20/2009
Stressed out Tokyo city dwellers try to get in touch with their traditional farming roots. Video courtesy of Reuters.
http://online.wsj.com/video/news-hub-a-question-of-time-inc/49633099-6512-4384-ADBF-6848C0C4D99C.html



Further reading:










See the real Japan in 2010

November 19, 2010

Japanese customers view yen as a safe haven

"the yen is not a sterile asset like gold.
It generates a return.
Officially CPI deflation is 1.5 per cent,
which means holders of yen
get a tax-free gain of 1.5 per cent
in purchasing power every year."






Source: FT: Yen Has Edge Over Gold In Battle For Supremacy
By Peter Tasker
Thursday, August 5, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100805D04NY163.htm


Further reading:




Study Japanese in Japan?

Visit Study Abroad Japan

November 18, 2010

Approximately 95% of Japanese government bonds are owned by Japanese investors


"about 95 percent of Japanese government bonds are owned by Japanese investors. Of that figure, 60 percent is held by Japan Post Bank and other financial institutions."

Source: Japan's bond market has become ticking bomb
BY YOICHI FUNABASHI
ASAHI SHIMBUN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
2010/08/11
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008100353.html

November 17, 2010

Japanese customers drawn to adjustable rate home loans as rates remain low

" Some financial institutions are offering products with annual interest rates starting at 1 percent or less...According to a survey by the Japan Housing Finance Agency, about 50 percent of borrowers taking out new mortgages are opting for adjustable-rate home loans, a significant increase from 9.4 percent in January 2007. Three major domestic banks--Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Bank--say 80 percent to 90 percent of their customers have been choosing adjustable-rate loans since the beginning of this year..."As long as interest rates are expected to remain low, adjustable types of home loans will continue to be popular," one bank official said. "


Source:Majority of mortgages now adjustable-rate
Ryosuke Yamauchi
Yomiuri Shimbun
Aug. 11, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100810004997.htm


November 16, 2010

Japanese customers more likely to stay in Japan for vacation this year according to survey

"...American and Japanese consumers are most likely to stay within their own borders, with 82% of respondents in each country saying they are more likely to travel domestically."



Source:The Economy is Not Curtailing Vacation Plans, with Most Consumers Worldwide Planning to Spend as Much or More on Their Travels This Year than Last
2010-08-05
PR Newswire
http://media.netpr.pl/pr/166770/the-economy-is-not-curtailing-vacation-plans-with-most-consumers-worldwide-planning-to-spend-as-much-or-more-on-their-travels-this-year-than-last-according-to-new-ssi-r




November 15, 2010

75% of Japanese customers support the death penalty according to recent poll

"..poll shows that 75.9 percent of the public supports the death penalty, far exceeding the 19.5 percent who oppose capital punishment...At present, almost 140 countries have abolished or suspended executions... 79.5 percent of men and 72.7 percent of women support the death penalty."


Source:Over 75% back death penalty: poll
Kyodo News
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100811b5.html

November 14, 2010

Per capita debt for Japanese customers stands at 7.10 million as at July 1, 2010

"The outstanding balance of Japan's central government debt hit a record high of 904.08 trillion yen at the end of June...Finance Ministry data showed Tuesday...The debt, including government bonds, borrowings, and financing bills, is equivalent to almost 1.9 times the nominal gross domestic product in fiscal 2009..Per-capita debt came to around 7.10 million yen based on Japan's estimated population of about 127.42 million as of July 1....The ministry estimates that the central government's debt is likely to reach about 973 trillion yen at the March 31 end of fiscal 2010."



Source: Japan's gov't debt tops 900 tril. yen at end of June: MOF
Mainichi Japan,
August 10, 2010
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20100810p2g00m0bu072000c.html

November 13, 2010

Japanese consumer study abroad international market research documentary






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


Payment: PayPal
Only available online at www.japanesecustomer.com



Key words:

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November 12, 2010

Japanese customers see no smoking bans at some fast food restaurants in Japan


"Smoking will be banned at new (McDonalds) outlets, except at restaurants that draw significant numbers of smokers, such as those near train stations.At most restaurants patrons may smoke in designated areas. This policy will continue."


Source: Most new McDonalds' outlets to ban smoking
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/08/09
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008080153.html

November 11, 2010

Culture shows how people are different and often are not a like

" If we realize that we are all culture bound and culturally modified we will accept the fact that being unlike, we really do not really know what someone else "is"

Barna L.M



Source: Stumbling blocks in Intercultural Communication
in L.A.Samovar & R.E.Porter,
"Intercultural Communication: A Reader",
Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, USA, page 337



Further reading:



November 10, 2010

Burial in family tombs seems to be changing amogst Japanese customers according to survey

"The poll appears to indicate a move away from the traditional belief that people should be placed in family tombs after death. In a similar survey conducted in 1994, 64 percent of respondents wanted to be interred with their husbands or wives, while 33 percent wanted to be consigned to their ancestral tombs."

Source:70% want to be interred with spouse, poll finds
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Aug. 8, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T100807001698.htm

November 09, 2010

Japanese customers wait up to a month for a three seater bicycle as demand surges

"Major bicycle maker Maruishi Cycle has sold around 30,000 3-seat bicycles, with customers at some of its stores waiting as long as a month for delivery of the bicycles."


Source:Sales of 3-seat bicycles soaring in Japan
Mainichi Japan
August 8, 2010
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100807p2a00m0na017000c.html

November 08, 2010

Connecting with Japanese customers means to understand the culture they live in and the values they attach to it

"Culture consists in patterned ways of thinking, feeling and reacting, acquired and transmitted mainly by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (ie, historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values"


Clyde Kluckhohn


Source: "The study of culture",
The Policy Sciences.USA, 1951, page 86


Further reading:






November 07, 2010

"Almost 40% of recent Japanese university graduates could not find full time employment"


"...with growing unemployment rates among students(in Japan) - almost 40% of the 540,000 university graduates in 2010 could not find full-time employment"




Source: JAPAN: Volunteer plan to ease graduate joblessness
Suvendrini Kakuchi
07 November 2010
Issue: 146
University World News
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20101105221954724

Japanese customers watch as prices for vegetables increases with the temperature, cabbage prices up 48%

"Prices for leafy vegetables traded at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market surged almost 50% on the year at the end of July. Cabbage traded at 91 yen per kilogram, up 48.9% from a year earlier"



Source:Vegetable Prices Climb Along With Mercury
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Nikkei
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100804D04EE680.htm


Further reading:



Learn Japanese in Japan?

Visit
Study Abroad Japan

November 06, 2010

Innovative Japanese consumers turn to ice bowling to beat summer heat in Tokyo

Japanese customers in Tokyo beat the summer heat by trying ice bowling





7/23/2009
A hot Japanese summer just became cooler, as Tokyo locals chill out with the latest in pin sports -- ice bowling. Video courtesy of Reuters.
http://online.wsj.com/video/news-hub-a-question-of-time-inc/49633099-6512-4384-ADBF-6848C0C4D99C.html




Further reading:










Get to see the best of Japan

November 05, 2010

Japanese customer event - Japan Summit 2010- The Economist- December 16th,2010, Tokyo Japan


Photo: Japanese Customer - East meets West





The Economist will run a Japan Summit 2010 in Tokyo on December 16th, 2010

With Japan going through a rapid period of world change this summit will be insightful

To learn more about this summit & to get closer to your Japanese customers

Click here for more information

Programme here

Speakers here


US customers to experience full Japanese customer experience in home air conditioning as Panasonic eyes US market


"Panasonic Corp.will begin selling home-use air conditioners in the U.S. on a trial basis as early as this month..Panasonic has stayed away from the U.S. market because it uses different air-conditioning standards than in Japan."




Source:Panasonic To Launch Trial Air Conditioner Sales In U.S.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100805D05SS758.htm

November 04, 2010

Online food sales jump as Japanese customers mainly women in their 30's & 40's seek convenience

"Maruetsu Inc..supermarket ..saw its online sales of food ingredients rise 20% on the year during the week from July 12 through July 18. Most of the online shoppers were housewives in their 30s and 40s."


Source: Heat Wave Turning More People Into Stay-At-Home Online Shoppers
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Nikkei
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100803D03HH609.htm

November 03, 2010

Japanese customers enjoying more hiking & camping as market grows 8% in 2009 to now value approximately 161 billion yen per annum in sales

"Hiking and camping gear also rose 8.1% to 161 billion yen. Behind the boost... was burgeoning demand among women who like to enjoy outdoor activities in style."




Source: Shrinking Leisure Market Deals Blow To Tourism, But Hiking and Camping Thrive
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Nikkei
Tomoko Wakasugi
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100803D03HH549.htm

Who are the most admired companies and brands in Japan in 2010?

Who are the most admired companies in Japan?


Click
here





Source:Asia 200
WSJ
Wed November 3, 2010
http://asia.wsj.com/public/page/asia200.html

November 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 !

November 01, 2010

How to attract customers from the worlds second largest Asian economy ?




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:

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