Social withdrawal seen as a pathology attached to Japanese culture according to research study

“.. Social withdrawal is a pathology that has affixed itself to Japanese culture."



Source: Masked social withdrawal linked to Japanese culture
By Takahiro Takino,
Mainichi Japan,
May 12, 2010
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20100512p2a00m0na001000c.html

Japanese customers see new technology stalled as it fails to reach overseas markets to earn much needed export income as economy shrinks

“..The experimental MLX01 maglev is the world’s fastest train. But it is confined to a 12-mile track. And like the train itself, its technology has been trapped in Japan. Now, though, Japan wants to begin exporting its expertise in high-speed rail.”


Source: Japan Starts to Shop Its Bullet Train Technology
By HIROKO TABUCHI
May 11, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/business/global/12train.html?ref=asia&pagewanted=print

Japanese customers estimated to have the second largest pool of savings in the world with AUS$18.9 trillion.

"Japan. It has the second largest pool of investable wealth in the world with a pool of savings of (AUS)$18.9 trillion.|"

Source:PwC report on 'The Australian Fund Manager’s Roadmap to Japan' (commissioned by Austrade – July 2011)
http://www.pwc.com.au/industry/asset-management/publications/roadmap-to-japan/index.htm

Japanese customers get pricing for the 3G iPad in Japan

“A basic (iPad) model with Wi-Fi wireless Internet access is priced at 48,960 yen and a model which can use both Wi-Fi and 3G mobile network service costs 58,320 yen. A monthly network usage fee of 3,225 yen is necessary for the 3G model under a two-year contract.”
Softbank Mobile Corp




Source: Softbank Mobile to market Apple's iPad tablet computer in Japan
Mainichi Japan
May 9, 2010
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100509p2g00m0dm022000c.html

Japanese women lead longetivity race as lifespan extended as average life expectancy reaches 86 years of age

“By gender, Japanese women remained on top at 86 years but men in the country can expect to live until 79—fourth on the list behind San Marino at 81 as well as Switzerland and Iceland, both at 80. The world’s average life expectancy in 2008 was 71.”




Source: Japan, San Marino top life expectancy list: WHO
Tuesday 11th May, 2010
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-san-marino-top-life-expectancy-list-who

Young Japanese customers turning away from Western films over past few years according to research

“Young people in Japan have moved away from Western films in the past few years, experts point out. Today's youngsters "are not accustomed to watching images and reading subtitles at the same time," said an editor at movie magazine publisher Kinema Junpo Co. They are also increasingly drawn to movies based on popular domestic TV dramas and other topical films, he added.”


Source: 3-D Helps Western Movies Stand Out In Japan
The Nikkei
Friday, May 7, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100507D06HH667.htm

Japan attrcated just 8.4 million visitors in 2008 small compared to France and the USA

“Japan attracted just 8.4 million foreign visitors in 2008 — a small fraction of France’s 79 million, the United States’ 58 million or China’s 53 million, according to the World Tourism Organization.”


Source: As Kyoto Attractions, Wave Pools vs. Temples
By HIROKO TABUCHI
Published: May 7, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/08/business/08kyoto.html?ref=asia

Japanese customers warm to IKEA as sales in Japan increase 40% over year to approximately 52 billion yen

“The company (IKEA) will launch online sales in Japan starting in October..Ikea's Japanese sales for the year ended Aug. 31 rose 40% to roughly 52 billion yen.”


Source: Ikea Going Nationwide As Japanese Consumers Grow More Frugal
The Nikkei
Friday, April 30, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100429D29

Cash problems at Post Offices impacts Japanese customers

“Postmasters and other Japan Post Holdings Co. employees embezzled 2.01 billion yen in fiscal 2009, including from customer savings accounts, it was learned Friday...Workers committed more than 1,000 violations last fiscal year, 42 of which involved misappropriating cash.”

Source: Postal Workers Stole Y2bn In FY09
The Nikkei
Saturday, April 24, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100423D23JFA09.htm

Japanese customers see lack of affordable day care as a major reason for decreasing birth rate

“A lack of affordable daycare also is a disincentive for working women to have kids. Unable to balance work and family, more are putting off motherhood. “



Source: Waning Sex Drives Give Economy ‘Perfect’ Cushion: William Pesek
April 15 ,2010
Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aCypQPYZ5VOg#

Japanese customers live in a rough part of the world with disputes on all sides from their neighbours

“Japan lives in a rough neighbourhood. It has territorial disputes with nearly every surrounding country”



Source: Japan’s splendid isolation may be at risk
By David Pilling
Published: April 14 2010 22:23
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fb85d0a2-47f6-11df-b998-00144feab49a.html

Japanese customers see large falls in the number of paper books and magazines sold decrease in 2009 according to research

“Sales of paper books and magazines in Japan fell 4.1 percent to a 21-year low in 2009, shrinking 27 percent since its 1996 peak, according to the Research Institute for Publications.”




Source: iPad May Be ‘Black Ship’ That Shakes Up Japan’s Book Industry
April 08, 2010
By Pavel Alpeyev and Yoshinori Eki
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-08/ipad-may-be-black-ship-that-shakes-up-japan-s-book-industry.html

Japanese customers see little Japanese content in the highly successful Apple iPAd as new trend in electronics starts

“Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet computer consists mostly of electronics parts made by South Korean and Taiwanese companies, according to a report released Wednesday by U.S. research firm iSuppli Corp. ..The report found that the battery is the only of the device's 14 major components that is associated with a Japanese company. But even the battery comes from Hong Kong, where it is built by Amperex Technology Ltd., a TDK Corp. subsidiary.”


Source: iPad Has Almost No Japanese Parts
The Nikkei
Friday, April 9, 2010
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100408D08JFF04.htm

Japanese customers find it easy to access an MRI with over 17,000 machines in Japan

“According to a survey by the health ministry, there are about 17,000 CT and MRI machines in (Japan) --the most among industrialized countries in per capita terms. In contrast, there are only 5,000 doctors specializing in this field. “



Source: Responsibility must be clear
By Keishi Takahashi
Yomiuri Shimbun
Apr. 7, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20100407TDY02T07.htm

Japanese customers in Kyoto are served by the largest percentage of companies that have operated for over 100 years continously

“Kyoto Prefecture has the highest percentage of companies operating for at least 100 years, at 3.65 percent, according to the book "Hyakunen Tsuzuku Kigyo no Joken" (Conditions of companies that continue for 100 years).”




Source: The longevity secret of Kyoto businesses
BY KATSUHIKO TAGAYA ASAHI SHIMBUN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
2010/03/24
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201003230325.html

Japanese customers wary of new bond issues as it reminds them of daimyo ways of old

“...to have the Bank of Japan underwrite more government bonds--will do no good. The effects would be similar to what happened back when unscrupulous daimyo feudal lords, attempting to increase revenue for their fiscally strained domains, put into circulation enormous amounts of coins that had extremely low gold content. The crooked measure lowered the value of money and caused prices to shoot up, with bitterly painful consequences for the people. ... Such a measure is like the tokuseirei--a debt cancellation order issued by medieval governments--that aimed at providing debt relief for the government at the expense of the people.”


Source: JAPAN BIZ TRACK: 'Bad money' must not be allowed to spread
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/03/22
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201003210194.html

Japanese customers "too busy" to take entitled holidays according to survey

“In a ..... survey released last year (2009) by online travel site Expedia Japan, 39.5 percent of the 516 survey respondents cited "I'm too busy at work" as a reason for not using up their paid holidays. Perhaps more troubling is the fact that 23 percent cited the "atmosphere in the workplace" that kept them from taking holidays, while another 14.8 percent even said they did not want to take holidays because they were "worried their bosses and co-workers might not like it."”


Source: Moves afoot to make Japanese holidays a pleasure not a pain
By TOMOKO OTAKE
The Japan Times: Sunday, March 21, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fl20100321x3.html

Japanese customers take to the velcro Kimono to save time as art of dressing in kimono fades with younger generation

“(New kimono – the) Velcro kimono, rather than wearers needing to attend classes, as many do — and then even still require assistance — to simply dress themselves in the many layers of gowns and underskirts, the whole operation is cut down to a matter of minutes. ..thanks to the magic of the hidden Velcro tapes.. anyone only needs to take 10 minutes to dress perfectly in Japan's gorgeous, signature garment for women.(the Kimono)”


Source: Kimono like never before
By JAE LEE
The Japan Times: Sunday, March 21, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fl20100321x2.html

Japanese customers see Indonesian youth starting to use Japnese products as cosmetics extend reach into new Asian countries

“In Indonesia, the Gatsby line of men's cosmetic products by Mandom Corp. has found a foothold, with a market share in the country of 70 percent to 80 percent...Gatsby became a hit in part because Mandom marketed its products in a way that made them more affordable for Indonesians. For example, hair products are sold in single-use quantities.”


Source: CHARTING JAPAN'S COURSE / Finding niches and lowering prices
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Mar. 16, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100315006063.htm

Parasite singles too choosy when it comes to potential marriage partners in Japan

"I'm looking for a man who makes more than 10 million yen (110,000 dollars) a year, doesn't ask me to live with his parents and takes good care of me," said Oda, a contract office worker.

Source: Japan's spouse hunters hone skills at marriage school
Toshi Maeda
Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:17pm EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62A0WO20100311

Japanese customers see the difference in landing fees for planes as new airports start competition in air travel

“...Landing fees for a Boeing 737 on a scheduled flight at Ibaraki are about 89,000 yen ($982), two-thirds of Narita’s 139,600 yen fee ($1,540) and less than half of the 189,600 yen ($2,092) at Haneda, according to the industry publication Orient Aviation. “





Source: In Japan, No-Frills Airport Lures Bargain Players
By HIROKO TABUCHI
March 10, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/business/global/11airport.html?ref=asia&pagewanted=print

Japanese customers saw their first product liability law in 1994

“ Japan's first product liability law was passed only in 1994. The nation's consumer protection agency has recorded only 112 product liability lawsuits in Japan since 1995, compared to more than 53,000 cases started in the U.S. in 2008 alone.”



Source: Toyota fiasco a wake-up call for Japan's companies
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press Writer
Mar 5th,2010
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_TOYOTA_CRISIS_MANAGEMENT_ASOL-?SITE=YOMIURI&SECTION=HOSTED_ASIA&TEMPLATE=ap_national.html

Japanese pets now outnumber the number of children under the age of 16

“...for the first time, according to JPFA data, the nation's 19.2 million population of cats and dogs exceeded the population of 17.9 million children aged under 16. By 2009, that gulf had become even wider as the total of 23.2 million cats and dogs came to outnumber children by 6 million.

Source: Japan's love affair with dogs and cats
By ERIKO ARITA
The Japan Times: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fl20100228x1.html

Japanese customers account for 10% of the global cosmetics market valued at $333 billion dollars

“Japan accounted for about 10 percent of the $333.7 billion global market for cosmetics and toiletries in 2008, London-based researcher Euromonitor said.”



Source: ‘Feminized’ Japanese Men Boost Kao Sales as Women Pamper Less
January 26, 2010
By Naoko Fujimura
Bloomberg
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-26/-feminized-japanese-men-boost-kao-sales-as-women-pamper-less.html

Japanese customers enjoy McDonalds Texas Burger 4.13 million burgers sold in the first four days of launch

“Conjuring an image of the U.S., the Texas Burger is the first in a series of oversized burgers McDonald's Japan plans to release through the end of March. Texas Burger sales volume reached 4.13 million in the first four days it was available, 2.2 times as much as the company was expecting, and helped drive the company's total sales at all stores to a record one-day total of 2.81 billion yen on Sunday.”

Source: McDonald's Japan Lifts Sales Target For Big Burgers
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Nikkei
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100120D20JFA01.htm

Japanese customers see their retirement money in defined benefit plans which make up 60% of all plans according to study

“Defined-benefit plans make up 60 percent of Japan's corporate retirement funds, Clifford said. About 4 percent of assets are invested in defined contribution or 401(k) programs, which only became legal in 2001 and have a cap of ¥25,500 per month.”



Source: JAL may spark major revamp in pension finance
Change critical if other firms to avoid carrier's underfunded fate
By JASON CLENFIELD and TOMOKO YAMAZAKI
Bloomberg
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100122n3.html