Japanese customers demands for quality pushes Japanese auto makers to constant improve their reliability

"...reliability ranking in the Consumer Reports (USA, 2011) annual auto survey (showed)... among 28 brands while Japanese automakers captured nine of the top 10 spots."


Source: Ford Quality Tumbles as Japanese Win Consumer Reports Study
October 25, 2011
Business Week
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-25/ford-quality-tumbles-as-japanese-win-consumer-reports-study.html

Japanese customers see the market for cloud computer services growing - estimated market size 2.37 trillion yen in 2015

"The nation's cloud computing services market is expected to be worth about 2.37 trillion yen in 2015, about a sixfold increase from 2009 figures, according to ministry research."


Source: Cloud computing battle heats up
Etsuo Kono
Yomiuri Shimbun
Oct. 27, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T101026004802.htm

Population of Japanese customers rises to 128 million up 0.2% from last census

"Japan's population stood at 128,057,352 as of Oct. 1, 2010, up only 0.2 percent from the last census in 2005 and marking the slowest growth on record, the internal affairs ministry said."

Source: Population stat positive, but via foreigner influx
Japan Times
Friday, Oct. 28, 2011
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111028a2.html

Japanese customers have fewest digital friends according to online consumer behaviour survey

“Japanese have the fewest digital friends on social networks, according to a survey on online consumer behavior by research firm TNS released in October. Japanese have an average of just 29 friends - compared to Malaysia’s 233 and the Facebook average of 130. “



Source: Facebook Looking for Japanese Friends
October 29, 2010,
Wsj
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/10/29/facebook-looking-for-japanese-friends/?mod=rss_WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_Japan_JapanRealTime

Japanese customers see a dramatic shift in the structure of households as the number of elderly living alone increases

"According to the 2011 governmental Annual Report on the Aging Society, 50.1 percent of households with a family member of an age over 65 lived together as a three-generation nuclear family in 1981. The numbers, however, fell to 17.5 percent in 2009 and those of senior residents, who reported living alone or only with their partners, accounted for a combined 52.8 percent for the same fiscal year."

Source:With collapse of traditional family values, Japan's elders turn to joint graveyards
Mainichi Japan
October 24, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news/20111024p2a00m0na013000c.html

Amazon Japan sets up home delivery services for Japanese customers as generational change begins

“...Amazon.co.jp will start a regular home delivery service for food and beverage items--free of delivery charges and attracting a 10 percent discount--throughout the country by the end of the year...(aiming at ) people who cannot leave their homes to shop--for example, the elderly, and parents with small children”



Source: Amazon to start regular food delivery service
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Nov. 5, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T101104004958.htm

11.67 million Japanese customers say no to TPP free trade deal as Japan considers free trade deals

"11.67 million signatures collected against the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade framework negotiations)"


Source:Genba: Decision close on TPP talks
Japan Times
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111025a1.html

Japanese customer households grow to over 50 million and number of single households now accounts for 30% of total

"The number of households (Japanese Customers) climbed to 51,950,504, up 4.8 percent from 2005 and topping the 50 million mark for the first time. But the average number of members per household hit a record low of 2.42. Single-member households stood at around 16.785 million, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total for the first time."

Source:Population stat positive, but via foreigner influx
Japan Times
Friday, Oct. 28, 2011
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111028a2.html

Japanese customers top internet searches in 2010 - 1. You Tube, 2.Mixi

“YouTube was the most searched term in 2010...... Mixi.... was the second most searched term.. Twitter crashed into the top 100 list for the first time, placing at No. 8... Facebook made a notable debut on the list in 39th place ...The iPod was the only product to be specifically named in the top 100 list, pulling in at No. 97.... according to a survey released Thursday by Yahoo Japan that covers the year up to Oct. 31”


Source: YouTube, Mixi, Twitter Top 2010 Web Searches
November 25, 2010
WSJ
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/11/25/youtube-mixi-twitter-top-2010-web-searches/

Japanese firms clocked up 3.13 trillion yen in M&A deals in the first half of 2011 as yens value strengthens

"Japan firms go on foreign M&A buying spree in first half of fiscal 2011.. chalking up 241 M&A deals with foreign firms....31 percent more than for the same period last fiscal year.. (the total value of the foreign deals valued).. At 3.13 trillion yen."


Source:Japan firms go on foreign M&A buying spree in first half of fiscal 2011
Mainichi Japan
October 25, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111025p2a00m0na002000c.html

Japanese customers see the demand for rare earth metals increase as supply shortages loom

“ Last year (2009), Japan's demand for rare earth metals totaled some 20,000 tons.”





Source: POINT OF VIEW/ Takashi Kamei:
Thorium holds key to Japan's industrial future
SPECIAL TO THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/09/02
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009010323.html

Japanese customers loyal to Japanese companies for products and services and its very hard for foreigners to compete with that loyalty

"The home-grown companies can count on their customers to buy Japanese in a way that can make Australian companies green with envy"

Source: Market-access porkies

Opinion & Analysis

Ian Porter

The Age newspaper,

Monday 24th October, 2011

Page 6

Business Day

Japanese customers spending on average 10 million yen for childrens lifetime education expenditure according to a study

"The average cost per child to enroll at and finish both high school and college rose 521,000 yen to 10,598,000 yen, and many families are cutting travel, leisure and other expenses to have enough money for education, it said."




Source: Education burdens on rise among Japanese families
Sunday 21st November, 04:57 AM JST
Japan Today
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/education-burdens-on-rise-among-japanese-families

"... the mother of all emerging economies: Japan" according to Paul Keating forthcoming new book "After Word's"

"But we have a guide to that new world. And that guide is the mother of all emerging economies: Japan"

Paul Keating - Ex Labour Prime Minister, Australia

Source: After Words: The Post- Prime Ministerial Speeches by P. J. Keating
Edited extracts
A Plus
The Australian newspaper,
Monday 24th October, 2011
Page 1

Deleveraging key to Japanese consumption growth in the lost decade

"..deflation and declining household savings allowed Japanese households to enjoy sustained growth in consumption and living standards (through the economic stagnation and rising unemployment of Japan's lost decade)"

Source: Japanese lesson for Xi Jinping

Alan Mitchel

Economic briefing

Australian Financial Review

Monday October 24th, 2011, page 23

Japanese customers not worried about austerity as its part of their long history

"Japanese are not averse to austerity, and indeed it is considered a virtue — practically a goal in itself. ... Japanese people remain as they have traditionally been, quite at home with less. Paucity itself and the stark absence of adornment have always been at the heart of this culture"

Source: Color me upbeat despite the pessimism now sweeping this land
By ROGER PULVERS
The Japan Times: Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20101107rp.html

Japanese customers to begin to receive compensation from nuclear disaster over next five months estimated at $12.7 billion

"Compensation for the victims of March's nuclear disaster in Fukushima is set to cost Japan's government $12.7 billion over the next five months, with the total bill likely to reach $57.2 billion"

Source: Tokyo Times quoted by

MX News

Monday October 24th, 2011

Page 8

Japanese customers see agricultures share of the economy declining as nation ages

"Agriculture today accounts for just 3.6 percent of employment in Japan and it contributes only about 0.8 percent to gross domestic product. Gross agricultural output in 2009 was about $81 billion, which is about 40 percent of Toyota's sales.."

Source: Kan ducks the rice problem
By KEVIN RAFFERTY
The Japan Times
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20101117a2.html

Japanese customers excited about the New York Pizza Burger 22cm in diameter from Burger King

“.. The New York Pizza Burger, 22cm in diameter, will contain popular pizza ingredients such as cheese and tomato sauce. It can be divided and shared just like a pizza....The megasize burger will be available for 1,680 yen at all 36 Burger King Japan outlets from Dec. 8 to Jan. 11."



Source: Burger King To Offer Huge Pizza-like Burger
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Nikkei
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20101117D17HH134.htm

Japanese customers stay home instead of studying abroad as market looks inward as economy stalls

"The number of Japanese students who enrolled in U.S. universities dropped a whopping 15% for the 2009 academic year, following a 14% fall off the previous year, according to a report released this week. It was one of the biggest country declines noted.

Source: Home Schooling: Fewer Japanese Head to U.S. Universities
WSJ: Wednesday, November 17, 2010
By Yoree Koh http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20101118D18NY153.htm

Japanese customers watched as the US dollar briefly fell to a postwar record of 75.78 yen on Friday in New York as yen continues to strengthen

"The (US) dollar briefly fell to a postwar record of 75.78 yen on Friday in New York"


Source:Japan sounds alarm again on possible currency interventions
Mainichi Shimbun
October 25, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20111025p2g00m0bu110000c.html

Japanese customers slow to warm to Facebook according to tracking survey

“Facebook increased the number of visitors to the site in Japan by nearly four times to 1.39 million in November 2009 compared to the previous year, according to Internet tracking firm NetRatings. But that barely closed the gap with Mixi, which boasted 9.2 million visitors at the time.”



Source: YouTube, Mixi, Twitter Top 2010 Web Searches
November 25, 2010
WSJ
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/11/25/youtube-mixi-twitter-top-2010-web-searches/

More Japanese customers graduating university with 54.5% of high schoolers going to university

“Almost 3 million people graduated from university in 2010, whereas only 1.85 million did so in 1985. In that year, 26.5 percent of all high- school grads went on to university. Now, the percentage is 54.5. “


Source: University grads need to expand their horizons
Phillip Brasor
The Japan Times
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fd20101219pb.html

Japanese customers rice consumption falls as other foods become important

“ The average rice consumption per person in Japan was just 58.5 kg in 2009, compared with 118.3 kg at the peak in 1962. “

Source: Sanyo gloats as Gopan turns top breadwinner
By MAI IIDA
Kyodo News
The Japan Times: Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nb20101229a2.html

Japanese customers underinsured when it comes to earthquake insurance coverage on houses and businesses in Japan, new demand growing

"..only 14percent to 17 percent of houses and businesses in Japan have earthquake (insurance) cover, which accounts for 0.3 per cent of the planets land mass but 10 percent of total earthquakes according to PWC, obtained its figures from AIR worldwide"

Source: An unexpected rush on quake cover
By Rick Wallace
The Australian Newspaper,
23rd September, 2011, page 28

Japanese customers share their opinions of rising prices since 3/11 "..it's going to be difficult" housewife

"Prices are getting higher but people have less money, so it's going to be difficult. I don't feel that it will be that different for me — I'm more worried about my son having it much worse when he grows up". Keiko Aono, 33, Housewife

Source: Fuji Five Lakes:

What are your thoughts on hiking prices on everything

from food to utility bills in the wake of the 3/11 disasters?
Japan Times
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111018vf.html

Western investors need to consider the rising Asian consumer class which is growing

“As a resource-driven economy with a robust financial system, Australian investors need to look through the noise at the rising Asian consumer class which continues to evolve regardless of Europe’s debt crisis or threats of US recession.”
Investec’s global investment strategist, Dr Michael Power.

Source:The real danger of China buying the old world
October 18, 2011 - 1:01PM
Michael Pascoe
Age newspaper
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-real-danger-of-china-buying-the-old-world-20111018-1ludi.html#ixzz1b6wCu7zE

Japanese women apply most makeup according to study as perceptions of others important

“Women in Tokyo apply makeup more frequently and extensively than women in other Asian cities because how other people see them is considered a vital concern, according to a survey on Asian women's lifestyle by Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.”



Source: When it applies to makeup, Tokyo women the most dolled up: Kanebo poll
By TAKAHIRO FUKADA
The Japan Times
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20101229f3.html

Japanese customers see high tariffs on foreign foods as agriculture items begin debate in TPP

“ The biggest tariff by far--1,706 percent--is imposed on konnyaku root, followed by the 1,086 percent set for peas. Rice imports face a 778 percent tariff…According to World Trade Organization data, Japan's customs duties average 22.2 percent, much higher than the United States' 5.2 percent and the EU's 13.5 percent.”


Source: Tariff rates of over 1,000% set on some farm imports
Yoshihisa Mizukami
Yomiuri Shimbun
Dec. 2, 2010
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T101201004462.htm

Japanese customers very different to western customers and need a different marketing skill set to engage

"Japan will remain a notoriously difficult country to make money out of"
Kate Kalvert, Seymour Pierce

Source: Japan proves too hard for Tesco
By Simon Zekaria, London
The Australian Newspaper,
Friday September 2nd, 2011, page 24

Japanese households have an estimated Y150,000 billion in financial assets

"a significant amount of the Y150,000 billion in financial assets that
Japanese households have is held by the older generation – risk-averse people with
the largest pool of savings"



Source: AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN, BEYOND THE MAINSTREAM
referring to
http://www.ft.com/special-reports/japanbfioct2008
Manuel Panagiotopoulos and Andrew Cornell, page 20
http://ajf.australia.or.jp/docs/20090625_AJF_Manuel_Panagiotopoulos_Business.pdf

Japanese customers see the demand for rare earth metals increase as supply shortages loom

“ Last year (2009), Japan's demand for rare earth metals totaled some 20,000 tons.”



Source: POINT OF VIEW/ Takashi Kamei:
Thorium holds key to Japan's industrial future
SPECIAL TO THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/09/02
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009010323.html

Japanese couples travel to the Gold Coast for honeymoons as population shrinks

“Since the marriage rate among Japan's shrinking population is falling and with many of the country's remaining lovebirds heading for Hawaii or Australia's Gold Coast”


Source: Only in Japan, Real Men Go to a Hotel With Virtual Girlfriends
Dating-Simulation Game a Last Resort For Honeymoon Town and Its Lonely Guests
By DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI
SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451414209658940.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

Japanese customers celebrated Doraemon's 40th birthday in 2010

“ (2010)...happens to be the 40th anniversary of Doraemon's first appearance in magazines for children. Various events are being planned to celebrate the special year for the popular blue cat robot from the future. “


Source: ANIME NEWS: 'Doraemon' celebrates 40th anniversary with DVD specials at Lawson stores
Translated by The Asahi Shimbun from the website of Anime Anime Japan Ltd.
2010/06/28
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201006270200.html

Japanese customers write nearly 8 million tweets a day or 12% of the world according to study

“Twitter estimates Japanese write nearly 8 million tweets a day, or about 12 percent of the global total. Data from Tweet Sentiments, a Web site that analyzes tweets, show Japanese are sometimes tweeting more frequently than Americans.”


Source: World's tweet is Japan's 'mumble' on hit Twitter
By YURI KAGEYAMA
The Associated Press
The Japan Times
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20100630f1.html

Japanese customers worried by the past two decades stagnant growth in the economy

“ Japan's nominal GDP has not increased for the past two decades. Widening income gaps and growing poverty are causing social stagnation in this country.”





Source: EDITORIAL: Fiscal reform and growth
2010/07/03
The Asahi Shimbun, July 2
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201007020459.html

Tokyo is it the largest modern city in the world? The Economist thinks so & we agree!

"Tokyo is the largest and, arguably, most modern city in the world"

Want some invaluable tips for doing business in Japan and how to get along better with Japanese? Click the link below for an informative audio on some sensible things to consider when you come to Japan for work or pleasure.

Japan is a different culture, different ways of doing things and different values and we have to adjust well to survive.

We welcome your comments, insights and feedback

Source:Doing business in Tokyo
Community spirit
Oct 4th 2011,
The Economist online
http://www.economist.com/node/21531264

Japanese women turn to online shopping as bicycle can't help with heavy items

“ Working women strapped for time and elderly shoppers reluctant to carry heavy items are increasingly frequenting online supermarkets. The market was estimated to be worth at least 50 billion yen last year.”




Source: Supermarkets Stepping Up Online Shopping, Delivery Services
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Nikkei
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100825D25JFA10.htm

Japanese customers prove too hard for Tesco in Japan

"It has proven very difficult to shift (Japanese) consumers from the stores that they use" Tesco Japan, Philip Clark, CEO Tesco

Source: Japan proves too hard for Tesco
By Simon Zekaria, London
The Australian Newspaper,
Friday September 2nd, 2011, page 24

New Japanese customer book - Social security in Contemporary Japan by Mari Osawa

Editorial Review
"The author argues that at present the livelihood security system of Japan is not only dysfunctional, but actually functioning in reverse, in a sense of furthering social exclusion."

Title: SOCIAL SECURITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

Author: Osawa, Mari

Publisher: Abingdon Routledge 2011

Pages: 256pp.

ISBN: 978 0415 559409