Japanese Market News

The number of "free paper" or free magazines found everywhere from train and subway stations to stores throughout Japan has flourished the past four years from around 1,200 to 2,500. These magazines have recently become a significant resource for companies wanting to reach consumers not just with advertisements, but with sponsored articles and coupons. The main reason why the magazines are so effective is because the target market for each magazine is focused. Such audiences range from a relatively broad demographic, such as free magazines for men or women working in the Tokyo metropolitan area, or more specific such as for golf, cars, water sports, or pet enthusiasts.

Posted by Alisa at 09:34 AM | Permalink

The so-called "reused car" export business continues to grow every year in Japan due to a large demand among many overseas buyers. "Reused cars" are older cars with higher mileage than the average used car. A few years ago, they would have been disposed of as scrap cars. However, nowadays, there is an expanding market for these "reused cars" where they are being repaired and auctioned off. Currently, the number of "reused cars" sold at used car auctions held throughout Japan are increasing and is said to reach 8 hundred thousand this year.

The benefits of the "reused car" business are that the parts are easy to find and the cars are easy to repair. What also attracts buyers to this business is the amount of money that can be made. The price of a car at an auction can start as low as 3000 yen (30 US dollars). Most cars are said to last for another 3 hundred thousand kilometers (around 187 miles) if repaired and some can be sold for well above the purchase price in countries in such places as South America and Africa.

Posted by Alisa at 09:13 AM | Permalink

Despite the average 6 g shortage in daily intake of dietary fibers among the current Japanese population, the 40 billion yen dietary fiber related products market has remained static. The main reason is due to products such as the coenzyme supplement Q10 that has been dominating the market for its marketability as an anti-aging product. In response to this phenomenon, several competitors including Asahi Soft Drinks, co., Ltd., Asahi Food & Healthcare, Ltd., Shikishima Baking Co., Ltd., Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd., Lotte Co., Ltd., and Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. came together to revive the dietary fiber market by developing products that specifically suffice the 6 g and over shortage and by marketing through unified promotion efforts such as using a common red project logo, promotional items, and promotional activities. Since the project began in April this year, consumers have been responsive. The companies hope that the products, which include powder supplements, zero sugar chocolate snacks, bread, nutritional bars, and drinks, will reach sales figures of 5 billion yen.

Posted by Alisa at 01:26 PM | Permalink

Since Japan's Personal Information Protection Law was enforced in April 2005, businesses all over Japan have been rushing to become certified with seals such as the Privacy Mark to reassure its customers that they are properly handling their personal information. Since this craze began, the Japanese population's attention towards security has risen, and has affected various industries, especially the electronics industry. Specifically, businesses in the computer recycling industry that work mainly with businesses have responded rapidly to these new concerns. Guaranteeing compensation for data leakage is one of many measures taken to avoid client data from leaking from the recycled computers to be resold to other businesses.

Posted by Alisa at 09:06 AM | Permalink