Articles
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Jul 25 2023
The State of E-commerce in Japan - Data, Trends & Insights for 2023
Japan has one of the most developed and rapidly growing e-commerce markets in the world. Global supply chain issues, pandemic restrictions and increased consumer price sensitivity have done little to impact long-term predictions of growth for the nation’s flourishing online shopping industry. In our first report of this kind, we’re proud to present what we think are the most important stats, trends, and insights worth knowing about Japanese ecommerce—a handy visual reference for online sellers and casual readers alike. Table of Contents Japan's ecommerce market overview Shoppers by age in Japanese ecommerce Market share of leading ecommerce segments in Japan Most popular types of ecommerce platforms in Japan Monthly visits by ecommerce marketplace Amazon Rakuten Yahoo! Shopping Yahoo! Auctions Mercari ZOZOTOWN Au Pay (Wowma) Qoo10 Top first party online selling platforms in Japan by net sales Japanese ecommerce trends a
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Jun 12 2023
Japanese Advertising vs. American Advertising
Social norms, cultural nuances, language considerations and even media regulations all have a huge impact on the way brands communicate their messages in Japan and the US. We explore some of the major differences between these two nations, including why many Japanese consumers perceive American advertising to be too direct, compared to the soft-sell approach they’re used to. Table of Contents Japanese Advertising vs American Advertising—An Overview What role does culture play in advertising and marketing? Soft sell vs. hard sell in Japanese advertising Humor and Taboos Consumer behavior and persuasion Visual aesthetics Building a Japanese advertising campaign? Advertising in Japan? We Can Help! Japanese Advertising vs American Advertising—An Overview Japanese advertising tends to emphasize harmony, modesty, and group-oriented values, which in many ways reflects the country's collectivist soci
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Jun 12 2023
Exploring Minimalism in Japanese Creative Design
It’s tempting to ascribe certain qualities to the fields of art, fashion, architecture, and design from different nations. For instance, minimalism, zen and wabi-sabi are often the associations that come to mind when people think of Japanese creative design. We explore these common themes and their origins in Japanese culture. Building A Website for the Japanese Market? We Can Help! What Is Minimalism? Although interpretations can differ, a commonly held definition of Japanese minimalism is a design and lifestyle approach that emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and the elimination of unnecessary elements. Rooted in traditional Japanese aesthetics and influenced by Zen Buddhism, Japanese minimalism can be seen as striving for a level of purity and harmony. This can be applied to several situations and settings, from one’s living space to public places of worship. At its core, Japanese minimalism is about par
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Jun 12 2023
The Japanese Search Engine Market – Platforms, Popularity and User Trends
Although Yahoo! has historically been the most popular internet service provider in Japan, Google now dominates the Japanese search engine market at 73% market share—just as it does in most countries around the world. Yet, cultural nuances, language intricacies, user behaviour, and local preferences still contribute to a significant level of distinction between the way search engines work in Japan and other markets such as the United States. Table of Contents Japan's search engine market overview Google vs. Yahoo! search engines How do Japanese search results differ? Tips for SEO and SEM on Japanese search engines SEO and SEM for the Japanese market Steal our best ideas! Building an SEM or PPC Campaign? Let Us Help! Japan’s Search Engine Market Overview Google's global dominance and continuous efforts to provide localized content have helped it to increase popularity among Japanese users. However, i
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May 22 2023
Top 10 Japanese Vloggers and YouTubers in 2023
Despite the recent growth of TikTok, YouTube is still the largest market for influencer marketing in Japan, estimated to be ¥28.1 Billion (or US$186.7 Million) in 2023. Within such a rich and diverse blogging scene, we explore the nation’s most popular YouTube channels from Bayashi TV to Mizutamori Bond. Learn More About the World of Content Creation and Influencer Marketing In Japan Have Questions About Content Creation or Influencer Marketing in Japan? Contact Us! Influencer Marketing Size By Platform Platform Market Size (In Billion Japanese Yen) YouTube 28.1 Instagram 18.5 TikTok 15 Twitter 12.5 Source: Statista Forecasted Growth of YouTube Influencer Marketing in Japan Year Annual Expenditure (in Billion Japanese yen) 2020 14 2021 19 2022 24 2023 28.1 2024 32.9 2025 38.1 2026 43.4 2027 48.7 Source: Statista Top Japa
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May 22 2023
Japanese Content Creators You Need to Know In 2023
Whether you’re a creator looking for inspiration or a brand interested in partnering with Japanese content creators in the future, below is our roundup of top creators you need to know in 2023 across Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok. Table of Contents Influencer marketing size by platform Top 5 Japanese content creators on YouTube in Japan HIKAKINTV HAJIME FISCHER'S SUSHI RAMEN RIKU YUKA KINOSHITA Forecasted growth of YouTube influencer marketing in Japan Top 5 Japanese content creators on X (Twitter) in Japan HITOSHI MATSUMOTO HIROIKI ARIYOSHI KYARY PAMYU PAMYU ROLA HIKAKIN Forecasted growth of X (Twitter) marketing in Japan Top 5 Japanese content creators on Instagram in Japan NAOMI WATANABE ROLA KIKO MIZUHARA KENTO YAMAZAKI NICOLE FUJITA Forecasted growth of Instagram influencer marketing in Japan Top 5 Japanese creators on TikTok in Japan JUNYA GOU BAYASHI MICHAEL JACKTON
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May 22 2023
Top 15 Japanese Influencers On Instagram
Whether they’re known for posts featuring pranks, dance trends, fashion, or lifestyle inspiration, influencers play a growingly important role in Japanese culture. From the world-famous Naomi Watanabe to Kemio, the Gen Z fashion icon, we outline Japan’s top influencers in 2023 and explore why they’re so popular today. Explore Japan’s Social Media Landscape in 2023 Table of Contents Forecasted growth of influencer marketing in Japan Key facts Top Japanese influencers on Instagram Naomi Watanabe Rola Kiko Mizuhara Kento Yamazaki Nicole Fujita Tomohisa Yamashita Tomomi Morisaki Nozomi Sasaki Mei Nagano Kasumi Arimura Sakura Miyawaki Fumino Kimura Riisa Naka Haruna Kojima Kemio Tips on working with Japanese influencers Thinking About Social Media or Influencer Marketing in Japan? Contact Us! Forecasted Growth of Influencer Marketing in Japan As budgets
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Apr 04 2023
Branding in Japan – A Guide to Adapting Western Brands for Japanese Audiences in 2023
For new entrants to the market, success in Japan relies on an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of who your audience is so you can make a call on how to adjust your branding in Japan. This may require an overhaul of what you’re doing in other markets or smaller changes. Drawing from on-the-ground experience from our Tokyo office, here’s our guide on adapting Western brands for Japanese audiences. Table of Contents An introduction to recent changes in Japanese consumer behavior What role does branding play in the Japanese market The challenges of adapting Western brands for Japan Understanding the Japanese consumer in 2023 Ways to optimize your branding in Japan Important Japanese branding takeaways Steal some of our best ideas! Bringing Your Brand to Japan? We Can Help! An Introduction to Recent Changes in Japanese Consumer Behavior The landscape in the Japanese market is always changing, wi
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Apr 04 2023
Top American Brands in Japan and Reasons Behind their Success
Japan is one of the most important trade partners for the US. American machinery, raw materials, food, fashion and more have made their way into many key Japanese sectors—with brands sometimes finding more success here than they did at home. From New Balance to Wendy’s, we outline some top American brands doing well in the Japanese market and explore a few key reasons behind their success. Table of Contents Why American brands enter the Japanese market Americana in Japanese fashion culture American fashion brands in Japan Reviving dwindling American brands in Japan American food brands in Japan Why don't American cars sell in Japan? Takeaways for American brands entering Japan Steal some of our best ideas! Need help entering the Japanese Market? Contact Us! Why American Brands Enter the Japanese Market In addition to having the third largest economy in the world and a broad-based consume
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Apr 04 2023
How to Localize Your Brand Logo for Japan
Japanese consumers have a strong appetite for US and European brands, but poor localization efforts will turn people away. From language and fonts to images and colours, we explore how to localize your brand and logo for Japan. Need Help Localizing Your Brand Strategy? We Can Help! A Quick Guide to Brand Localization Brand localization involves taking aspects of your branding, such as your logo, colors, or typography, and adapting them so they have greater appeal in a different cultural context. This can also be applied to your broader brand identity, such as the values you choose to promote or the tone of voice used in marketing and advertising. While it’s true that Japanese consumers have a strong appetite for US and European brands, they also have distinct preferences that must be carefully considered when entering Japan. The only real way to ensure your logo is playing the role it needs to is to review its impac
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