Articles
-
Aug 27 2023
AI Writing Tools in Japanese - Do They Work?
One significant development in the emergence of AI technologies is how they have revolutionized the way we generate, publish, and disseminate written content. With the emergence of Chat GPT, many brands and marketers now integrate AI into their workflow, whether it’s for research and ideation, or to create first-draft content. However, how well do AI writing tools work in languages as complex as Japanese? We explore! How Do AI Writing Tools Work? Most AI writing tools operate on advanced natural language processing algorithms. These algorithms analyze massive amounts of text data to learn grammar, vocabulary, writing styles, and contextual nuances. They then use this information to generate human-like text in a given language. Steps may differ slightly from platform to platform, but the process generally involves the following: 1. User Issues Prompt AI writing tools offer a variety of content outputs, including summaries, explanations, product descriptions, blog posts, and
Read More... -
Aug 27 2023
The Japanese Super App Race: Who Is Winning?
With the emergence of super apps and their ability to offer new levels of user convenience, brands and businesses worldwide are faced with the compelling question of how to navigate this revolutionary concept. These all-in-one platforms, integrating multiple services from ecommerce and payments to social media and transportation, have redefined user experiences and disrupted traditional app paradigms. Yet, adapting this concept to align with Japanese values requires a thoughtful approach. This article explores the key considerations that influence the success of super apps in Japan, currently trying to bridge the gap between innovation and tradition, as well as some of the most important takeaways for brands and marketers. Entering the Japanese Market? We Can Help! What Is A Super App? A super app is a single mobile application that combines a wide range of services and functionalities into a seamless and integrated user experience. Instead of using many separate apps for
Read More... -
Aug 26 2023
Marketing Automation in Japan — An Industry Overview
Japan’s marketing automation landscape is still being shaped by advancements in technology and changing consumer behaviors. At its core, it offers businesses and the marketers that serve them the opportunity to automate repetitive or formulaic marketing tasks, allowing them to make improvements to their processes, such as increased productivity, personalisation and audience targeting accuracy. Operating across various channels, from emails to social media and beyond, we outline the major providers of marketing automation tools in Japan and how companies are leveraging their services. Marketing Automation Usage in Japan (In Billion JPY) As it is in other nations, Japan’s marketing automation sector is highly competitive with a few international players leading the pack. This includes the popular Pardot Salesforce, with a detected usage on over 14% of Japanese websites, followed closely by Hubspot. However, although increasing rapidly, adoption has not always been widespre
Read More... -
Aug 15 2023
Using AI in Japanese Marketing - 5 Potential Use Cases
The use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in Japanese marketing has already proven to be incredibly valuable for many businesses, both domestic and international. With the advent of new tools and systems like the popular predictive language model ChatGPT, companies, and the marketers that serve them, have more ways than ever to leverage the power of AI. From automation and hyper-personalisation to AI-driven content creation, we explore a few use cases for AI in Japanese marketing and advertising. What Does AI Marketing Mean? AI marketing is the process of using AI tools and systems such as data models, algorithms and machine learning to support a wide range of marketing processes. This includes producing insights that businesses can be used to improve marketing activities as well as the actual execution of a range of functions with little or no human oversight. Many businesses can benefit from free-to-use and off-the-shelf AI services, while larger enterprises might opt for
Read More... -
Aug 15 2023
Reels and Shorts in Japan - The Role of Short-Form Content in Japanese Social Media
In Japan, short-form video has become a fundamental aspect of social media, with TikTok, Reels, and Shorts gaining immense popularity. As in other nations, these formats seamlessly cater to the constantly changing preferences and behaviours of users today. Yet, we explore how the engaging nature, shareability, and entertainment value of short video content is so uniquely effective in Japanese society. The Role of Short-Form Video Content in Japanese Society Long before the emergence of TikTok, Reels and Shorts in Japan, the short-form video format was already a staple of modern media. With competition and cost for television commercial slots being so high, it was common practice for advertisers to opt for quick and punchy ads—often featuring big-name celebrity endorsements to grab attention and make the most of short airing times. Today, 15–second video spots are also widespread on the digital screens of Japan’s metro system, displaying bursts of branded content to
Read More... -
Aug 15 2023
Marketing On Threads in Japan – Is It Worth the Gamble?
With over 150 million users already onboard, Meta's latest Threads platform has become the most rapidly expanding online platform ever. And while Japan stands among its top markets for sign-ups, businesses and marketers remain unsure if it can sustain lasting popularity. In this exploration, we delve into the platform's initial reception and potential obstacles to widespread adoption within the context of Japan's distinct cultural nuances and unique social media landscape. Japan’s Reaction to Threads So Far Initial figures show that India, Brazil and the US are Threads’ top markets for downloads, but Japan isn’t far behind with over 7 million app downloads by July 12th 2023. *Tap or Hover on the graph below to see details. Source: Data.ai Japan is Threads’ 5th biggest market globally with over 7 million downloads. That said, an initial review of the platform shows that only a handful of major brands in Japan are operating on the platform, including t
Read More... -
Jul 25 2023
Japanese Meta Trends and the Role of Facebook in Japan’s Diverse SNS Landscape
In the ever-changing world of social media platforms, few have achieved the global dominance and ubiquity of Facebook (now Japanese Meta). However, when it comes to popularity and perception, the Japanese market presents a fascinating contrast. We explore the cultural influences that have shaped Meta’s standing in the Japanese social media landscape. Building A Japanese Social Media Strategy? We Can Help! Forecasted Number of Facebook/Meta Users in Japan *Tap or Hover on the graph below to see details. Source: Statista In many other respects, Facebook’s success in Japan has been modest. It has a dwindling youth demographic and as well as having a smaller user base than Twitter and LINE, long-term growth of its users is expected to be outpaced by the increasingly popular TikTok. For instance, some projections for TikTok’s user growth in Japan predict the platform will have over 22 million users in Japan by 2
Read More... -
Jul 25 2023
Google Search In Japan — Key Search Trends and Insights
While Yahoo! is still popular in Japan, Google is now the most used search engine among the Japanese population. Individuals and businesses alike rely on Google everyday for online searches, whether it’s for information gathering, product or service discovery, entertainment or other purposes. We take a brief look at some of the major Google search trends from Japan and consider what influences search behavior from country to country. Need Help with SEM and SEO for Japan? Let Us Know! Factors Influencing Google Search Trends in Japan Google search trends can vary significantly between countries due to cultural, linguistic, and regional differences. Below are some important factors that can contribute to the variation in Google search in Japan and other markets. With native Japanese speakers making up around 99% of the population, searches will be made primarily in the Japanese language. 1. Language The
Read More... -
Jul 25 2023
What Influence Has Japanese Graphic Design Had On the World?
Japanese graphic design has left a lasting impact on global design trends. It has influenced brand aesthetics, typography, packaging, user experience, and the integration of tradition and innovation across several sectors and mediums. Among other things, the principles of minimalism and the unique blend of tradition with modernity in design work coming out of Japan continue to inspire designers worldwide. Building A Japanese Ad Campaign? We Can Help! Japanese Graphic Design Trends Used Globally Unique Typography Japanese graphic design frequently features bold and expressive typography. The use of unique fonts, calligraphy, custom lettering, vertical orientations and creative typographic layouts has influenced global typography trends. Many designers emphasize the visual impact of text and pushing the boundaries of what it can achieve—inspiring designers worldwide to experiment with typography in innovative ways. M
Read More... -
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 e-commerce—a handy visual reference for online sellers and casual readers alike. Japan’s Ecommerce Market Overview Sources: Statista, Statista, J.P Morgan, CIA World Factbook Sources: Statista, Statista, J.P Morgan, CIA World Factbook Shoppers by Age in Japanese Ecommerce Source: Statista Market Share of Leading Ecommerce Segments in Japan Source: Statista Most Popular Types of Ecommerce Platforms in Japan Source: Statista Monthly Visits by Ecommerce Marketplace *Tap or Hover on the graph below to see deta
Read More...