by carterjmrn | May 21, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Retailers of all types are having to work harder to attract and hold consumers’ attention in the “real” versus “virtual” worlds, as consumers of all ages become increasingly engaged with all things digital. But several recent retail concepts in Tokyo show the...
by carterjmrn | May 21, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
I have been following with interest the prospective launch of Jetstar Japan. Jetstar, a subsidiary of Australia’s flag-carrier Qantas, is widely recognized as being one of the most successful low-cost airline start-ups in the world. The new “Jetstar family” airline,...
by carterjmrn | Apr 21, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Nowadays, it’s often said that television is a dying medium and that newer, more interactive forms of media are taking its place. This is certainly as true in Japan as it is anywhere else. But even in the world’s biggest advertising market, the US, TV still has an...
by carterjmrn | Apr 21, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Japan’s population crisis is well documented. In a country with the highest life expectancy in the world and one of the lowest birth rates, one could expect some good business opportunities in the aged care area. However, when reading there is actually a nursing home...
by carterjmrn | Apr 9, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
As negotiations move forward, will Japan be able to muster the political will needed to capitalize on the opportunities that The Trans-Pacific Partnership (or TPP) has to offer? The TPP is a free-trade agreement that promotes economic integration among participating...
by carterjmrn | Mar 27, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
When I first came to Japan in the late 1990s, one of the most telling signs of the country’s consumer technology progress versus America, Europe and Australia was its cell-phone network. Not only were Japanese handsets much more advanced than what was available on the...
by carterjmrn | Feb 27, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Kizuna, the Japanese word meaning “bond,” was undoubtedly one of the most-used words over the past year. It all started with Suntory’s use in its post-quake advertisements of Kyu Sakamoto’s famous songs from the early 60’s, Ue o Muite Aruko (English title — “I Look Up...
by carterjmrn | Feb 20, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Any of us who experienced the events of March 11, 2011 and their aftermath will understand just how intrinsic social media platforms have become to the way we gather information and communicate with the world. On that day the established telecommunications networks...
by carterjmrn | Jan 24, 2012 | Carter Group Viewpoints
Coming from a land of suburban castles, it’s sometimes a little surprising for Americans to see the relative lack of focus Japanese place on their homes as a form of self-expression. While it would not be uncommon for ordinary home owners in western countries to spend...
