Market research, as we all know, is equal parts art and science. And yet, many big brands overlook the art part of the equation when entering a new market or launching a new product.
Industrial designers and tech creators have come a long, long way in terms of incorporating usability into products and environments. Early Unix systems famously had no “save” feature, for instance, and incalculable hours of work were lost.
Every country has them, and Japan is no different. I’m talking about “the fearful fringe.” These are the people who fundamentally lack trust in their security, either personally or for the country at large.
One definition of progress is that Japan should move its society from one based on traditional values - highly protective of change and respectful of continuity and stability - to one of openness and free market competition.
Fat, fat, fat. Over three times more adults on this planet have become obese since 1975, meaning they’ve got a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or over. The figure jumped—or maybe rolled—from about 4 percent then to 13 percent by 2016.
According to the 2019 Global Wellness Report, the wellness industry is one of the fastest growing global industries projected to harness 500 trillion yen. But in Japan, this is one trend that was often thought to lag behind the West.
Kokusaika (internationalism) was a cherished expression of Japan’s elite back in the nineties. Those worthies predicted that the Japanese would break out of their insular mindset and embrace global norms and practices.
The Japanese are continuously obsessed with food–turn on the TV at any time of the day and it’s a safe bet the show will have something to do with cooking or dining. Food is an integral part of Japanese culture and will always remain so.