REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

(for full report, please access our Market Research Library )

Japan: Small Software Applications for Web Technologies (Web Widgets) (Aug 2009)
Widgets are small software applications that allow users to manipulate graphics and information online. The Japanese Widget market is just emerging and Japanese marketing companies and corporate marketing divisions are particularly interested in the marketing experiences of U.S. internet advertising networks that use Widgets to reach a vast audience of online consumers. Japanese computer users are spending an increasing amount of time in front of computers. Web usage time among all Japanese increased 18 percent from 2007 to 2008. In addition, the number of Japanese users of Japan’s largest social networking site Mixi, exceeded 10 million recently. Widgets are gaining increasing attention within the local marketing industry as a tool to reach millions of these computer users.

Microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMS) (Mar 2009)
Microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMS) are one of the fastest growing areas for new technology business in Japan. MEMS are devices that integrate mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate. They have proven to be a key enabling technology in diverse sectors such as transportation, telecommunications and health care, but the full range of MEMS applications potentially covers nearly all industrial sectors. According to Micro Machine Center (MMC), the ICT and automobile sectors comprised 71 percent of the Japanese MEMS market in 2005. The Japanese government plans to spend more than $100 million on MEMSrelated national research and development projects between 2008 and 2012.

Broadband Market Update (Nov 2008)
Optic fiber dominates Japan’s broadband market. According to a June 2008 survey by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the number of fiber-to-the home (FTTH) subscribers has surpassed the number of DSL subscribers for the first time. Also, NTT started NGN (Next Generation Network) service in March 2008, which will lead to Fixed-Mobile convergence (FMC) service. Adding to fixed broadband, wireless broadband is emerging. Next generation broadband wireless communication service using 2.5GHz band will start in 2009.

Telecommunications (Nov 2008)
For 2007, the total market size projected for Japan's telecommunication equipment market is significant at approximately $32 billion even though this would be a decrease from the previous year. In Japan, while the mobile phone market matures, the Next Generation Network (NGN) related market continues to develop. The demand for optical access equipment and routers/LAN switches and other IP network related equipment is expected to increase steadily because of development of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and NGN. This, along with developments in wireless broadband, a Japanese Government strategy to promote wider use of broadband, and a new Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), should lead to interesting export opportunities for U.S. firms.

E-Commerce Market, Mobile Commerce (May 2008)
The rise of mobile commerce, also known as “m-commerce,” is a notable characteristic of the e-commerce market in Japan. While 82.3 million Japanese use the internet, 14 million use nothing but their mobile phones to go online. The significant number of mobile broadband users in Japan is also expanding m-commerce. 87% of mobile phone subscribers use mobile broadband and are catching on to m-commerce. Accordingly, the m-commerce market is expected to grow to $26 billion by 2011.

USEFUL LINKS

Japan

Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)
Japan Electronic Products Importers Association (JEPIA)
Japan Information Processing Development Corporation (JIPDEC)
CSAJ／Computer Software Association of Japan
Communications and Information network Association of Japan
Mobile Computing Promotion Consortium
Ministry of Public Management, Home affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
NTT International Procurement

U.S.

American Electronics Association (AeA)
Telecommunications Industry Association
Information Technology Association of America
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI)
Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)
US Internet Industry Association (USIIA)

CS JAPAN CONTACTS

Commercial Attache: Mark Wildman
Commercial Specialist: Rika Saito