“For years, the typical Japanese cell phone — built to operate on a network hardly used anywhere else in the world — has been stuffed with quirky games and other applications that cater to finicky local tastes,” Kageyama reports. “Foreign developers of applications for phones didn’t give the Japanese market a second thought because of its insularity. But that is changing as the iPhone, for which tens of thousands of applications have been created, dominates Japanese smartphone sales.”
Kageyama reports, “Everywhere one turns, on commuter trains and urban cafes, people are tapping away at their iPhone screens in a relatively rare Japanese embrace of technology that isn’t homegrown.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Other non-homegrown tech products embraced in Japan: iPod and iPad – plus Mac is showing strong growth, up 22% YOY.
Still remember when “the iPhone will never sell in Japan”.
Japan is definitely a unique market. I was in Tokyo 2 years ago and it was rare to see an iPhone in public. Most people had generic flip phones with a big dial pad & screen for texting. Amazing how quickly things change!
Yep. I see them everywhere in Osaka. A real fashion statement now.
Apple just needs to remember the Japanese motto – “Smaller is better and everything needs a Hello Kitty logo.”
Hey Monkey Boy, Hear Dat…..
Big in Japan. めっちゃすごい
Hai! Domoarigatoohayogoizimas! I think I’ll swap my bald head & turn Japanese.
Turning Japanese I think I’m turning Japanese I really think so.
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it’s dark
Everyone around me is a total stranger
Everyone avoids me like a cyclone ranger
That’s why I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I hearts Japan!
@Crabapple
Like this?
I ♥ Japan?
(That’s plain HTML, even Windoze losers can do it.)
Apple needs to add a hook to the iPhonr to let people hang those funny phone strap toy/charms on. They’re perfect for Cubert’s ubiquitous Hello Kitty stuff.
Then it will really take off!
I have a few, but no iPhone…. sniff
BTW Cubert… There’s an ALL Hello Kitty store on East 33d between Madison and Park! kawaii des neh! かわいい
“… up 22% YOY.”
YOY, YOY, YOY! That was fun to say! I love speaking Japanese! Or is that Australian?
@Yoy
It sounds Yidish to me.
@ Gadfly,
YOY-vay, you are right! I am such a schmuck!
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I was in Japan in July 2008 when the iPhone went on sale and it was huge news. The lines dominated every news broadcast.
Honto ni sugokukatta!
A Japanese friend of mine who is in IT here in NY has hated on the iPhone from the beginning, and has close ties to Softbank. He always tells me that they have to give away the iPhone in Japan to get it out the door – heavy discounts, etc. Seems like the trend is changing and I’ll be laughing over the next bottle of sake
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They deserve the best.
It took them a long time to realise Sony wasn’t the best any more.