| Japan's Zen-Like Consumer Steady-state economy & Japan's reluctant consumers |
| Japan's Seasonal Factors Seasonal income flow & impact on consumer spending |
| Arbitrage & Consumers Law of "One Price" in consumer product markets |
| Japan Viewed from the Outside "Gai-jin," outsiders, views of Japan uncover new insights |
| Mobile phone usage habits -- Japan, China, U.S. JMR study finds culturally influenced patterns |
| Richard May -- interview on iTV Video clip -- marketing research trends in Japan now |
| Software-as-a-Service SaaS changes how you acquire software |
| 1. Japan's Non-consuming Consumers |
| 2. Economic Weather Chart of 47 Prefectures |
| 3. JMR on Economics of Marketing |
K-Pop Music Tops Billboard Charts
In the United States, "FM," a group of Asian rappers called "FM" (for "far east movement") which includes two Korean-Americans, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In Japan, the K-pop theme music group "Girls’ Generation" currently holds the top spot in the Oricon rating. This signals the rise of Korean pop music groups.
Japan used to be noted for its export oriented entertainment business model. Korea and Taiwan were big consumers of J-pop music and personalities. Replays outside Japan of Japanese TV shows and Japanese pop music groups had avid followers outside Japan. Japanese entertainment exports extended to TV dramas, TV manga series and even documentaries about the training of pop groups.
Korea watched, listened and learned –Korean pop groups are now not only successfully out -performing their Japanese counterparts, they have put their own spin on pop styles of Asia. Other countries in Asia have become feverish fans of the K-pop sounds and look.
In the Japan export model, young pop music groups were largely all male. But with the rise of the K-Pop groups female music groups are taking the lead. And Korea's export of K-pop female groups appeal in Japan appeal to both male and female fans.
Commercial success too
Exports of Korean's music groups spin-off goods abound in Japan. For instance, in the Shin-Okubo area of Tokyo dozens of stores line the main street selling all kinds of Korea pop goods. The party crowd fills the “K-Pop Live” music venue for its three shows a day, five days a week, Korea pop music sessions. Korean groups top Tsutaya (the big rental music shop) rankings. According to Oricon, the Japanese billboard ranking, the sales of the "Girls Generation" group's second single hit 100,000, a sales performance on a par with Japanese pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki. The economic impact of Korean music in Japan is expecting to continue to expand. = AC with RM
