Business Opportunities Abound

Given all the bleak news surrounding the Japanese economy in the past decades, it may sometimes seem difficult to believe, but a tremendous wealth of business and marketing opportunities still exist here for companies who are suitably prepared to respond to the unique conditions and demographics of the Japanese market.

Japan remains an economic powerhouse with a population of over 120 million people. Regardless of the performance of the economy overall, individually, Japanese consumers tend to be quite financially conservative and remain much better off than a cursory glance at economic indicators would suggest. They enjoy an average monthly household discretionary income of US$3310, of which they spend $1378 on durable and semi-durable consumer goods*.

( Source: Ministry of General Affairs, Statistics Bureau )

Different Cultures,Different Tastes

Geographic, as well as self-imposed, isolation throughout most of the country's history has led to a unique culture of very distinctive tastes which are commonly shared throughout the populace. The Japanese people's reputation for being both extremely fickle and extremely avid consumers at the same time is duly justified. Aesthetic sensibilities, as well as communication and business styles, often differ radically from those of other countries. In practical terms, this affects the entire marketing process; from package and product design to advertising concepts. Taking what consumers say at face value is usually as complex and bewildering as the people themselves. It takes a thorough understanding of Japanese language and culture to read between the lines and fully grasp the subtle nuances of what is said or often left unsaid.

Enter Fully Prepared to Succeed!

To succeed globally, you need to blend consumer understanding with a creative and disciplined approach to market research. It can be difficult, even impossible, for a foreign company to devise appropriate marketing/business strategies without the help and advice of an 'insider'. Perhaps more than in any other country, accurate, reliable and timely market research information is crucial to building a profitable business in Japan. Why go it alone? IMR will provide your company with the insight, expertise and experience that can make the difference between unqualified success and costly failure.

Whether you are considering doing business in Japan for the first time, introducing a new product or service to the market or want to revitalize sales of an existing product, whatever your research needs, International Marketing Research can help you succeed in the Japanese market.