Hot in Japan: Latest consumer hits in the land of the rising sun

According to the media, Japan's economy is now resurgent and consumers are once again beginning to spend. But what are the latest crazes to capture the imagination of the Japanese at this time of opportunity?

Japan's largest business publisher, Nikkei, recently compiled a ranking of hit products for the last year based on a set of such criteria as sales, social impact and media exposure.
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Tokyo through the eyes of a consumer, part 3

The retail environment in Japan has numerous channels used to make products available to the ever-discerning Japanese customer. In our continuing series, which looks at Japan through the eyes of a consumer, we will venture to 4 different retail environments in search of Skin Care products.
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Understanding ethnographic research in Japan

Recent trends in Market Research have tended to be driven by the US and Europe. Ethnographic research, which is about observing consumers, be it at home, at work or in the social environment, is a case in point. However, when bringing such observational methodologies to Japan, researchers need to be aware of the unique cultural differences that can create unforeseen complications...
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