export-japan.com's newsletter 8th August 2005 edition

Contents

Polarization in Purchasing Patterns in Japan

The market in Japan is currently expanding primarily at the high and low end of the spectrum, for example with boutiques specializing in 250 to 500 thousand yen range import jeans thriving at the high and 100 yen stores in the low. The increase in income polarization due to the rise in number of part time workers in relation to full time workers is said to be one of the major causes. However, difference in income is not the only determining factor influencing current pricing and product lineup trends in the Japanese market. There seems to be an additional split within the purchasing patterns of both ends, where large amounts of money are invested in certain purchases, while none in others. The success of US Mart, a 100-yen store that opened in the most unlikely place, Ginza, one of the most exclusive and expensive areas of Tokyo, illustrates this second determining factor best. The owner of the store shares that many of the customers who frequent the shop are very wealthy, yet obviously are not willing to spend much on daily necessities. On the other hand, lower end consumers are also known to buy higher end products. The most recent example is the increasing popularity of higher quality “premium beers” among regular lower quality malt beer drinkers.

Featured Company - K.M. Seiko Co., Ltd.
K.M. Seiko Co., Ltd.

K.M. Seiko Co., Ltd. manufactures screws for applications that demand the highest standards of quality such as signal installation-use screws, car airbag-use screws, etc. In addition, K.M. Seiko’s drill screws (Drill & Drive), which were developed to connect 1.2~6mm thick steel plates without the need to make pre-drilled holes, are equipped with a reamer so that cutting sludge doesn’t adhere to the screw thread even when thick alloy plates are being connected. These screws have gained an extremely favorable reputation among the company’s customers.

For more information, please refer to their website or send an inquiry.

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It’s Mango Business

Watermelons symbolize the summer in Japan. However, recently the numbers of families buying whole watermelons are decreasing. The increases in demand for smaller precut portions are partially to blame, but mangos are the main cause of this decline in watermelon’s popularity. Mangos are presently a big business in Japan and in some extreme cases, one fresh mango can cost up to 6 thousand yen. Mangos first became popular among women not only for their flavor but also for their abundance of dietary fibers and vitamins. However, its popularity has now expanded to drinks, snacks, and desserts from restaurants to convenient stores, and the market is still expected to grow.

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Export-Japan.com Site Update

Come see the new renewed export-japan.com website. If not yet a full member, register for free to publish your company details and trade offers. Also make sure to take a look at our Business Information Search Service for those looking for specific Japanese business information.

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