In countries where bicycles are an important means of transportation yet space is always a limitation, Marunaka’s portable bike Carry Me is great news. A manufacturer in Taiwan developed this product which folds up to become 30 cm in width, 114cm in height, and 21cm in depth (minus the pedals). This compact size is extremely convenient for those looking for the perfect solution to avoid not only bicycle theft but those living in confined spaces. Not only is it small but very light at only 7.9 kilos. Currently they are sold in Japan in six colors at a little less than 600 US dollars.

Unics specializes in special technical coatings including polyurethane. The company has a wide range of experience in industrial equipment beginning with parts feeders, by making use of specialized urethane, Teflon and nylon coating technology and engineering plastic processing technology.

For information on Unics Co., Ltd. please refer to the Unics Co., Ltd. website or send an inquiry.

Fifty years ago Kikkoman Corporation predicted that the soy sauce market in Japan would decline. In response, the company decided early on to expand to the overseas market during a time when no other Japanese company in the food industry would dare try. Just as predicted the soy sauce market continued to shrink in Japan. However, Kikkoman was able to support itself by its sales activities outside of Japan, which make up more than half because of Kikkoman’s early entrance in the overseas market.

Unlike now where Japanese food is widely known outside of Japan, fifty years ago the average American was far from interested in foreign flavors. However, by staying true to the motto, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” Kikkoman was gradually able to introduce soy sauce into the All-American kitchen. Instead of introducing Kikkoman soy sauce as how it is use in Japan, the black and white Kikkoman commercials of the time tried to grab the interest of these average Americans by introducing soy sauce as a type of barbeque sauce. Kikkoman’s teriyaki sauce was also introduced into the market as a barbeque sauce and became a big hit. Since then, although more people are using soy sauce in Asian dishes, its use has expanded to be used as flavoring for non-Asian foods such as sandwiches and frozen foods.

Geo. Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd. specializes in manufacturing and sales of fixtures, furniture-use and glass-use hardware, and construction materials.

For information on Geo. Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd. please refer to the Geo. Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd. website or send an inquiry.

Everywhere you look in Japan there are iPod users. You can say even more so for cell phones. With the spread in use of both items,
it only makes sense that a company like IMJ would develop an iPod remote controller that alerts iPod using cell phone users when they are receiving a phone call or email via their iPod.

The remote control uses Bluetooth technology to temporarily stop the user’s iPod, and alert the user with a ring tone. After the phone call it will automatically restart from where the iPod was stopped. It is possible to make adjustments such as the volume of the alert tone.

Though there are many iPod accessories that are available, like this BluRing, there is still more room for more ideas especially in the Japanese market.

Since its establishment, Meihan Green Service has been engaged in wholesale and retail sales of flowers, sales and repair of forestry machines, and most recently, manufacturing and sales of Farm Defense (Pat. pending) animal invasion prevention systems for rice paddy and vegetable plot use.

For information on the High-Quality MH-5 Series&RB5 Series please refer to the Meihan Green Service website or send an inquiry.

Since its establishment, Nitchi has specialized in employing its own in-house-developed technical know-how and advanced technology to dispatch chain blocks, lever hoists, electric chain block crane-related parts to the frontlines of industry.

For information on the High-Quality MH-5 Series&RB5 Series please refer to the Nitchi Co., Ltd. website or send an inquiry.

In comparison to before, there is more variety in services and products that have become popular among visitors who come to Japan. Snow has become a major attraction that has helped to counter the declining number of Japanese domestic travelers. One example is Yamagata’s Zao hot springs area where within these two years there has been an increase in number of visitors from Asia, especially Korea that come to ski. While there has been a general decrease in number of Japanese visitors at all ski resorts in Japan, last season the Zao area welcomed an average of 6000 non-Japanese visitors, which is twice the year before. These statistics were made possible with the help of about 20 Korean travel agencies which planned a scheme to attract these newcomers with a sensible 3 day 2 night ski package under 50,000 yen. Locals in the area are trying hard to welcome these new visitors posting multilingual signs and menus but more work needs to be done to continue increasing visitors. However, the future does seem promising.

Similar to these trends, there has been an increase in number of people from Hong Kong who visit Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday, especially to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka, and Wakayama for not only shopping but to be exposed to nature.

Apart from tourists wanting a glimpse of Japan’s ski slopes and waterfalls, Akihabara is still on the list of popular tourist destination. However instead of searching for the standard electronics or anime, now what visitors from especially China want are plastic models of helicopters and other vehicles which are said to be expensive back home. Shop owners say that these visitors are more eager to make large purchases than the Japanese locals. One visit may lead to a 100,000 yen purchase.

Other popular items among visitors are health products such as supplements, baby formula, and high tech western style toilets. Restaurants are seeing a change in their customers. Kaiten-zushi (conveyer belt sushi) restaurants are seeing that there has been an increase in number of Asian customers, especially from China and Korea. Lodging facilities, particularly capsule hotels and budget ryokans (traditional Japanese-style hotels are seeing an increase in number of Western visitors.

As an adhesive converter, Daiwa Kasei continues to manufacture unique and niche products in the adhesive technology field. Focusing their energies on products that contribute to natural resource saving and environmental preservation, they produce adhesive products that are utilized for a broad spectrum of applications while taking forestry resource conservation and environmental issues into full account.

For more information please refer to the Daiwa Kaseishoji Co., Ltd. website or send an inquiry.

Recently communication within the nuclear family is slowly decreasing due to changes in lifestyles and values in Japan. While there are many ways to approach this issue, one business has found a way not only to help but profit from this growing concern.

Hometech, a company based in Fukuoka recently introduced a device that monitors how each family member spends time within the house for a week. Multiple receivers collect this data from transmitters that are placed on each family member wrists. This data is analyzed and summed up on a computer for those at Hometech to see and suggest a home improvement solution that will not only fit the family’s lifestyle but improve it.

For example the data may find that the father and son might be in the house at similar times but may spend time in different rooms. In response to this data, Hometech may suggest a space for a computer in the living room which will increase chances for father and son for communication.