Month: July 2008

Mixi starts “Celebrity Account”

Japan’s largest social network Mixi started a specialized user accounts limited for TV-talents/musicians on July 28th 2008. Mixi has a system limitation on your number of friends “Mai Miku”(My Mixi), 1,000 friends at most, however, with this “official account”, which Mixi ascertains the account is owned by the celebrity herself/himself/themselves (=not fake), that celebrity account… Continue reading Mixi starts “Celebrity Account”

Q&A: What is the Japanese equivalent of [Western web service]?

Here is a list of where Japanese users usually go on the web when they want to connect with their friends, buy something or get information. I feature “made-in-Japan” sites and software only (well, almost), knowing that i.e. Google, Amazon and Firefox are highly popular in this country as well. Some of these Japanese sites… Continue reading Q&A: What is the Japanese equivalent of [Western web service]?

Nico Nico Douga goes global (almost)

The once Japanese-only and super-successful video platform Nico Nico Douga goes international. They announced Friday on the company blog that they developed a German and Spanish version of their service (comments and tags are separated from Japanese videos). German version Spanish version The international versions are already online. Nico Nico for people living in Taiwan… Continue reading Nico Nico Douga goes global (almost)

Cyber-Maid Augmented Reality

Geisha Tokyo Entertainment Inc. announced a new entertainment software title using augmented reality technology named “Dennoh Figure ARis“(Cyber Figure Alice) which will be on sale this autumn (2008). The package will come with two cyber-cubes and two cyber-sticks. You set up your webcam, and by putting the cyber-cube on your desk, a cyber-maid is displayed… Continue reading Cyber-Maid Augmented Reality

Facebook will possibly fail in Japan

Last month I was asked some comments on how Facebook will do in Japanese market by other media. Unfortunately my comments were not taken so I post my answers here. What is the biggest obstacle for Facebook in Japan? The biggest problem is lack of Japanese applications. I agree that Facebook third-party applications are a… Continue reading Facebook will possibly fail in Japan

Tokyo2point0 Event: Twitter Japan and Goo

Another month, another Tokyo2point0 event. Nearly 100 people showed up on July 15th at the Super Deluxe, the new venue to listen to two presentations from the Japanese web world. Goo My friend Masaki Sawamura from the made-in-Japan portal site Goo delivered the first presentation of the evening. Goo, which is run by IT and… Continue reading Tokyo2point0 Event: Twitter Japan and Goo

Joblet: An exemplary online job service made in Japan

I recently visited “The Plant”, a Tokyo-based web development company, which was established in 2005 and now serves a number of big-name clients, such as MTV, Otto, NHK or Diesel. The company also runs Asoboo, Japan’s largest international social network (available in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Spanish). The Plant’s newest baby is called Joblet… Continue reading Joblet: An exemplary online job service made in Japan

Japanese “MAD movies” movement with Niconico/Idolmaster

Idolm@ster(Idol-master, abbrev. Aimasu in Japanese) is originally an arcade network game, then became a XBox360 game which is sold only in Japan. You will be a producer of a virtual 3D girl band and train them to be popular singers (kind of “Sim People” with a goal?). The game itself is not a big seller,… Continue reading Japanese “MAD movies” movement with Niconico/Idolmaster

News Corp. wakes up, finally enters Japan’s online ad market

U.S. media power house News Corp. finally decided to enter the Japanese online advertising market (the world’s second biggest) in September. The Nikkei says they are already on the prowl for possible candidates for acquisition but it’s not yet clear which Japanese online ad agencies might get bought up. News Corp. has apparently set up… Continue reading News Corp. wakes up, finally enters Japan’s online ad market