Since we are getting ready to conduct a large scale cross-cultural survey about social media, as a first step, we qualitatively analyzed how Americans and the Japanese use Facebook. Although qualitative studies are sometimes overlooked because of the small sample size, they tend to provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon that is studied. To… Continue reading One Social Network, Two Different Stories: Qualitative Analysis of Facebook Users in Japan and the US
Month: August 2012
Fukushima Resort Revival Supported By Social Game
Synphonie [J] is carrying out a customer transfer campaign through their social game “Boku No Restaurant 2” (My Restaurant 2) with Fukushima prefecture Iwaki city’s “Spa Resort Hawaiians,” [J] similarly to the movie “Hula Girl.” “Spa Resort Hawaiians” is a resort established on a huge plot of land the size of about 6 Tokyo Domes,… Continue reading Fukushima Resort Revival Supported By Social Game
Nico Nico Douga Hits 28 Million Users, Generates US$46 Million In Sales Last Quarter
Nico Nico Douga, Japan’s answer to YouTube, is still growing nicely, five years after launch. Dwango, the Tokyo-based company behind the popular service, released its financial report [PDF] for the last nine months (ending in June 2012). And according to the report, Nico Nico (the company’s most important asset) reached 28.08 million users in June.… Continue reading Nico Nico Douga Hits 28 Million Users, Generates US$46 Million In Sales Last Quarter
Facebook Usage in Japan: Then and Now (August, 2012)
My students and I (Adam Acar) have been constantly monitoring the Japanese social media landscape as part of our social media seminar. After checking the demographic distribution of Facebook users in last August we repeated this procedure again today, just about a year later. The results were quite interesting as can be seen in the figures below.… Continue reading Facebook Usage in Japan: Then and Now (August, 2012)
Popular Edo-Style Romance Game Now On Mobage
Cybird [J] has begun to offer “Ikemen O-Oku★Koi No En for mobage,” (Handsome Guys Shogun Harem ★ Love Garden) the first in a series of romance simulation games, for Mobage. “Ikemen O-Oku★Koi No En for mobage” is a social game version of “Ikemen O-Oku★Koi No En,” a mobile game for girls which Cybird has distributed… Continue reading Popular Edo-Style Romance Game Now On Mobage
Softbank and Disney Make AR Mickey Mouse Fan
Walt Disney Japan [J] is to distribute “AR fans” of Mickey Mouse at some shops who handle Disney Mobile On Softbank, as part of a Disney Mobile On Softbank summer campaign. This fan can show AR contents of Mickey Mouse. A special AR marker is printed on the fan, and when you view through the… Continue reading Softbank and Disney Make AR Mickey Mouse Fan
Koozyt Heads Up Production Space At Biohazard CAFE & GRILL “S.T.A.R.S”
Koozyt, Inc. has taken charge of the production space at the Biohazard CAFE & GRILL “S.T.A.R.S” [J] (Biohazard is the Japanese version of Resident Evil) which has opened on the 7th floor of the Shibuya Parco Part 1. They are developing projection mapping which freely uses multiple super small focus projectors, the first attempt in… Continue reading Koozyt Heads Up Production Space At Biohazard CAFE & GRILL “S.T.A.R.S”
Mail Order Service Nissen Releases “Kawaii♡Collection By Nissen”
Nissen Co., Ltd., one of the largest mail-order companies in Japan, has begun to offer “Kawaii♡Collection by nissen” (Cute Collection), a nurturing game for Mobage where you grow your character while enjoying coordinating her fashion. “Kawaii♡Collection by nissen” is a nurturing game where you build abilities as a fashion model such as “Coordination” and “Self… Continue reading Mail Order Service Nissen Releases “Kawaii♡Collection By Nissen”
Play Game On Spreadsheet! Japanese Coffee-Soda Promotion
Japan’s beverage vendor Suntory’s new promotion site [J] for its carbonated coffee drink Espressoda [J] is an action game on web browser, which you can play at office, as the game looks like your are working on spreadsheets. Horizontal scrolling game with jump and obstacles, such like Super Mario, is built on financial tables and… Continue reading Play Game On Spreadsheet! Japanese Coffee-Soda Promotion