January 2010 Japan-IT Links (part 2)

News on the latter half of January 2010 which we did not write as a dedicated article. Part 1 is here. Referred pages are all in Japanese, unless otherwise stated. METI Lottery In Exchange For Used Cellphone Campaign Collaborates Hatsune Miku Chinese Guy In Saitama Arrested By Providing Proxy Servers For Chinese Gamers To Play… Continue reading January 2010 Japan-IT Links (part 2)

Facebook To Have The First Oversea Development Base In Tokyo

Facebook, which I think I do not need any explanation what it is to English web users, announced that they would open their Japanese arm in Tokyo early in 2010, ITMedia reports [J]. The branch, which is planned to be formed with developers from US and locally hired Japanese engineers and managers, will make a… Continue reading Facebook To Have The First Oversea Development Base In Tokyo

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

J-Pop news for the world: New service “Natalie”

Have you ever heard of Ayumi Hamazaki, Ai Otsuka, Gackt, Orange Range or SMAP? These people and bands are on the forefront of the Japanese music industry which is the second-biggest in the world, following the USA. The advent of Japanese popular culture in the Western hemisphere is not restricted to manga, anime, movies and… Continue reading J-Pop news for the world: New service “Natalie”