All You Need To Succeed in Japan ... For Free!

Published Biweekly by
Richard Posner

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http://www.successinjapan.com 

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Thoughts From Above And Below

Out of Touch

On the long-running, popular late-night American talk show, Johnny Carson, many years back, a very funny and thoughtful comedian, George Carlin, was standing in for Johnny while Johnny was on vacation.

Carlin's first guest was actor Vincent Price (the horror voice in the "Thriller" video of Michael Jackson).  Price was on the show to promote his new TV pilot about a conductor on a train who could take people back to any point in time, drop them off, and let that person start afresh.

Price said to Carlin with an assuring grin:  "Isn't that great?  Everyone wants to go back to some special point in time and start over."

It was a rhetorical question since Price and his producers were on a whirlwind publicity tour, but Carlin wasn't about to bite. 

Price was nodding up and down, waiting for Carlin to take the bait.  But the latter just pondered.

Finally - you could cut the silence in the air - Carlin spoke deliberately:  "Nope (with three-second extension).  No, I don't think so.  Yes, I have some regrets.  But I like myself.  If I went back to some point in time and started over, I wouldn't be me."

The TV pilot flopped, as well it should have.

I share this anecdote because just yesterday a condescending Japanese older man told me that to understand the Japanese mind I should analyze rakugo, a traditional storytelling where a performer sits in a seiza position on stage and tells (with a few props) a complicated, comical story using two characters.

While this story may be entertaining, it is complicated.  To understand people and things, we must simplify rather than complicate. 

Rakugo doesn't qualify as the entree to enlightenment of Japanese character or even as an ample guide to any but the linguistically gifted.

It is a telling choice that this older man chose rakugo.  Japanese people seem to take pride in complicating their culture with every shade of grey. 

But this elderly gentlemen also convinced me that he is totally out of touch with the tidal wave of change among young people worldwide who are too multi-tasked to sit down to lengthy, complicated stories that can last more than one hour.

Immediate gratification - not rakugo - defines modern-day Japan.  Staying in touch requires the more elderly to see the winds' of change and embrace them. 

TAKE THE TEST AND BECOME YOUR BEST!

Japan Niche Opportunity of the Week

The Stage

The percentage of fat to obese people in Japan has increased gradually over the last 25 years.  In a country with the world's longest-living population, Western diets are becoming the norm as traditional food customs are left behind. 

"I don't know for how long Japan can maintain the world's highest longevity," says Yukio Yamori, director of the International Center for Research on Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. "If eating habits change, life expectancy will shorten and this has already been made clear."

While the Japanese are far from being as overweight as Americans – almost one-quarter of adults are believed to be overweight compared to 65 percent in the United States – poor diet and minimal physical activity among children is beginning to take its toll.

Enter the "Zero" foods.  For the longest time diet foods, low-fat alternatives or no-calorie treats seldom found their way onto the store shelf here.  Now they are a ubiquitous presence in many convenience stores and a growing legion of supermarkets.

The Opportunity

I think this diet food boom is more than a trend.  But low-calorie treats other than diet sugar, low- and non-fat yogurt, zero calorie gelatins, and a very limited variety of diet soft drinks are all you see on the shelves.

Zero is the buzz word that attracts, but surely there is finally a demand for low-fat, non-fat, low-carb, low-sodium products of all sorts.

If you were to open an online shop featuring these goods or a physical store carrying a wide range of these more healthy alternatives, the Japanese consumer would eat it up.

Of course, the better choice would be to go back to a basic Japanese diet.  But that choice is quickly fading as young people eat more sugary and heavy-oiled foods of western origin.

Do You Want to Introduce Your Product or Service in Japan?  Looking for partners?  CLICK HERE.　

Empowering Japan Resources

Seafood Importers, Exporters

Japanese fisherman have to go far out into the oceans to catch much of their fish.  Fishermen in Japan and many other countries are facing a problem.. There are too many fishing boats but not enough fish. Japan consumes 1/3 of the worlds fresh fish supply.

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A PDF Report That Acts As A Business-In-A-Box

In the boom-boom 80s, Japan was king of the hill.  They bought up world landmarks, dominated trade and the euphoria could be felt on Neptune.  But then it all collapse and Japan turned from hero to basket case in the 90s and early Millennium years.

Japan is trying to revitalize it's economy.  And one area of revival is to build Japan into an international financial center.  I'm doubtful because  even after 28 years here, a simple check will cost you 5,000 yen to cash.

That being said, the Ministry of Finance has prepared a white paper outlining proposed steps to making Japan into an international financial center.  The report is instructive for those of us foreigners looking for niche businesses the Japanese government states it needs to make the transition from the 12th largest financial center in the world to the top five.  Read the report and start thinking about how you could fill the niche gap.  To read it, CLICK HERE.

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Cutting Expenses to the Bone

According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, eighty percent of the surveyed households said that recent increases in food prices are pinching their monthly budgets.

While their are some stores such as my neighborhood such as supermarket Giga Mart and variety store Don Quixote that are able to find cheap suppliers and thus slash prices, the majority of stores are sticking to the archaic distribution system which insures continued high prices. 

The exception to these high prices are vegetables and fruits in season which are sometimes supplied directly by local small farmers and community garden growers.

Based on my long residence here, the following supermarket items are outrageously priced in Japan and a cheaper alternative would be appreciated by local merchants:  quality pancake syrup, morning cereal, oatmeal, miso, pork, beef, fish, frozen vegetables, frozen meals of quality, butter, dried fruits, a variety of diet soft drinks (cream, cherry, root beer,etc.), good mustard, quality crackers, canned pates, cake mixes, ice cream, chili sauce, tomato paste, cranberry juice, quality frozen pizzas, vegematics and other such food preparation devices...to name just a few.

A few years back, a Turkish merchant mailed me some special cookies, but he didn't pack the sample to protect against the cookies crumbling.  My Japanese import friend snickered and never bothered to pass on the samples.  Japanese are extremely fickle about packaging and the goods inside the package.  What might be 'good enough' in your country will get fed to the pigs here or discarded without a blink.

The market for cheap products with exemplary package and taste is endless in Japan.  Make sure you send the goods in perfect condition.

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Coming to Japan to Buy Antiques

According to rumors, antique buying at street markets means you can save 20~30% after haggling over buying at a dealer's shop.  Oedo Antique Market is the most famous of the outdoor markets.  For a more comprehensive list, CLICK HERE.

A good indicator of the niche demand is that 5600 sites are listed on Google and three paid sponsors are on the first page of the Google search.

If you are an expert on Japanese antiques or want to become one, then coming to Japan  and bidding in person or attending street bazaars for antiques may bring you some real treasures than can be sold for much more in the west. 

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Manga Takes The Edge Off Of Studying

Study guides with cute manga-style girls and, to a certain extent, boys are being used to lure students studying chemistry, advanced math, and other cerebral subjects are selling more briskly than expected.  Educators pray that the lure of studying sciences in a manga format will stir young people back toward the sciences.

Japanese publisher PHP is leading the way, but other publishers are jumping on the bandwagon.

Perhaps there is a hidden demand for English school textbooks using manga as the centerpiece, rather than the western-style illustrations in standard texts.

This Week's Challenge

The Wise Woman's Stone
By: Author Unknown

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a
precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another
traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag
to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious
stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so
without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew
the stone was worth enough to give him security for a
lifetime.

A few days later, he came back to return the stone to the
wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how
valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that
you can give me something even more precious. Give me what
you have within you that enabled you to give me this
stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have, but what's inside
of you that others need.