General Edition Sunday, December 11, 2005 Issue No. 355
+++ INDEX
- What's new
- Services lineup
- News
- Candidate roundup
- Upcoming events
- Property
- News credits
Win one of 5 iPod Nanos! KDDI Survey |
| +++ WHAT'S NEW |
While the eyes of the world focus on Japan's expertise in cars and consumer electronics, there is one product sector you virtually never hear about, a sector which in our aging, sedentary society, however, could result in an "every household will have one" category killer.
We're talking about the lowly massage chair.
Massage chairs have been around in Japan for at least 45 years, originally produced by Fujiryoki for public bath houses around the country. Who hasn't seen a worn-out unit lurking in the corner of an onsen, looking for all the world as if it will either electrocute you or munch on your muscles? The chairs these days are very different, and it's worth paying a visit to your local electrical superstore to see some of the models on display.
You'll have to join the line though, because the latest chairs are now comparable to a human masseur in terms of performance, and customers have found this out. The latest Matsushita Real ProX sells for JPY450,000 and features four balls which rub, press, knead, and stretch the user's back, shoulders, arms, and legs in 965 different ways. Another unit, the Sanyo Master Hand, has a sensor which can gauge the stiffness of a user's muscles by analysing feedback such as perspiration and heart beat, as it does some test probing. The Master Hand sells for JPY522,900. Other high-end units have optical sensors to detect your back contours and modify the program accordingly.
Accordingly to a Matsushita study, deluxe programmable chairs dominate the market, and about 470,000 chairs were sold nationwide in 2004. This number is increasing about 10% a year. Apparently more than 70% of these units sell for more than JPY200,000, with many selling for more than JPY300,000. The company reckons that by next year, 80% of sales will be in the high-end category.
The latest units come with a control panel that would look more in place in an aircraft and which control the many sensors, pressure pads, and air bags that comprise a modern chair. You'd think that such a level of complexity would put off the primarily older people who buy these chairs, but apparently older customers are quite finicky and like the ability to refine the massage program for individual needs.
What got us interested in the whole topic of massage chairs, though, was seeing the latest version of another Matsushita product, the Joba. This unique massage chair, which looks like the saddle of a horse and indeed applies a horse-riding program to the derrier of the user, sells for JPY186,900. Matsushita created the Joba after collaborating with a professor from Aichi Gakuin University about the benefits of stimulating the seldom used muscles in the dorsal and abdominal regions. Amongst other things such activity is good for activating the glucose metabolism of diabetics.
Resistance training on the Joba for the lower torso is low impact on the body, and so is ideal for anyone with knee or lower spine problems, the aged, and the just plain LAZY -- indeed, it's an ideal form of passive TV-watching exercise. Matsushita did a study with elderly patients and found that after a 12-week program, their average waist circumference reduced from 39.4 inches to 38.2, systolic blood pressure improved from 143 to 132 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure from 76 to 70.36 mm Hg, and HDL ("good") cholestrol also increased by about 10%. No word on whether those subjects were snacking on Pringles and watching reruns of Shichi-nin no Samurai (7 Samurai) while galloping along!
Anyway, we saw the latest version of the Joba, released in August, in action. It is even more realistic in its horse riding simulation than the prior model. All Matsushita need to do now to make it appeal to the younger set is connect it to a video screen, a sound system, and some riding software. You could soon be cantering along in the English countryside to the baying of hounds, all without having to leave your 30th floor Tokyo apartment...
http://national.jp/kenko/oshiete/0507/oshiete01_3.html
http://tinyurl.com/aoplt
...The Information Janitors/
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| +++ SERVICES LINE-UP |
Contact sales@japaninc.com if you want your company here.
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sales@japaninc.com.
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mami.minagawa@lincmedia.co.jp
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| +++ NEWS |
- Japan, Malaysia free trade agreement
- Tightened immigration checks
- Mail order business drops off
- Fake data probe extends to big players
- November foreign reserves rising again
-> Japan, Malaysia free trade agreement
The foreign ministry has announced that PM Koizumi will sign a free trade agreement with Malaysia on Dec 13, which will substantially remove tariffs on oil, machinery, and agricultural products traded between both countries, over a period of 10 years. Malaysia exports JPY1.53trn (US$12.6bn) of goods to Japan yearly and Japan exports about JPY1.36trn to Malaysia. (Source: TT commentary from bloomberg.com, Dec 10, 2005)
http://tinyurl.com/d46d9
-> Tightened immigration checks
The Justice Ministry has said that in the wake of the murder of a 7-year old girl in Hiroshima last month by a Peruvian on a fake passport, it will tighten up the background checks on foreigners claiming Japanese descent before granting them residence. In the Peruvian's case, he already had a criminal record in his home country, however, Japan has traditionally not asked for proof about criminal records from nissei and sansei Japanese descendants returning to the homeland. (Source: TT commentary from chosun.com, Dec 10, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200512/200512100002.html
-> Mail order business drops off
An article from the Tsuhan Shimbun has said that mail order companies are seeing a drop off in profit, a situation which has occurred at over half the top 70 firms. Industry experts say that this is mainly caused by the government's mandate that retailers indicate consumption tax within the price of products sold, causing the mail order firms to have to cut their pricing, so as to maintain the client loyalty. In the profit stakes, the top runner was Benesse, whose profits increased 30%. The two big losers were Nissen and Senshukai whose profits decreased 15% and 28% respectively. Apart from training and education, cosmetics, health food companies, and TV shopping companies were the ones most likely to be reporting increases in profit. (Source: TT commentary from npicenter.com, Dec 9, 2005)
http://tinyurl.com/ces6h
-> Fake data probe extends to big players
The impact of the Aneha faked building strength data case is rippling outwards, catching up two major general building contractor companies in its undertow: Kajima and Obayashi. The government is questioning both firms about their involvement in faulty buildings constructed using Aneha data. Kajima built a Kyoto Prefecture hotel and Obayashi built an Osaka hotel. ***Ed: It appears that Aneha will be testifying to a special government panel shortly. We imagine that he doesn't want to go down alone and is prepared to drag down some of his clients with him.** (Source: TT commentary from nikkei.co.jp, Dec 9, 2005)
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Nni20051209D09JFA12.htm
-> November foreign reserves rising again
Providing the US dollar stays up, Japan now has $702.08bn in foreign reserves as of November 30, up almost $2bn over October. The increase has came from interest income and valuation gains on the US dollar. Of the reserves, $12.19bn is said to be held in gold. ***Ed: So all that US dollar buying last year has really helped the MoF perk up the government's balance sheet, it would seem.** (Source: TT commentary from nikkei.co.jp, Dec 7, 2005)
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Nni20051207D07JF715.htm
NOTE: Broken links
Many online news sources are now removing their articles after just a few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we apologize for the inconvenience.
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| +++ CANDIDATE ROUND UP |
DaiJob, Inc's executive placement team, AMBITION Consulting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DaiJob has great candidates. Contact Alex Burr at
alexander.burr@daijob.com, or Ph: 03-3499-3040 for details.
-> IT engineer at Bank overseas
Male, early 50s, Native Japanese, Business level English
Experience:
- 18yrs of IT
- Covering business analysis for all major corporate apps
- System development of product marketing app. w/MS .Net
- Database marketing professional
- Database marketing, tracking/analyzing transaction data with modeling, marketing promotional media
- System enhancement of CRM
* Looking for JPY10.0M+. Available immediately
--------------------------------------------
-> Brand Marketing Manager
Male, early 30s, Native Japanese, Conversational English
Experience:
- 4yrs Brand Marketing at global Auto industry with success
- Over 5yrs Sales with customer analysis skills
- 2 yrs management with good communication skills
* Looking for JPY7.5M. Available Immediately
--------------------------------------------
-> Logistics
Male, Mid 40s, Native Japanese, Business level English
Experience:
- Over 5 yrs experience in sales and 3 yrs in consulting
- Technical knowledge of SAP R/3, certified consultant
- Business process and operational analysis skills in some fields
* Looking for JPY7.0M. Available Immediately
| +++ UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
No announcements this week.
IT events announcements are priced at JPY50,000 per week. |
| +++ THIS WEEK'S PROPERTY |
-> Shangrila Port Douglas, Australia
Shangri-La, Port Douglas, is a luxury apartment development in Port Douglas, North Queensland. It is positioned central to the palm-fringed Four Mile Beach, the shops, and the restaurants of Macrossan Street as well as a short stroll to the Marina Mirage.
The tropical styled building features timeless classical architecture comprising twenty six 2 bedroom dual key apartments; a two bedroom Manager’s apartment as well as office, reception and large foyer.
The three storey building will be complemented by 2 large lagoon style salt water swimming pools, one of which will contain a tropical island which links the foyer to the outdoor dining area with cooking and barbeque facilities. The other saltwater pool will have a large swim out, a waterfall and stepping stones.
The impressive covered entrance connects to a unique landscaped colonnade leading to the reception/foyer. The 10 metre walkway to reception will have water features - water trickling over rocks running the full length from the entrance to the commencement of the foyer. The areas adjacent to the water features will be planted with an abundance of lush tropical vegetation including local flora. Ground orchids will be sprinkled throughout the gardens adjoining the walkway, as well as clinging to tree trunks in a cascade of delicate flowers.
The 26 dual key apartments have been designed to provide large living spaces with a superior standard of fittings, finishes and furnishings. The flexibility of dual occupancy apartments has made them an increasingly popular accommodation option for investors, as they provide opportunities for dual income as a one bedroom apartment and as a studio. All apartments enjoy natural light to bedrooms, bathrooms and ensuites, while the building itself has been designed to maximise cross-flow ventilation.
The 5 star appointment has been carefully designed to provide:
- Large balconies with tropical character
- Carefully considered privacy
- Generous roof overhangs providing excellent shade
- Granite benchtops to kitchen and vanities
- European kitchen appliances
- Oversized luxurious spa baths and large separate shower recesses
- Fully air-conditioned
- Stainless steel fans
- Tiled floors throughout
- In-room safes
- All ground floor apartment have direct access to the swimming pools from their individual pontoons
- All apartments look out across water
- Unique rainforest walkways providing access to the apartments - walk through the rainforest canopy to your door
- An exclusive holiday retreat as well as a holiday letting investment
- Apartments 1, 4, 5 and 8 have private landscaped courtyards incorporating a jacuzzi
- Laundry facilities in apartments
- All apartments will have ISD dialing, internet and facsimile facilities as well as satellite television
- All apartments have spacious balconies which optimise tropical living
Furniture packages for all apartment types are purchased separately for $50,000.
Apartment types A, B & C (see floor plans)
Prices:
A types
- 111sqm - $685,000, 1st & top floors
- 104sqm - $680,000, 1st floor
- 140sqm - $785,000, Ground floor
B types
- 104sqm - $690,000, 1st floor & top floors
- 110sqm - $735,000, Ground floor
- 111sqm - $695,000, 1st floor
C types
- 112sqm - $695,000, 1st and top floors
http://japaninc.typepad.com/australian_properties_e/
E-mail us at editors@terrie.com for more details on any property listed here.
MAGAZINE INTERNSHIP The J@pan Inc magazine currently has an internship opening for a web programmer. |
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