Japan

Apple’s ‘Lucky Bags’ sale starts January 2 in Japan

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2012

Everything is different in Asia than over here in the United States (or Europe, or most other parts of the world for that matter). Whereas we celebrate Christmas and Santa Claus and kick off the holiday shopping season with Black Friday mega discounts, there's no such thing in Japan. Instead, they have Fukubukuro - aka Lucky Bags or Mystery Bags - a New Year's Day custom where retailers entice buyers with grab bags containing unknown random contents.

These are usually sold with a significant discount, usually 50 percent or more off the items' list price. Honoring the local custom, Apple on its Japanese retail page confirmed that a one-day Lucky Bags sale will take place in seven stores across the country on January 2...

Patent Race: China ahead in filings, but US leads active inventions

Ed Sutherland ∙ December 14, 2012

As we head into 2013, patents - along with the legal fight to enforce and protect them - is becoming a larger part of tech companies. Just ask Apple and Samsung. Where should we look for the next patent to appear? A good bet is China, which in 2011 filed for more than 500,000 technology related patents in 2011, topping the United States. According to the United Nations, China applied for 526,412 patents last year, more than the US with 500,000 and Japan's more than 300,000 applications...

Apple appeals Japan patent suit loss to Samsung

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

In late August, a District Court in Tokyo ruled that Samsung's mobile devices do not violate Apple's patents. Not only did Apple lose the lawsuit, but it was also ordered to pay all attorney fees and court-related costs.

Obviously, the decision didn't sit well with the Cupertino company, and they're not giving up without a fight. Reports surfaced late last night that it has filed an appeal with Japan's Intellectual Property High Court...

Japan’s Softbank wants to buy Sprint

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 11, 2012

This just in. According to a new report out this morning, Softbank, Japan’s third-largest wireless operator, is in talks to buy a controlling stake in Overland, Kansas-based Sprint, the nation's third-largest carrier. The transaction is said to be worth an estimated 1.5 trillion yen, or $19 billion, and would file as the largest purchase of a foreign company by a Japanese firm.

SoftBank used to be the only official iPhone carrier in Japan until the release of iPhone 4S last November. According to people familiar with the situation, Softbank is aiming to buy all of the outstanding shares in Sprint, which had more than 56 million users at the end of June...

Apple reportedly sells 7.25M iPhones in Japan during fiscal year 2011

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 10, 2012

Macotakara, the pretty reliable Japanese blog, relayed a MM Research Institute study today which pegged Apple's iPhone sales in Japan for the fiscal year 2011 at 7.25 million units. According to Apple's Q1 2012 earnings, the company shipped 35.1 million iPhones worldwide.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't divulge iPhone unit sales on a per-country basis and only breaks down sales by region such as Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe and so forth...

iPad helps Apple become Japan’s top consumer brand, for the first time

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

As Apple's influence across industries continues to grow, so does its reputation among consumers the world over. The latest example is Japan, the country infamous for its fickle consumer and, at times, odd expectations with everyday gadgets (at least by Western standards).

A new study puts Apple as the top consumer brand in Japan - and for the first time, too. The achievement echoes a sentiment shared in a survey earlier this week, saying that half of all households in the United States now own at least one Apple product.

Guess what the top selling smartphone in Japan is

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Yes, you guessed it even before reading the end of the title. According to Electronista:

Apple now has the top-selling cellphone of any kind in Japan, IDC Japan determined late Thursday. The iPhone 4S launch helped Apple claim 26.6 percent of all cellphone shipments in the country this fall. It may have been the first non-Japanese company to top local ranks, ending a longstanding emphasis on local makers.

“No Bloatware” Policy Could Cost Japan’s Largest Carrier the iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ November 15, 2011

While most carriers jump at the chance to offer Apple's popular smartphone, others aren't so keen on the device's accompanying terms. An iPhone partnership usually means large, long-term commitments and other compromises that some operators just won't make.

Even Apple's infamous "no bloatware" policy can be enough to keep a company from carrying the device. And according to The Wall Street Journal, that seems to be what's stifling the negotiations between Apple and NTT DoCoMo, the largest carrier in Japan...

Steve Jobs Sends Out Letter of Encouragement to Japanese Apple Staff

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 17, 2011

In an email that was reportedly sent out to all Apple employees, Steve Jobs and the rest of the Apple executive team took some time out from their day-to-day activities to acknowledge the pain and suffering in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami disasters.

According to the email, Apple will supply the needed resources and supplies at employee request, and will arrange delivery; though obviously in the area's current state, logistics could prove to be an issue.

Apple has also delayed the iPad 2's Japanese launch in light of the recent events. To read the entire email from Steve and the rest of the executive team, take a look inside...