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Six of Top Eight Music Players In Japan Are iPods

by , 7:00 AM EDT, August 19th, 2004

The AP is reporting that the iPod has become so popular in Japan, despite the introduction of the Sony Walkman NW-HD1, that six of the top 8 selling music players in the country are iPod models. The AP cites Gfk Japan, a market research company for its figures. This information comes to us in an article about how the iPod has taken on the same cultural icon status it has achieved in the US. From the AP:

When Sony Corp. President Kunitake Ando showed off the new Walkman meant to counter the assault by Apple's iPod portable music player, he held the prized gadget at the gala event upside down.

That may have been a bad omen.

The iPod is proving a colossal hit on the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant's own turf. The tiny white machine is catching on as a fashion statement and turning into a cultural icon in Japan, much the same way it won a fanatic following in the United States.

There is much more information about the iPod's success in Japan in the full article, which we recommend as a very interesting read.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Six of the top eight music players bearing the Apple logo is indeed an impressive performance for the company, and it can't be overstated how amazing it is for Apple to beat Sony in Japan. Sony has enormous power in the world of electronics in that country, but so far the company has missed the boat in the digital music player market.

AP Article

Observer Comments

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Close Name:MacDuff Posts: 4 Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:17 am Subject: FIRST POST!

Actually, this is my first First Post here at TMO

back on topic: Sony was asleep at the switch and it's too late for them.


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Close Name:spxyu02 Posts: 1214 Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:21 am Subject:

6 of the top 8....

but no mention of if any model of iPod is the #1 seller, I'd be interested in knowing which is #1.

and that thing about the guy holding the walkman upside-down = classic


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Close Name:iggyb Posts: 112 Joined: 09 May 2003
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:34 am Subject:

There are 6 iPod models? Are the models broken out by color?


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Close Name:spxyu02 Posts: 1214 Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:01 am Subject:

Quote
iggyb wrote:
There are 6 iPod models? Are the models broken out by color?


I would assume so.

20GB, 40GB, Pink, Silver, Gold, Green, Blue; so I'm guessing the one of these 7 that isn't in the top 8 is either the 40GB or maybe the Gold or Green, but that's just a guess.


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View Name:Guest
Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:14 pm Subject: ejs
Close Name:Atsi Posts: 8 Joined: 23 Jul 2004
Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:14 am Subject: An impression from Japan

I've heard that iPod competitors (probably Sony/iRiver) were complaining that they were "tricked" by Apple.

They had a pretty good idea that the iPod minis would be out of stock pretty fast, so they were trying to sell their alternatives to customers who couldn't find iPod minis. Unfortunately, the fourth generation iPods came out in a timely manner and squashed their plans.

There's been a lot of good news concerning Apple Japan and iPods in Japan lately. Some examples:

2nd Apple Store in Japan
http://www.apple.com/retail/jp/shinsaibashi/

Suntory iPod giveaway campaign (page in Japanese)
http://twdo.oolongcp.jp/oolong/pc/index.html

The Suntory iPod campaign is significant because:
1. Almost every grocery or convenience store in Japan carries Suntory's tea with iPod stickers plastered on them.
2. Suntory is airing TV commercials about the campaign on major Japanese Networks. I've never seen an Apple commercial on TV (excluding cable and other pay TV) - well at least in my city, which is a bit far from Tokyo.

The only thing missing is the iTunes Music Store. Cmon' Apple, we're waiting!


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View Name:Guest
Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:32 am Subject: RIPE
View Name:Guest
Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:33 am Subject: RIPE
View Name:Guest
Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:42 pm Subject:
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