iPod wins Japanese fans over

[waks13]

TOKYO - When Sony 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.


The iPod is proving a colossal hit in Japan with the waiting list for minis now being several weeks' long. -- AP


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.


Apple Computer has launched a marketing campaign in Japan with catchy TV ads and billboards painted on Tokyo trains. It opened its first Apple store in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza late last year and is opening another in the city of Osaka this month.


'I only want something I can believe in,' says 21-year-old design-school student Hiroyuki Sakurai, who was all smiles after buying an iPod recently at the bustling Apple store. 'It's a question of sensibility.'


When the colourful and smaller iPod mini went on sale in July, more than 1,000 people waited for the store to open. The waiting list for minis is now several weeks' long.


Although Apple doesn't release regional sales figures, six of the top eight selling music players in Japan are iPod models, according to Gfk Japan, a market research company.


Its white earbuds are so well-known, just wearing them on Tokyo streets can make passers-by smile approvingly. iPod chat pervades Internet bulletin boards. The mini is such a hit it's being offered as prizes in lotteries sponsored by drink and candy companies here.


Porter bags, a cool brand among Japanese youngsters, sells iPod carrying cases. Rock band Orange Range, hip-hop musician Makoto Sakurai and disc jockey Sugiurumn are iPod users.


'First of all, the iPod design is cute,' said movie star Shosuke Tanihara, who listens to Prince and Janet Jackson with his iPod while cooking pasta at home or driving his Mercedes. 'Japanese electronics products may come packed with a lot of functions, but they usually have more buttons and their designs are cluttered.'


The largest, 40GB version, sells for 44,940 yen (US$406) in Japan.


Last month, Sony unveiled the hard-drive Network Walkman - a product that goes head-to-head against the iPod and promises longer battery life.


It was at that event Mr Ando showed it the wrong side up - an error that has Apple officials smirking. Sony will not release sales figures for Network Walkman, but says they're meeting targets.


The craze in Japan is happening even though Apple doesn't offer the music download service iTunes Music Store.


Apple will offer the Japanese equivalent of iTunes within the next year, with prices comparable to the 99 cents a tune it charges in the US, Apple vice-president Yoshiaki Sakito, a former Sony employee, said in an interview at Apple's Tokyo headquarters. -- AP

[AJLumantao]

This is amazing. Apple is beating Sony to it.

[Arel]

To think, Japan's supposed to be Sony's turf.

[TheWhiteCometOfMakati]

Apple - the one great thing that is NOT made in Japan :lol:

[ajbatac]

here take a look at the longest line at apple ginza:
http://homepage.mac.com/hsk/applejapan.html

[waks13]

Wow ! That's incredible ! Nov. 30 falls on a Sunday, also must be one of the reason they can wait that long in line. still unbelievable ! I have no patience for that queue.