Japan Marketing News

Mitsubishi introduces sharp innovation in mechanical pencils

Leave it to Japanese designers to bring superb engineering and creativity to even the most everyday products. This time it's mechanical pencils.

One of the most annoying problems encountered by pencil users is stroke bloat. One minute you're writing or sketching with the most delightfully precise lines, the next minute every stroke looks fat and dull. It's because the tip of your pencil flattens as you write.

One of the most attractive features of mechanical pencils is that they're less prone to stroke bloat than their wooden counterparts. But they're not immune.

Until now.

Coca Cola Japan brings "functional" Coke to market

The Japanese market is so inundated with functional drinks that it had to happen eventually. Finally, Coca-Cola Japan has introduced a vitamin-fortified Coke drink. Coca-Cola plus vitamin was launched earlier this month and is now making its way into shops around Japan. Known as Diet Coke Plus or Coca Cola Light Plus in European markets, Coca-Cola plus vitamin is a Diet Coke* variant that apparently provides you with 81% of your daily requirement of vitamin C—with no calories. Check out the Japanese website here.

* Known as "No Calorie Coca-Cola" in Japan

Great Japanese print advertising: Sapporo

Here's an recent print ad from Japanese beer giant Sapporo that employs solid composition to create visual interest and convey the message that Draft One is a great brew to enjoy with food.

First it's T, and now it's A

It was just a couple of months ago that I wrote a quick post about an absolutely unforgettable Japanese apparel brand name that's still turning heads.

Now I've happened upon a footwear brand that some will find similarly amusing.

Say hello to Dr. Assy (click for larger view).

Glico looks to fatten margins with thinning Pocky

In recent years, Japanese consumers have grown increasingly interested in nutrition and body weight, thanks in part to the attention the media has given to Japan's increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, and the recent measures the Japanese government has instituted to help combat the problem.

In the marketplace, not only have we seen the broad introduction of diet beers, malt liquors and canned cocktails, soft drink companies have also gotten into the game with various teas and functional drinks that either prevent the absorption of fats or claim to help people to lose weight.

Now the chocolate manufacturers are about to get on board the anti-metabolic syndrome bus too.