Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Twitter a hit in Japan as millions 'mumble' online
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Twitter a hit in Japan as millions 'mumble' online
By YURI KAGEYAMA,AP Business Writer -
Friday, June 18
Send
IM Story
Print
TOKYO – Twitter is a hit in Japan, succeeding where other social networking imports like Facebook have foundered as millions "mumble" _ the translation of tweet _ and give mini-blogging a distinctly Japanese flavor.
The arrival of the Japanese language Twitter service in 2008 tapped into a greater sense of individuality in Japan, especially among younger people less accepting of the understatement and conformity their culture is usually associated with, analysts say.
A mobile version of Twitter started last October, further fueling the Twitter boom in a nation where Internet-connecting cell phones have been the rule for years.
These days, seminars teaching the tricks of the tweet, as the micro-blog postings are known, are popping up. Ending Japanese sentences with "nah-woo" _ an adaptation of "now" in English _ is hip, showing off the speaker's versatility in pseudo-English Twitter-speak.
A TV show features characters that tweet. A Tokyo bar has screens showing tweets along with World Cup games. And pop idols, a former prime minister and plain regular people are all tweeting like crazy.
The proportion of Japanese Internet users who tweet is 16.3 percent and now surpasses the ratio among Americans at 9.8 percent. Twitter and Japan's top social networking site, mixi, have been running neck-and-neck with monthly visitors between 9 million and 10 million but in April Twitter squeaked past mixi, according to ratings agency Nielsen Online.
In contrast, only 3 percent of Japanese Internet users are on Facebook compared with 62 percent in the U.S., according to Nielsen. MySpace has also failed to take off in Japan, at under 3 percent of Net users versus 35 percent in the U.S., according to comScore Inc.
Twitter estimates Japanese write nearly 8 million tweets a day, or about 12 percent of the global total. Data from Tweet Sentiments, a web site that analyzes tweets, show Japanese are sometimes tweeting more frequently than Americans.
"Japan is enjoying the richest and most varied form of Twitter usage as a communication tool," says Daisuke Tsuda, 36, a writer with more than 65,000 "followers" for his tweets. "It's playing out as a rediscovery of the Internet."
One reason is language. It's possible to say so much more in Japanese within Twitter's 140 letter limit. The word "information" requires just two letters in Japanese. That allows academics and politicians to relay complex views, according to Tsuda, who believes Twitter could easily attract 20 million people in Japan soon.
Another is that people are owning up to their identities on Twitter. Anonymity tended to be the rule on popular Japanese Web sites, and horror stories abounded about people getting targeted in smear-campaigns that were launched under the shroud of anonymity.
In contrast, Twitter anecdotes are heartwarming. One well-known case is a woman who posted on Twitter the photo of a park her father sent in an e-mail attachment before he died. Twitter was immediately abuzz with people comparing parks.
So far, people are flocking to Twitter in positive ways, reaching out in direct, public and interactive communication, debunking the stereotype of Japanese as shy and insular, says Noriyuki Ikeda, chief executive of Tribal Media House, which consults on social media marketing.
"Twitter is turning out to be like a cocktail party," he told The Associated Press. "Japanese see how fun it is to network and casually connect with other people."
Twitter is also proving a good business tool. Companies are exploring Twitter as a way to reach consumers and get feedback, a function that holds potential in Japan where broadband connections are widespread and cheap, and mobile phones outnumber the population.
Retailer Tokyu Hands uses Twitter to answer queries from customers, while clothing-chain Uniqlo has used Twitter in marketing by setting up a virtual queue where people tweet with each other and get freebies.
Motohiko Tokuriki, chief executive of consultant Agile Media Network, who has nearly 200,000 followers, believes Twitter is on its way to be chosen the hit new word of the year, a coveted honor that draws great publicity here.
"It's telling that Twitter was translated as 'mumbling' in Japanese," he said. "They love the idea of talking to themselves," he said.
Twitter may even offer Japan's web entrepreneurs global opportunities that had so far eluded them because it's the first digital "global-standard" outside of search engines like Google or Yahoo! to catch on here, says Toru Saito, chief executive of Loops Communications, which specializes in social networking businesses.
That means software applications Japanese develop for Twitter could win acceptance from a global market. Japanese mobile software products have tended to be for Japanese up to now.
"I'm getting so many queries, including those from abroad," Saito said.
Rocky Eda, corporate communications manager for Digital Garage, which supports Twitter's Japan operations, is thrilled people are embracing Twitter.
"In finding fulfillment in expressing what's on your mind for the moment, Twitter is like haiku," he said. "It is so Japanese."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Gold price hits record above $1,258 an ounce AFP - 2 hours 15 minutes ago
World Bank urges China to hike interest rates AFP - Saturday, June 19
Anti-tax mining firms blasted by Australia Greens AFP - Friday, June 18
Taiwan, China oil companies sign agreement AFP - Friday, June 18
Japan growth plan bets on green-tech, health, tourism AFP - Friday, June 18
News Search
Top Stories
Nobel-winning novelist Saramago dead at 87
S.Africa on hooligan watch ahead of England match
Bushmeat smuggling rife in Europe: report
IMF chief in Spain as market confidence returns
US expert sees widening resistance to malaria drug
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart tie knot: report
Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court
Argentina dazzle South Korea, France face W.Cup exit
S.Africa on hooligan watch ahead of England match
US panel approves French morning-after pill
More Most Viewed »
The point about pain: New study sheds light on acupuncture
Clashes as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid boat: Hamas TV
Egypt unearths tomb of pharaonic army chief
Physicists solve mystery of missing neutrinos
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 18 June 2010 EU hits Iran with tougher sanctions over nuclear row
Greek debt efforts win praise from EU, IMF
Afghan mineral wealth may be at least $3 trillion
France joins probes into Google Street View
Europe could face hundreds of Iranian missiles -Gates
|
GEF backs 'Great Green Wall' with 119 million dollars
Japan's Rakuten buys French e-trade leader
Dutch court delays girl's round-the-world sail bid
Afghan vows to use Japan's aid effectively
Global organized crime becoming new superpower: U.N.
|
Europe clamps down on debt in bid to banish Spanish blues
IMF head laments 'loss of momentum' in financial reform
Afghan mineral wealth may be greater: $3 trillion
Greece make history with 2-1 win over Nigeria
More than 70 miners feared dead in Colombia explosion
Two Darfur rebel leaders appear before ICC
|
Fresh protests at World Cup as Mandela family mourns
BP boss vows to US lawmakers to repair Gulf coast
Israel moves to ease four-year siege on Gaza
BP 'will not rest' until oil spill made right: Hayward
Hopes springs as Aussies survive Ireland scare
Regulators take step toward broadband rules
|
Elders leave empty chair as Aung San Suu Kyi turns 65
Coach Huh laments wasted South Korea chances
Motorola and Sprint to sell Windows phone to businesses
|
Argentina beat S. Korea 4-1, set for last 16
Vietnam to replace firing squads with lethal injections
China issues yuan warning as Hu heads to G20
Hong Kong debates political reform amid protests
Toshiba, Fujitsu to merge mobile phone business
Troops boost relief effort in Indonesian quake zone
UN says poor lose out in Cambodian courts
Toyota decides to restart Mississippi auto plant
Hollywood lobbyist hopeful China will ease access
Film challenges safety of U.S. shale gas drilling
|
Candace Bushnell plays on love triangle after Sex
|
Spectacular Roman remains unveiled in Sofia
South Africa shivers during World Cup party
After World Cup, Shakira to sing for Bollywood
Early English queen's remains in Germany: experts
Dutch city scraps Snoop Dogg concert
'Slumdog' filmmaker Boyle to direct 2012 Olympic show
Floods kill 25, wreck homes in French Riviera
Israel says easing Gaza land blockade
|
MySpace co-president steps down
US regulators seek to create broadband rules
Private investment firm purchases Bebo from AOL
US panel approves French morning-after pill
San Francisco Council Requires Mobile Phone Vendors To Post Radiation Levels
Fox, Bloomberg duel over White House press room seat
Website Helps Parents Prepare For "Unforeseen" College Expenses
YouTube adds online video editing tool
Fire Kills Two As Young Boy Fails To Save Toddler Brother From Burning Home
U.S. Markets Edge Higher Despite Jobless Data
Eminem, Alicia Keys Added To "BET Awards" Performers Line-Up
Katy Perry Tops Billboard Hot 100 For Second Week With "California Gurls"
J.M. Smucker Q4 Profit Tops Estimates, Boosts Guidance
Pregnant Woman Attacked By Group Armed With Stun Gun, Box Cutter
Study Finds Absent Fathers During Pregnancy Linked To Infant Mortality
Obama Administration Urges Senate to Ratify Nuclear Arms Treaty
Broadcom eyes U.S. providers for tablet chip sales
|
Katy Perry, Usher lead singles chart
|
Snoop Dogg not welcome in Dutch city of Hague
|
Israelis welcome Elton John amid boycotts
Afghan mineral wealth may be at least $3 trillion
Financial resolve pays off for Madrid
OnLive takes videogames into the Internet 'cloud'
Russian, US astronauts dock with ISS: official
Kyrgyz leader in turbulent south to ease tensions
|
French leader in London 70 years after WWII appeal
Afghan debate spotlights Pentagon's mixed messages
|
Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court
Two pilots killed as South Korea fighter jet crashes
|
China: currency policy not up for debate at G20
Argentina dazzle South Korea, France face W.Cup exit
China tells G20 to keep its hands off the yuan
|
Russia's Medvedev criticizes Iran sanctions: report
|
Colombia rescuers fight to reach miners after blast
|
US envoy presses Japan on parental child abductions
First meet for Haiti quake commission, 5 months on
New Zealand legislator's anger at China security
Clinton comment on immigration law riles Ariz. gov
Key China leader to quiz Australia on mining tax
6.3 magnitude quake strikes off Japan
Adm. Allen tours La. after stinging critism
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Second Australian teen charged over Indian's murder
Toy soldiers run afoul of school's weapons ban
World Bank urges China to hike interest rates
S.Korean jet fighter crashes, two pilots missing
NYC man returns from 3-year sea voyage
Cannes-winning Thai seeks 'freedom, not stardom'
China says currency policy not up for debate at G20
Timor Marathon hits world sport calendar
Britain bans Indian Muslim preacher: report
Utah to execute condemned killer by firing squad
Dalai Lama arrives in Japan for speaking tour
DA: Mass. man left notes saying he killed family
Chinese jewellery: potential diamond in the rough
Sony CEO gets $8.8 million annual pay amid losses
Toyota is latest car maker hit by strike in China
World Bank says China's economy slowing
Sony CEO gets $8.8 million pay despite losses
Taiwan's top laptop maker raising China wages
Scottish Lawmaker Quits Panel After Comment On Attractive Woman
San Francisco Council Requires Mobile Phone Vendors To Post Radiation Levels
Fire Kills Two As Young Boy Fails To Save Toddler Brother From Burning Home
Early Oscar contenders scarce despite rule change
|
Power Gig puts real guitar into music videogame
Hitting back against the mosquito, bane of the tourist
Americans start to embrace another kind of football
Muppets, Oprah, Buddy Holly to get Hollywood stars
|
Indian epic romance Raavan is breathtaking
|
Mark Twain's tribute to daughter sells for $242,500
|
Toy Story 3 set to smash Pixar opening record
|
Broadcasters filtering out World Cup vuvuzelas
|
Karzai welcomes Japanese investment in minerals
Nobel-winning novelist Saramago dead at 87
Spanish radio executives acquitted in 'secrets' case
High-energy E3 bodes well for videogame lovers
One million people caught up in Kyrgyz violence: U.N.
|
Finnish PM tenders resignation
Japan's Hitachi creates roller-skating robot
N.Irish police uncover large bomb in abandoned van
|
Sarkozy in London for 70th anniversary of WWII appeal
Bushmeat smuggling rife in Europe: report
Finland's prime minister readies to resign
Human Heads Found At Arkansas Airport
Indian Congress Party Blasts Gandhi Involvement In Anderson Escape Outrageous
Eminent Italian ex-priest to stand trial for abuse
|
US expert sees widening resistance to malaria drug
Obama Letter To G20 Urges Tough Financial Actions
Iran calls U.N. sanctions illegal and invalid
|
New York Radio Station 103.5FM KTU To Play Michael Jackson All Day For Anniversary Of His Death
New York Radio Station 103.5FM To Play Michael Jackson All Day For Anniversary Of His Death
One Dead In Shooting At Fort Gillem
Hustler's XXX Rated 3D 'Avatar' Parody Most Expensive Film In Company's History
Iraq car bombs kill 5, wound dozens
|
SC Democrats Vote To Keep Alvin Greene Senate Nominee
Radical Muslim preacher banned from entering UK
|
Campbell Soup Recalls Three Varieties of "Spaghettios" With Meatballs That May Be Underprocessed
Poland's Kaczynski visits twin's tomb on eve of poll
|
ConAgra Recalls Marie Callender's Chicken Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
2 killed, dozens injured in Minn. tornadoes
S.Lanka marks victory as war crime pressure mounts
Indonesia must resist Internet 'frenzy': president
Karzai launches sales pitch for Afghan minerals
FIFA denies North Korean players are missing
Japan growth plan bets on green-tech, health, tourism
Deep space asteroid pod comes home to Japan lab
Taiwan, China oil companies sign agreement
Regulators take step toward broadband rules
|
Japan growth plan bets on green-tech, health, tourism
Reliance Industries to push into power and telecom
Sony CEO gets $8.8 million annual pay amid losses
Cuba reports little Internet and telecom progress
|
Twitter a hit in Japan as millions 'mumble' online
Lead actor pulls out of Bollywood Hitler film
Early English queen's remains found in Germany
Bollywood actress marries Nepalese businessman
Nobel-winning Portuguese author Saramago dies at 87
|
Florida set for flood of Harry Potter fans
|
Vatican beatifies Blues Brothers ... well almost
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights