watashi to tokyo: What will be big in 2006?

Thursday, January 12, 2006

What will be big in 2006?

Trendy Nikkei Trendy is a nice magazine to check Trends in Japan, which is published by Nikkei (Nippon Keizai Shinbun). I will pick a topic from this magazine and other Nikkei related magazines this year, so that I may tell more about trends in Japan.

At the end of every year, we have "What was big in 2005", and in every new year, Nikkei Trendy guesses "What will be big in this year". Here is their ranking.

1. A role playing based amusement park for kids.
You may read the article in The Japan Times "Japan to get Kidzania adult-role play hub" on this page. Kidzzania came from Mexico? Here is the English site. Wow it's interesting! They said we will have more of this type of amusement park. I envy kids.

2. Mobile number portability.
Finally we will have mobile number portability in autumn this year. Now NTT DoCoMo has 56%, au has 27%, and Vodafone has 17% share in the market, but we don't know what will happen after this autumn. Mobile is a wallet, credit card, radio transceiver, digital broadcasting etc. Apparently DoCoMo try to keep their customers with various services. Me? I want to change to this Willcom.

3. Next generation of Game machine.
Sony PS3 did not show up in CES. And we have no information yet about Nintendo Revolution except for "One Hand control". Nikkei Trendy said Revolution seems to have the advantage to win because of its radical change.

4. Platinum nanocolloid
Polyphenol, Q10, lipoic acid they were popular in Japan for their anti-aging functions. Then next is "Platinum nanocolloind", Nikkei said. Platinum has antioxidant action and clear active oxygen which is said to be the reason for aging. We have cream, drink, tooth paste, even a pet food! I will try one. He can who believes he can! right?

5. Convenient Fitness
I pay 10,000yen per month as gym member fee. Since my gym has big bath, open-air spa, I don't have any plan to change to gym now, but I think fee is very expensive. I read about 30-minutes workout place in the U.S. Then in Japan, 30minutes fitness for women is increasing. Their studios are on the 2F of 7/11 or such convenient place and member fee is 5,000-6,000yen (what?! I prefer my gym though).

After those, No.6 is 37inch full HD LC Monitor, No.7 is high grade chill dinner, No.8 is Pod casting, No.9 is Omotesando Hills, (can't wait!) and No.10 is nose aroma, working for a stuffy nose. Personally, I am looking forward to IKEA!! Finally they will come to Japan in this year. I heard furniture store and makers are in great fear. Hoping good competition!

Posted at 11:39 PM in Culture | Permalink

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