Beauty and the Nerd: Ethnographical Analyses in the Japanese Digitalization

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Author(s): Gaby Anne Wildenbos (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)and Yuichi Washida (Hakuhodo Inc. & The University of Tokyo, Japan)
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 16
Source title: Information Communication Technologies and Emerging Business Strategies
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Shenja van der Graaf (London School of Economics, UK)and Yuichi Washida (Hakuhodo Inc. & The University of Tokyo, Japan)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-234-3.ch002

Keywords: Business & Management / Business Information Systems / Business Science Reference / Consumer Management

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on the Japanese usage of digital products. Both the consumer and production side are addressed, whereby emphasizing the mobile phone industry on the basis of two consumer groups otakus and kogals. First, key characteristics of each consumer group are described. Second, social and cultural aspects related to consumption behavior of the otakus and kogals are examined—that is, collectivism, individualism and kawaiiness (cuteness or coolness). This is followed by the production side of digital products in Japan, highlighting two major companies involved in mobile telephony: NTT DoCoMo and Label Mobile, which in their turn, are linked to the consumption cultures of otaku and kogals.

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Beauty and the Nerd: Ethnographical Analyses in the Japanese Digitalization

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