Why Japan ? The Consumer Market

As the second largest economy in the world, and with a population of twice the size of the UK and a Gross Domestic Product four times that of the UK, it is a consumer market that has a great deal of disposable income and an increasing interest in buying from outside Japan particularly through the Internet. 15% of all Japanese holidays are booked through the web sites. A 12 day golf holiday to Scotland with 5 rounds of golf and one day entry to the Open Championship retails for around £10,000.00, some holiday package! The single room supplement is £2,000.00.

Despite the view that Japan has been in recession, levels of readily accessible savings are still very large, with the average Japanese family having £80,000.00 in their Post Office Bank Account. The average Japanese family has around £2 - £3,000.00 of disposable income to spend per month on luxury items, hobbies, and lifestyle choices. In fact 25 - 30 % of the world's domestic savings are in Japan.

Japan's little queens, the young single women or Office Ladies, who work and live at home, have a yearly disposable income of £10 - £15,000.00 to spend. The new Japanese term 'parasite single' describes those who don't wish to follow the conventional pattern of marriage before the age of 25 because they enjoy their lifestyle too much to change.

With a large retired population with time on their hands and money to spend, the Grey Yen is a booming sector of the retail market open to new experiences and keen to develop their taste of things non-Japanese.