Trends in Japan - CScout Japan Blog

Tokyo Tours from CScout on BBC Fast:Track

Written by: Michael Keferl on July 2, 2009 at 7:06 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | 1 Comment

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of spending the day with Rajan Datar and the crew of the BBC World business/travel show fast:track during their visit to Tokyo with Richard Branson.

Since the show expressed an interest in our Tokyo Trend Tours, a service we’ve been doing here since 2002, we planned a full day of locations and meetings that give a well-rounded view of what we do. We do tours and market immersions for professionals and globe-trotters alike, this time with a focus on a few of our favorites: The KDDI Designing Studio, Beams CULTuART, HP France, and Toppan. The idea was to show the power of mobile culture, fashion, and where they converge in the retail space.

It was also nice to find out that our friend Danny Choo was going to be featured in the same segment, which I believe we had once before on Attack of the Show. Funny how these things work out.

Many thanks to the BBC for a successful day, though I think I’m going to change my last name to “Keferi” since it seems to be the default misspelling/mispronunciation every time I do television!

Check out the video here on Yahoo. If you’re interested in inspiring yourself or your team with some time in Tokyo, from street-level trends, to nightlife, to boardrooms, feel free to contact us anytime.

Tags: Mobile, Press coverage, Retail
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
Other categories: No categories

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives license

TASPO Sparks Radio Conversation with CScout

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 10, 2009 at 6:39 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

The last time I went on Spark, the CBC Radio show on “technology and culture”, we explored the world of QR Codes. This time, host Nora Young and I talk a bit about TASPO, RFID, and the contactless future of retail.

Unfortunately, Spark decided to edit out my anti-government comments in regards to registration of smokers, but you can’t expect much out of public radio in this regard. For the record, my opposition to government regulation in smoking life has been well documented.

cbc radio spark cscout

You can listen live today (June 10th) at 10:30 am Toronto time, subscribe to the Spark podcast, or get the mp3 of this episode by visiting their blog. I come in around the 14min mark.

Tags: Press, Press coverage, RFID, Tobacco
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Press: CScout interview in Deutschland magazine

Written by: Michael Keferl on March 4, 2009 at 12:33 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

The latest edition of Deutschland Magazine, features an extensive interview of CScout Japan CEO Sven Kilian in a piece titled A Scout in the Streets of Tokyo

Above is the Japanese version of the magazine (click pic to read), but we haven’t found the article available in English yet. However, Deutschland does have an English portal so keep your eyes peeled.

Tags: Press coverage
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Press: CScout interview in JapanMarkt magazine

Written by: Michael Keferl on March 2, 2009 at 5:04 pm | In PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

CScout Japan CEO Sven Kilian is featured in the latest edition of JapanMarkt, the magazine of the German Chamber of Commerce. As this is the Consumer Trends 2009 edition, Sven discusses the marketplace and CScout’s concept of Innovation Lab Japan, our view on Japan’s unique talents for creative destruction and innovation.

The interview is available only in German in the print edition, of which we highly suggest getting a subscription if you’re interested in the Japanese marketplace. You can find a 2007 JAPANMARKT interview with Sven here as well.

Tags: Press coverage
Category: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION

Press: Mobile phone novels on CNN

Written by: Michael Keferl on February 28, 2009 at 3:17 am | In DIGITAL LIFE | 1 Comment

Last week we had the pleasure of talking at length with CNN about Japanese mobile phone novels, how the trend manifested itself, and where it’s going from here.

Click below to read all about keitai shousetsu (mobile phone novels) and their unique imprint on the Japanese media landscape in the last couple of years.