a blog by Hiro Maeda

In most English speaking nations, Twitter has changed the way people use the Internet. It has changed the way we get the news, communicate, research, and even shop.

I believe Twitter is also going to change Japan. Not only will it change the way Japanese people use the Internet, but it may also change our culture entirely.

As of last October, Twitter users in Japan surpassed two million, and is continuing to grow [source]. Many famous people in Japan are starting to use Twitter. Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama and Softbank President, Masayoshi Son, have started using the service.

Many businesses in Japan are beginning to use Twitter in creative ways to promote themselves. A small store in Japan that sells board games is giving 100 yen (approximately $1) discount for every 100 followers you have (this means that Ashton Kutcher would get about $45K discount if he comes to this store!). All you have to do is tweet about the store just before you check out at the cash register [source].

Shinsuke Usami, CEO of EC Navi, is using Twitter to recruit new graduates. The only requirement for applying is that you have more than ten followers on your twitter account. He is also actively organizing events and information sessions via Twitter.

Japanese Internet users have always been paranoid about privacy and are reluctant to share information. They rarely use their real name on blogs and social networks. Their profile pictures are always their pets or anime characters.

Mixi, Japan’s largest social network, is very closed. Users only connect with their intimate friends and communities. Mixi is not the optimal platform to expand your network and establish your online brand.

However the growing presence of Twitter in Japan is starting to change all of this. The concept of being open and available is slowly becomming less foreign to Japanese people. At the same time many major social networks such as Mixi, Gree, and DeNA are opening up their platforms.

I am hopeful that this movement of becomming more open and sharing will create more room for innovation and drive entrepreneurship in Japan.