Japan and e-commerce

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Japan and e-commerce

The recent development of the Internet has created a technological and commercial revolution throughout the world. By essentially shortening the distance between companies and consumers, the Internet has created a competitive global market unlike any other. Many countries are fighting hard to become major players in this potentially lucrative venue. Over the past five years, Western nations have had a considerable advantage in this race, since the concept of the Internet originated from the Western Hemisphere. Yet many Asian countries have a huge market potential for on-line

businesses, and have been steadily catching up to the West and are currently within striking distance of the West's lead. The world has been increasingly interested in the market potential of the Asian Internet, especially the various Asian nations themselves. In the past three years, a veritable battle has broken out amongst a handful of Asian nations that are all vying for the coveted position of becoming the "Asian Internet Superpower."

My paper will discuss the role of Japan, one of the four major e-commerce players (Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore). Each country or region has unique strengths to aid them in the e-commerce race. For example, Japan has one of largest economies in the world, which means that it has the money and resources to create reliable infrastructures for the development of e-commerce. China is also likely to become the e-commerce epicenter of Asia with its rapidly growing economy, fast building infrastructure and immense human population. Hong Kong, a capitalist territory of China, is currently one of the strongest international finance and trading centers in the world. With its well-developed economic and technical infrastructure, it also has the potential to become the next e-commerce leader. Lastly, Singapore has one of the highest percentages of computer literacy among workers and some of the best telecommunication networks in the world. E-commerce and Internet development has become an integral component of the government's strategy to turn Singapore into the e-commerce hub of Asia. I have examined Japan’s historical trends, socio-political developments, current IP, and copyright regulations in e-commerce, and how these various factors will affect the development of Japan’s Internet markets.

Japan: As the seco...

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...oors of industry to women and foreigners than it does to convert the way people think. It is unlikely that enough trust will be generated within Japan to make e-commerce hugely successful in the short run. Instead, Japan must wait until its youngest generation, one

that was raised in the Internet Age, grows up and begins leading their country. Only

then can a new school of thought and behavior take hold in Japan? And while all this is

going on, other Asian countries that are more flexible and adaptable will continue to

flourish and vie for the distinction of being the Asian Internet Superpower.

References

Anderson, Stephen J., "Japan's Internet Businesses Growing at Home and in Asia"

Commercial Internet Exchange Newsletter, Vol. II, Issue 5, July 1996.

Anderson, Stephen J., "Information Technology and Political Economy: From America's

Internet to Japan's Response". Retrieved on June 4, 2005 from

http://www.glocom.ac.jp/lib/96lecture/IUJ_Summer_Lecture/Anderson.IUJLecture.Summ.html

Takagi, Toshio., Reading the Future: Japanese Information Services. Retrieved June 4, 2005 from http://www.coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/NLA/EALRGA/newsletters97/970302.Takagi.html

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