Goo Research has compiled a new report that gives an indication on how e-readers and ebooks are doing in Japan. Between the 2nd and 5th of July 2012, 1,078 members of the Goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.8% of the sample were male, 16.7% in their teens, 17.4% in their twenties, 21.6% in their thirties, 16.1% in their forties, and 28.1% aged fifty or older.
The first question asked if you had ever read a book, magazine, or newspaper in digital format. 35% of the respondents said they they had, while 27% said that they have not, but wanted to. A further 37% said they had no interest at all to consume digital media, in any form.
The next question gave some insight on how residents in Japan view major brand name e-readers. It seems that Amzon, Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic lead the charge with the most dominant market presence.
Kobo recently launched its touchscreen e-reader in Japan during the course of the last month. It will be interesting to see how its footprint increases, because they never even made the poll.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
