Japanese Chicks Love Apple

Research group goo Research carried out a survey questioning 1,102 women between the ages of 20 and 26 to find out which devices and device makers impress them the most. Not surprisingly, Apple ranked quite high in most categories.

“This survey has perhaps a rather narrow sample, but it is the early 20s women who are the trend leaders (or the first to adapt trends promoted by industry, depending on how cynical you want to be) so this recent survey sponsored by JIDPO (Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization) and conducted by goo Research into design reveals a number of interesting numbers,” says What Japan Thinks.

The sample group broken down by region is: 33.2 percent from the Tokyo area, 33.6 percent from the Osaka area, and 33.2 percent from the Nagoya area. Research questions and results (highlights), after the break.


Q1: Amongst stuff you do own or have owned, what do you feel has superior design? (Sample size=1,102, 1,299 free answers)

1 Apple iPod series (Nano, Shuffle, Touch, etc)

2 Sharp mobile phones (AQUOS Keitai, SH7021D, 705SH, SH905i, etc)

3 NEC mobile phones (N905i, N703iD, N706, etc)

4= Apple notebook computers (MacBook, iBook, etc)

4= Sony-Ericsson mobile phones (SO706i, SO903i, W61S, W42S, etc)

4= Nintendo DS


Q2: Amongst stuff you have never owned, what do you feel has superior design? (Sample size=1,102, 1,184 free answers)

1 Apple iPod series (Nano, Shuffle, Touch, etc)

2 Apple iPhone

3 Plus-Minus Zero humidifiers

4 Apple desktop computers (Mac, iMac, etc)

5 Apple notebook computers (MacBook, iBook, etc)

6 Sharp LCD televisions (AQUOS, etc)

7 Nintendo Wii

8 Sony VAIO computer

9 Nissan March compact car

10= Le Creuset pots and pans

10= Sharp mobile phones (W62SH, 904SH, SH705i, etc)

10= Nintendo DS

13= Mini Cooper

13= Sanyo mobile phones (Infobar, etc)

13= Sony Computer Entertainment PSP

13= Toyota iQ compact car

17= Franc Franc furniture (chair, computer desk, dresser, etc)

17= Jill Stuart cosmetics (make-up, face powder, compact, etc)

17= Louis Vuitton wallets

17= Sony Bravia television

17= Sony Computer Entertainment PS3

Q3: Amongst stuff you do own or have owned, what do you feel has superior design? (Sample size=1,102, 1,299 free answers, summed by manufacturer)

1 Apple

2 Sharp

3 Sony

4 NEC

5 Muji Ryohin

6 Panasonic

7 Franc Franc

8 Nintendo


Q4: Amongst stuff you have never owned, what do you feel has superior design? (Sample size=1,102, 1,184 free answers, summed by manufacturer)

1 Apple

2 Toyota

3 Plus-Minus Zero

4 Nissan

5 Franc Franc

6= Sharp

6= Sony

8 Nintendo

9 Louis Vuitton

10 Le Creuset

11= Muji Ryohin

11= Sony Computer Entertainment


Q5: What product do you think is representative of Japanese design? (Sample size=1,102, free answer)

1 Sharp AQUOS

2 Toyota cars

3 Toyota Prius

4 Nintendo DS

5= Sony VAIO

5= Nintendo Wii


Q6: What product do you think is representative of Japanese design? (Sample size=1,102, free answer summed by manufacturer)

1 Toyota

2 Sony

3 Sharp

4 Nintendo.

Visit What Japan Thinks here to get the full scoop on this survey.