I recently spent 12 days in my hometown – Osaka, Japan (unaffected by the earthquake and/or radiation). It’s always refreshing to go home and immerse myself in a completely different culture. But something stood out to me during this trip that I had never seen before – American technology was being used everywhere!

One of my favorite things to do in Japan (other than to eat and shop) is browse Japanese electronic stores. Japanese technology, especially cell phones, is usually ahead of the curve. In the past I came home spouting to my friends about how fascinated I was with the new Japanese technology. But this time around, things were different.

After seeing iPhones, iPads and Androids on every corner, it seemed American technology was finally up to par. It was a very proud moment! I was also intrigued by several different uses of social media throughout the country. While social media is still “all the rage” here in the U.S., I learned a few things from Japanese culture that sparked my creativity for clients in the U.S.

1. Over the past decade, blogging has been huge in Japanese culture. Generally, people blog from their mobile devices. It’s common for celebrities to have a blog, Ameba Blog is the preferred host, to keep fans up-to-date. In fact, several best-selling books originated from mobile novel-blog updates. Mobile blogging in the U.S. usually translates to micro-blogging, like Twitter. But as smart phone technologies continue to advance, this blogging medium may soon be on the rise in America – especially for multicultural communications.


2. While visiting the well-preserved city of Kyoto, I took the time to try on an authentic kimono. The kimono rental store helped me put it on (wearing a kimono is a process!) and then I took photos in their studio as a keepsake. I was intrigued when the storeowners asked to use my photos on Hot Pepper, a web magazine that lists retail and restaurant information and coupons. The site targets women in their 20s and 30s. The kimono store had researched their audience to discover where they were going for information, and set out to build a strong presence on the site. In the U.S., whether it’s Yelp, Urban Spoon or even Foursquare, research is key. Failing to discover your target audience can make or break a successful campaign.


3. Japan has historically preferred Mixi for social networking. This is slowly starting to change as Facebook and Twitter become increasingly popular. Based on my personal experience I’d have to agree – I receive more and more friend requests from my Japanese friends every day. Many Japanese people use Twitter personally and now Japanese businesses are catching on to the trend. For example, I visited a popular hair salon that was using an iPad to display their Twitter page at the counter. By combining social media and interactive features, this salon hit a home run.

My trip home was a great experience, allowing me to reconnect with family and friends. And I was fortunate to gain some fresh design inspiration, mixing a little business with pleasure. Have you noticed any new trends in your summer travels? If so, please share!