mixi is the largest social networking site in Japan. Unfortunately I see some dark clouds over the horizon for them.
I was on this site almost as soon as it was launched in 2004. But it's restrictive features have always kept me from being a addict (or at least a frequent user). Of course this site is only meant for Japanese users from beginning, but again that is one of the policy I find very narrow minded.
The fact that you need to have a registered mobile mail address in Japan to get an account is most baffling of all. (See 'mixi hates foreigners'). Mixi has been adamant to change this policy even after other social networks like MySpace and Facebook have really became viral and spreading like wild fire even in Japan.
This site is a classic example of what I call restrictive business mentality of Japanese. I have always maintained that Japanese businesses which deal with the service industry or people (Personal banking, insurance, Airlines, retail and now social networking etc) are unfortunately too much focused on doing things 'The Japanese Way'.
That is another topic but the point is mixi was way ahead of other social networks in a sense of opportunity and timing to take of as a global network. But it missed the bus by self imposing restrictive policies and not thinking in more global way.
When Facebook took off in west, there were even critics saying that Facebook will fail remarkably in Japan. The trend seems to have gone other way. I myself know that almost all of my Japanese friends are now on Facebook. No language or culture barrier! And unfortunately for mixi, it's share is declining every day.
Being here in Japan for more than a decade now, it's sad to see that except for very few, most Japanese corporations failed to have wider vision of their future. As a sliver lining, strong Japanese Yen has literally forced many companies to look outside Japan. Let's hope it is a beginning of a new chapter in Japanese corporate world.
I was on this site almost as soon as it was launched in 2004. But it's restrictive features have always kept me from being a addict (or at least a frequent user). Of course this site is only meant for Japanese users from beginning, but again that is one of the policy I find very narrow minded.
The fact that you need to have a registered mobile mail address in Japan to get an account is most baffling of all. (See 'mixi hates foreigners'). Mixi has been adamant to change this policy even after other social networks like MySpace and Facebook have really became viral and spreading like wild fire even in Japan.
This site is a classic example of what I call restrictive business mentality of Japanese. I have always maintained that Japanese businesses which deal with the service industry or people (Personal banking, insurance, Airlines, retail and now social networking etc) are unfortunately too much focused on doing things 'The Japanese Way'.
That is another topic but the point is mixi was way ahead of other social networks in a sense of opportunity and timing to take of as a global network. But it missed the bus by self imposing restrictive policies and not thinking in more global way.
When Facebook took off in west, there were even critics saying that Facebook will fail remarkably in Japan. The trend seems to have gone other way. I myself know that almost all of my Japanese friends are now on Facebook. No language or culture barrier! And unfortunately for mixi, it's share is declining every day.
Declining fortune? (Source: 2011 Social Network Analysis Report)
Being here in Japan for more than a decade now, it's sad to see that except for very few, most Japanese corporations failed to have wider vision of their future. As a sliver lining, strong Japanese Yen has literally forced many companies to look outside Japan. Let's hope it is a beginning of a new chapter in Japanese corporate world.
