After China and the US, Japan has the third highest app store revenue in the world, in addition to having one of the highest smartphone penetration rates. This makes the country a lucrative market for developers worldwide.

But entering the market isn’t easy. The Japanese app market looks quite different to those in Western countries, with home grown apps often more popular than their overseas equivalents. Before launching your product in Japan, it is essential that you see how your product fares compared to local competitors, and have your service tested by Japanese users to determine how much localization is required.

With experience working on some of Japan’s most successful home grown apps, LINE and Mercari, I can give you insight into how to tailor your product to Japanese audiences and succeed in the lucrative Japanese market.