Request for Question Clarification by
denco-ga
on
14 Nov 2005 11:10 PST
Howdy elpresidente-ga,
I am going to post this as a request for clarification, in case this
is not exactly what you need. It appears that the bracelet fad/craze
has indeed expanded into Japan.
An American's (Nick) experience in Japan. Dated September 26, 2005.
http://www.nickinjapan.com/2005/09/lame-ducking-culture-shock-part-i.html
"So, you know that whole rubber bracelet craze that is sweeping America?
...well, it has hit Japan. I have seen all colors--but white seems to be
the most popular."
Kaori Shoji's take on the Japan Time Online website.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ek20051108ks.htm
"Now as we all know, rubber bands are in. The mottainai fad is tied to
the howaito bando (white band) fad which has stretched out into the kala
bando (colored band) fad (each color representing a different social
statement) and now even the kacho section manager) across the hall is
letting his howaito bando peek from under his suit sleeve. These wide
rubber bands (because really, that's what they are) are not only the
Coolest Things (endorsed by the likes of soccer star Hide Nakata and
actress Norika Fujiwara) ..."
For the following, you might want to use the Google "Translate" page.
http://translate.google.com/translate_t
A translated caption for an image on the Asahi.com website.
http://www.asahi.com/edu/nie/kiji/kiji/TKY200507010120.html
"Attaches the white band to the right hand Nakata Suguru"
A business paper on the "yellow bracelet phenomenon." The following is
a section that was translated using Google Translate.
http://www.jamjapan.com/jp/columns/i_media/bracelet.html
"According to the investigation of last year of the media * marketing
company Alloy (alloy which is specialized in the use market, the findings
from that has been produced as for 60% or more of the teenager, it supports
the product of the enterprise which supports social contribution, from would
like to purchase."
The "white bands" mentioned above are from the Whiteband Project, also known
as the three asterisk (***) campaign.
http://hottokenai.jp/english/index.html
"Hottokenai Sekai no Mazushisa (Don't let it be - World Poverty) is Japan's
national campaign for the Global Call to Action against Poverty (G-CAP)."
The "yellow bands," of course, reference the Lance Armstrong Foundation,
Livestrong.
http://www.livestrong.org/
In more general terms, I think the number of hits for a certain search term
can indicate the penetration of a fad. A Google search on "white band" in
Japanese (???????) produces 2,690,000 hits.
This site has a fashion "ranking list" for bracelets.
http://event.rakuten.co.jp/ranking/fashion/113066.html
Twisted leather - in the 7 spot and climbing
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/porco-rosso/592424/593228/
SAND OIL LEATHER BANGLE - in the 8 spot and climbing
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/chunkyfactory/565020/529923/
Olelo (rubber) Bands - in the 28 spot and climbing
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/sunnyplace/900146/918330/
NIKE ID BAND - new in the 29 spot and climbing
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/spunky/495572/505174/671458/671460/
The Ka Yiu Online Store has a listing for an import from Japan of a "Hello
Kitty" rubber band bracelet. A fad can be indicated by whether it becomes
a "Hello Kitty" product.
http://kayiu.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=132&products_id=470
"Hello Kitty Rubber Band Bracelets, direct import from Japan, very popular
in Japanese teenage girl, is one of the popular japan street fashion item."
If the above will do as an answer for you, please tell me and I will then
post it as such with my search strategy, and a few more results. Thanks!
Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher
