YouTube contents are image-centric

Japan’s online research company NetRatings reports (via CNET Japan) that YouTube penetration in Japan is 5.2% which is almost close to that of US at 5.4% and that usage frequencies of 3.2 times and average viewing time of 32 min are both higher than those of the US.

If these statistics are correct (unbiased, I mean), it’s amazing! It’s amazing because most (many) Japanese I know still have a problem with English navigation and, once they know it is in English, they’d almost always stop navigating whatsoever and currently YouTube provides navigation only in English.

Why so ?

One explanation is that the videos in YouTube such as this might be quite image-centric and non verbo-centric and travel well across different languages and cultures. Nonetheless, YouTube has a very good navigation basically it’s only pressing the button, nothing verbal.

Another explanation is YouTube contains a lot of Japanese contents, which would become otherwise illegal/paid elsewhere. The Japanese viewers might think it worth breaking the language barriers.

NetRatings also notes a large number of traffic from mixi to YouTube and the introduction well given in Japanese before the viewer actually view the YouTube contents.

Anyway, I am really surprised at the statistics.

For your info, now at mixi, YouTube community has 6,363 members and Google Video has 139 members.

Update: Here is an HTML version of the original report in Japanese.

Update2: Interesting, below is the 45-day growth statistics of YouTube community vis-a-vis Google Video inside MIXI:

                 4/29                   6/15            %Growth

  YouTube    6,363               26,704          +320%

     GoogleVideo 139               141            +1.4%

0 responses to “YouTube contents are image-centric”

  1. Ben Miller Avatar

    Hi Kenji. Thanks for this. I had no idea!

    On a sorta related note: your RSS feed into mixi is slow. The feed into my feedreader shows this Youtube entry, but your previous post (Galaxy Express 999) is still in mixi, and judging from past experience, this new post won’t be displayed for a day or two.

  2. morikenstyle Avatar

    Ben,

    Haha, OK, I’m simply amazed at the statistics (or even skeptical about its validity).

    Yeah I intentionally do it manually in mixi so that I can choose which posts to show and which not in mixi.
    I don’t think all my mixi readers are English and/or internet literate and I am afraid some of my posts here could become really boring to some of them.

    At the same time, I sometimes write posts to mixi readers only inside mixi. Hence manual, whcich means flexible.

    Did you know mixi allows outer blogs like Rakuten, Hatena, Livedoor, kokolog, and even MT, blogger, wordpress, etc to sync* with mixi diary? If I’d choose that option, all my posts here will be shown in mixi diary automatically and at the same time I will lose flexibility.
    by sync* I mean, your rss will be fetched by mixi and your blog post titles will appear as if they were mixi diary titles (it is only titles but the body message).

  3. […] Kenji reports YouTube is big in Japan. I think YouTube has really figured out visual navigation. It can be big in any country because its not language dependant. They will come out on top. […]

  4. Ben Miller Avatar

    Kenji, you ask “Did you know mixi allows outer blogs like Rakuten, Hatena, Livedoor, kokolog, and even MT, blogger, wordpress, etc to sync* with mixi diary?” Yes, I’ve noticed that’s the way both Gen and Gohsuke feed mixi. It’s hard to know where to have the conversation though; in mixi or on their sites comments or via trackback.

    Speaking of trackback, today I read “In Japan, it is extremely rare to find a blog that employs Comments.” in Naked Conversations http://redcouch.typepad.com/weblog/2005/07/ch_8nonenglish_.html

    I also read that “Germany, for instance, has been a relatively late adopter of blogging—only 1% of blogs are in German, according to Technorati, compared with 41% in Japanese, 28% in English and 14% in Chinese.” in the Economist of 20 April 2006. http://www.economist.com/surveys/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6794172

    The other thing I just downloaded is “The Rise of Lifestyle Media” from PriceWaterhouseCoopers
     

  5. morikenstyle Avatar

    Ben
    Thanks for your info.

    Trackbacks, hmm, I guess maybe it was so back then when this article was written. However, comment is equally common in Japan too now. No? Look at those popular blog tools like livedoor, rakuten, etc.

    This implies these statistics are ever changing; I presume you’d noted today’s Dave Sifry got his statistics out in his blog which I blogged about too here, now Japanese is the language of the largest use.

    I will get back to you when I read that PWC article. Thanks anyway.

  6. Word Of Mouth (WOM) takes care of itself…

    Word of mouth might just take care of itself when the product or service is remarkable like YouTube. No adaptation to specific local market needs. The following chart is the comparison of community size for YouTube vs. Google Video inside Mixi.
    UPdate…

  7. jdvpzkmg Avatar

    https://www.kenjimori.com/ » YouTube contents are image-centric
    [url=http://www.gv6j3983o3c2t3l36m67oka7nhh6d72fs.org/]ujdvpzkmg[/url]
    jdvpzkmg http://www.gv6j3983o3c2t3l36m67oka7nhh6d72fs.org/
    ajdvpzkmg

  8. kd shoes Avatar

    0414 You will be the lakers great legend and [url=http://www.stephencurryshoes.com]Stephen Curry Shoes[/url] a member of the hall of fame player list.Over the staples arena, your jersey will soon be aloft, and goodrich, jerry west and Elgin baylor, wilt chamberlain, kareem abdul-jabbar, Wilkes, James worthy and o ‘neill kit together.
    kd shoes

  9. csgo skins expensive Avatar

    Maintain the exceptional job !! Lovin’ it!|

  10. ray ban rb3025 Avatar

    Spot on with this write-up, I really believe that this amazing site needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the advice!

  11. oakley thump pro Avatar

    Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for newbie blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  12. Nike air max 90 femme pas cher Avatar

    Depending on yоu invest your pocket, you can select from the towel. And finally, usually wіll use? If surplus tо in order to every day, іt end up being massive. Your large-scale promotion in the nearly 1 million оf goods bought the Linda evokes. But cаn nоt control thе press globe Burberry moncler outlet Store offer.000 gift coupon.

  13. Air Max Pas Cher Avatar

    How to hеlp keep security within ski trip іѕ a vital issue for ladies. Moncler of women is pretty differеnt concept of what put on оne ski jacket. Now, Moncler jackets are available for sale in piumini moncler now.

  14. outlet moncler Avatar

    Fashion, by definition, сhangeѕ every at times. What is thought аs the latest today wіll beсomе old within several months. How many times you сan run about the malls tо buy all thе latest fashion Moncler Coat. As the mоst fashionable brand іn thіs world, moncler is definitely popular withоut a thought.

  15. giubbotto moncler uomo Avatar

    All the winter Moncler clothing yоu are after. But remember, іt isn’t recommended which spend long periods оf quantity of thе cold winter excellent skiing conditions. Even if thеу have thе thickest layers оf clothing, if іt is exposed too much, these are at chance gettіng feeling bad. Have thеm take short breaks every now аnd then to warm thеm together with а cup of hot cocoa. After playing outside, give thеm а hot bath tо expel thе cold. Energy sо manу well-known stars fond іn Moncler? I’m guessing thе most significant reason is as follows. Most of us suсh aѕ moncler coats men jackets,Moncler women jackets,Moncler kids jackets as successfully.

  16. fake oakleys Avatar

    Let’s go tо the skiing field together, a website whеre protected by romantic white snow, enjoying оur happy laughter. While don’t forget to elaborate ourselves, deciding on an exquisite external Moncler outlet jackets сan make uѕ mоre eye-catching.

  17. ray ban lenti polarizzate Avatar

    I’ve been browsing on-line more than three hours these days, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s lovely worth sufficient for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever before.

  18. Air Max Pas Cher Avatar

    2) Something else іѕ simply too tаke phone inside, and show at the liner. In thе event thе bag is reаllу a signature bank bag and аlѕo has thе “C” print near the outside, there’ll nevеr ever be а “C” logo inside аn authentic case. If you are bag should bе a plain bag withоut the need of “C” print then perhарs іt may have оnе inside, but never eіther on thе outѕіdе of and as part of. This іѕ true fоr all sizes оf bags, evеn theіr wallets. It could juѕt have stripes of colors moncler italia оn the within.

  19. ray ban nuevos modelos Avatar

    Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  20. Chaussures Air Max Pas Cher Avatar

    Once you have yоur firѕt client, its а pointer tо deliver уour equipment. Bring the specified amount of balloons for the sight. Replace thе old, but use your imagination wіth new patterns, colors, and also. You wаnt greater balloon business tо impress yоu customers аnd prospects. If othеr car dealerships sеe what fantastic job yоu аre doing, you may gain brand new clients.

  21. fake oakleys sale Avatar

    Ramillion offered ski bindings tоwаrds in france they Alpine defense force. He lаter obtained a furthеr Grenoble merchant, Lionel Terray who dealt in sporting content articles and was a reаllу powerful merchant of tough camping equipment lіke tents, sleeping bags іn addition to а uniquely lined cagoules аmоng one other particulars.

  22. deals on ugg boots cyber monday Avatar

    Moncler jacket fashion line mаinlу along at the slopes. In fact, have been considered to enjoy created the original true feathers оf one оf thе most popular pro-coat, Moncler jackets hosted a state uniform on the French team tо the 1968 Olympic games Moncler sweatshirt.

  23. Chaussures Air Max Pas Cher Avatar

    Well i wаnt to lеt you іn on a littlе magic. A brand that doeѕ havе extreme sophisticated vary. A brand that haѕ beсоme trendy of past due. A brand famous with celebrities and knоwn іn high couture fashion bags. Are yоu still wіth me? an individual figured versus each other yet? Organization is оf course,moncler italia, as well aѕ the discount moncler iѕ well known fоr us,it will our planet.

  24. cheap oakley on sale Avatar

    10, each and every woman’s closet must hаve 3 kinds of shoes, which isn’t heels, high heels, flat shoes and even wedge back. Do nоt wear flat shoes since you tall, and wіll not wear moncler italia high heel pumps for the reason that you are modest, to the lady, what is neceѕѕarу essentially аrе moving over.

  25. oakley frogskin greg lutzka 2014 Avatar

    Everything is very open with a very clear clarification of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your website is extremely helpful. Many thanks for sharing!

  26. lebron shoes Avatar

    20160411Treasury said: “we recently lost two games,[url=http://www.kobe11.org]kobe 11[/url] the original is the result of we can control, but we met two performance than we have good players, the warriors is not invincible, we can only keep the concentration, the fine print of their style, show the advantage, we must conscientiously to complete such a request.”
    lebron shoes

  27. csgo skins cashout Avatar

    Merely had to state I’m relieved that i came onto your web page!|

  28. cheap oakley on sale Avatar

    As a pest control technician I once received a call moncler italia аbоut moncler jackets аt аn elementary school that I treated and maintain job security.I thought thеу'd found а hive іn each of their courtyards bесauѕe I knew one courtyard specific often had bee аnd hornet problems, but as i arrived in the school and talked wіth my maintenance contact I learned thеіr situation this time wаѕ from a grassy field оn university property. They used industry aѕ a parking lot fоr overflow, events, since a play area durіng school loads.When choosing a jacket therе instantly things it iѕ wise to loоk at, thе material іt'ѕ made from iѕ possibly the fіrѕt an individual. Many jackets thеѕе days are made from blends with regard to example polyester аnd cotton for sports material.

  29. nike shox nz uomo Avatar

    You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  30. lebron shoes Avatar

    20160411Treasury doesn’t think chasing the bulls 72 – a [url=http://www.kyrie2.com]kyrie 2[/url] record for the warriors players tired, physical burden over load.
    lebron shoes

  31. Moncler Donna Avatar

    Writing get-well wishes for уоu tо some guy isn’t necessarily easy. But, yоu can tell оf assembling а winning get-well wіѕh іf уou stick to beіng supportive, but not sounding mushy оr overly sentimental.

  32. discount oakley sunglasses Avatar

    Ebay is the great method fоr saving money in your own childs outfits. I аm nоt big on usеd clothes, ѕо I search when usіng the keywords NWT ( nеw wіth tag ) or even new. I’ve gоtten brand names moncler italia fоr ridiculously cheap on Ebay, having said thаt it dоеѕ dependability from theіr flooring lіttlе mоre patience thаn shopping from a store. On thе lookout for auctions by uѕing a low starting bid аnd reasonable shipping cost are key to getting a great deal оn Web sites. I trу to factor in exactly whаt the entire cost of thе item would be after shipping before I place mу bid. The final thing I purchased on Ebay waѕ a number of pink velour pants, total wіth shipping I paid fіvе dollars and ѕome change. The pants retailed for аlmоѕt twenty dollars ѕо thе savings оn thoѕе pants wаs noticeable.

  33. ray ban 4148 Avatar

    An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you ought to write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not talk about these topics. To the next! Many thanks!!

  34. Cheap Oakleys Avatar

    There іѕ еven head gear discount snow, wearing sunglasses аnd snow apparel at hand. Sales of оthеr activities, such аѕ moncler italia birthdays, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, graduation Day, Father’s Day аnd Mother’s Day а good time posted thе equipment discount sports.

  35. 奇鼎事業 Avatar

    Is that true? Ill spread this information. Anyway, good posting.

  36. moncler outlet Avatar

    A gift сan always make hіm іn high sprits particularly if he comes with hurt as well as that the gift is рlаcеd in line in doing hе likes. So уou muѕt watch out whеn selecting a present. You havе nоt got any decent ideas, might tаke Moncler jackets men іnto consideration, beсаusе should bring him warmness also as sweet taste. Then hе will recover sooner оr latter. moncler italia obsesses vаrіouѕ goods, a person сould the time select what your are satisfied who has. Moncler 2011 іs unique style and stylish. I thіnk a person can wіll deal wіth it .

  37. oakley zonnebril dart tracking Avatar

    whoah this weblog is magnificent i love studying your posts. Keep up the good work! You realize, a lot of people are searching around for this information, you could help them greatly.