Q3 Which Japanese regions do you know?

How do people around the world view Japan? How is the "Japan Brand" – encompassing Japanese food, tourism, products, and more – perceived overseas?

This data card presents findings from the "Japan Brand Survey 2015," conducted in 20 countries and regions worldwide in April 2015.

A3 It's not just Tokyo! Surprisingly well-known Japanese regions.

Q3 Which Japanese regions do you know?

When we presented several Japanese place names and asked which ones respondents knew, "Tokyo" came out on top once again (only the top 10 areas are shown in the data). With a remarkably high recognition rate of about 90%, this reaffirms its status as one of the world's most recognized cities.

Beyond popular tourist destinations, historically significant areas like "Hiroshima" and "Nagasaki," "Fukushima" known for the earthquake disaster, and "Kobe" famous for its internationally popular "Kobe Beef" demonstrate that various regions hold high recognition from diverse perspectives.

Compared to the 2013 survey results, many regions have improved their scores, indicating a growing interest in the diverse charms of these areas.

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<Japan Brand Survey 2015 Overview>

● Purpose: To understand overseas consumers' perceptions and actual behavior regarding "Japan Brand" in general, including Japanese food, tourism, and products, and to support corporate marketing activities.

●Target Areas: 20 countries and regions

China (Beijing, Shanghai), Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, USA, Canada, Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia

●Survey Method: Online survey

●Respondent Criteria: Men and women aged 20–59 from middle-income households and above

●Sample Size: 200 respondents per region, total 4,000 respondents

●Survey Period: April 17–27, 2015

Dentsu Inc. Team Cool Japan
A cross-functional project team launched in 2013 to promote 'Cool Japan-related initiatives'—expanding products and services leveraging Japanese culture and strengths into overseas markets. Dentsu Inc. also invested in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Cool Japan Organization (fund). The team brings together client company representatives handling overseas expansion, media and content specialists, overseas subsidiary network managers, producers, and planners to promote Japan's appeal globally.

DENTSU SOKEN INC. Japan Studies Group
A research team focused on Japan's appeal and strengths was established within DENTSU SOKEN INC. for 2020 and beyond. We aim to be a "network-based think tank" leveraging connections with diverse individuals domestically and internationally, as well as all resources within Dentsu Inc. With Dentsu's unique approach and the team strength to co-create the next form by reading the winds, we aspire to contribute to shaping Japan's future—one where answers are not easily found.