Bubblegeneration Strategy Lab

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Connected Consumption

One of the most important things I've read this week - media pods in Tokyo.

-- umair // 3:10 PM // 6 comments

Comments:

Japanese people do not use these spaces because they are actively seeking out media, but because they are using the space as a refuge from long commutes and cramped, shared, homes. Japanese people often work very late and live over one hour from the city, making it almost impossible to visit each others homes. To have any privacy, couples have to meet outide the home, and places such as Bagus, karaoke boxes and love hotels are all geared to this market.

# // Mark Devlin // 4:24 PM

Hey Mark,

I think the lifestyle factors are certainly valid, but I disagree that the media is irrelevant.

From what I've seen, I think the media is the context through which couples/people connnect.

Thx for the comment.

# // umair // 4:49 PM

i'll be in tokyo next week -- i'll try to make time to check one out.

# // mike // 11:10 PM

interesting. i thought i was the only person with an autism chamber.

# // timb // 1:57 AM

These are not new. "Manga kissa" (comic book cafes) have been around in Japan for decades... they've just added internet and video games in recent years.

# // Ryan Shaw // 4:59 AM

Mark D. is correct. These "media pods" or "manga kissaten" or "pc baangs" are common throughout Asia for various reasons: either the kids cant afford their own computers or they want privacy to consume the media that they want to. Not too much of this is relevant in places where space is not at a premium.

# // Gen Kanai // 2:32 PM