Top 30 Things in Japan from Trendy Mag

Hiko blogs about Trendy Magazine and lists their 30 hot items in Japan for this year. He offers some analysis as well. Thanks for the transcription. (Hiko – Top 30)

Nikkei Trendy Top 30 Hit Products of 2011 in Japan

30. Asahi W Zero Cocktails – alcohol free cocktail soda pop
29. Maru Maru Mori Mori – The ending theme song to a popular drama on Fuji TV, the first time in 34 years a child’s song has sold more than 200,000 CDs
28. JINS Air Spectacle Frames
27. Attonon – a cream you can buy that hides cuts and bruises (?!)
26. Maa-Pika – Toilet disinfectant
25. Nestle Cocoa D’Or – Special edition hot chocolate for adults
24. Microwaveable Fried Chicken – In the never ending and surprisingly high quality range of instant dinners in Japan, a number of makers have come out with high quality microwaveable precooked fried chicken
23. Radiko Radio – Internet based Radio has been a big boom, led by radiko.jp web page and Internet radio apps.
22. CN-SG500 Hand Held Travel Navigation System
21. K-Pop music

20. Tablets (iPad 2 in particular)
19. Sofina Primavista – Long keep base cosmetic UV cream
18. Honcho – Korean health supplement drink aimed at women
17. Tanita Empoyee Cafeteria Low Fat Cookbook – popular with dieters
16. Shot Note – Stationery notepads designed for photographing and storing as memos on smart phones
15. Ponzu Jure – A new line of vinegar based dressing/sauce
14. Sunshine Aquarium – a new popular aquarium in Ikebukuro that got 600,000 visitors in first two months of opening
13. Cardboard Box Fighting Machine Plastic Models (LBX Series) – a popular line of toys
12. Toning shoes – shoes designed to tone your body just walking around in them
11. Linear/Railway Museum – a popular JR railway museum that features Japan’s new upcoming maglev high speed trains

10. Kamen Riders Transformation Belt (DX Orz Driver) – popular children’s toy in power rangers tradition
9. Loxonin – recently available without prescription painkiller/headache medicine
8. PHS Phones With Flat Rate Unlimited Calling to All Carriers
7. Makkori – A cloudy version of the popular Korean drink Jinro
6. Daihatsu Mira E:S and Mazda Demio13 Sky Active – high mileage compact cars
5. Nissin Cup Noodle Company Mixed Rice Meals
4. Sanyo Gopan bread maker
3. “Energy Saving” Fans
2. Facebook – thanks to a lot of help from Dentsu, and also in part to promotion by Nikkei Trendy…
1. Smart Phones