Skydea, Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hitomi Abiko) exhibited at CONTENT TOKYO 2024, held at Makuhari Messe from Wednesday, November 20 to Friday, November 22, 2024. The event attracted over 20,000 visitors, and our booth enjoyed active discussions with attendees.

We sincerely thank everyone who stopped by to visit us.

Highlights from the Event

Scenes of Interaction with Visitors

The landing page we showcased for CONTENT TOKYO, overseas expansion, and inbound demand

For more information about 'CONTENT TOKYO 2024', click here

Addressing New Market Needs and Content Demand

We received many inquiries from companies looking to attract inbound foreign tourists and foreign residents in Japan. However, simply translating Japanese websites is often not enough to drive inquiries and engagement.

While translation tools have made significant advancements, their output can still feel unnatural, making it harder for local users to connect with the content. To succeed globally, businesses must adapt their messaging to align with the language, culture, and design preferences of their target markets.

For example:

• Overseas: Clean, simple designs with intuitive UI/UX and effective use of whitespace are preferred.

• Japan: Websites focus on detailed layouts, presenting extensive information with everything completed on one page.

These differences reflect not only design priorities but also how information is presented and consumed.

Key Differences in Japanese and Global Web Design

1. How Information Is Presented

• Japan: Websites provide extensive background and detailed explanations. Content tends to be text-heavy, focusing on thorough explanations of products or services.

• Overseas (e.g., the U.S.): Websites use dynamic visuals, concise text, and focus on the key points first. The priority is to quickly capture the user's attention and deliver a clear takeaway.

Text Length

In Japan, users are accustomed to reading long content thoroughly as long as it is clear and polite. Overseas, users tend to “skim” for key points. Websites overloaded with text can feel overwhelming, often resulting in visitors leaving the site.

Design and Coding

• Japan: Websites are often colorful, combining text and images in dense layouts. Static images (e.g., created in Photoshop) are frequently uploaded as-is.

• Overseas: Designs favor simplicity and whitespace, with interactive and motion-based elements. Emphasis is placed on organization, usability, and a refined aesthetic.

When targeting global audiences, it’s critical to design websites that organize information effectively and prioritize clarity.

2. Technology and Perception Differences

Japanese businesses are gradually adopting concepts like “UI/UX” and “design thinking,” but there is still a tendency to prefer traditional methods. Compared to overseas companies that actively embrace new technologies, Japan often lags behind. Below are some common differences:

• Manual Scheduling: Tools like Calendly or Google Calendar simplify scheduling and save time compared to manually managing via email.

• Sharing Excel Files: Overseas, teams prefer collaborative tools like Google Sheets, which allow real-time updates without the hassle of email attachments.

• Internal Communication: Tools like Slack or internal social platforms have replaced traditional email and phone calls, streamlining teamwork and communication.

• Meeting Notes: AI tools that automatically record and transcribe meetings improve efficiency and enable faster sharing—even with multilingual clients.

• Generative AI: Businesses overseas use generative AI for a range of tasks, from content creation to strategic planning. It boosts productivity, reduces costs, and fosters innovation.

By adopting these tools and technologies, businesses can significantly improve efficiency and stay competitive globally.

3. Differences in Web Design Goals

• Japan: Websites emphasize service, with messages like “Please contact us, we will respond with care” being common. Exceptional customer service is expected, and contacting a company is seen as normal.

• Overseas: Contacting a business is often associated with sales pressure, so self-service designs are preferred. Users expect to find all necessary information without needing to reach out.

Web design must center on the user’s perspective. A clear, intuitive design becomes an essential tool for businesses, working 24/7 to build trust and provide accurate information.

What Skydea Can Do

Skydea specializes in creating web and app designs tailored to each target market.

• For English-speaking audiences: We design clean, simple layouts with effective whitespace and engaging visuals.

• For Japanese audiences: We focus on clear, information-rich designs that align with local preferences.

Our creative team, with international experience including time in the United States, understands cultural differences and user behavior. By designing user-centric, intuitive websites and apps, we help businesses effectively communicate with diverse audiences.

Skydea's Core Services

Web and UI/UX Design

• Tailored strategies for global markets and multilingual websites.

• Intuitive, user-friendly designs that match local preferences.

• Web design using popular no-code tools for international regions.

Supporting Global Business Expansion

• UI/UX and product design to enhance brand recognition.

• Strategic branding that resonates with target markets.

• Comprehensive website development that combines creativity and technology.

• Digital marketing strategies to accelerate international growth.

• Design systems that ensure a consistent, high-quality brand experience.

Skydea's Strengths

A Creative Team Bridging Japan and the World

Our bilingual team combines strong domestic and international expertise to deliver web solutions that resonate with target audiences. By building a world-class brand identity, businesses can stand out from competitors, capture new opportunities, and increase corporate value.

Collaborative, Insightful Planning

Effective global expansion starts with understanding the core challenges and goals of a business. We conduct thorough analysis and research to propose digital solutions that align with your strategy.

Cutting-Edge Technology

We stay at the forefront of evolving web and app development trends, adopting the latest global tools and design methods to create impactful, future-ready solutions.

About Skydea Inc.

Skydea Inc. is a Tokyo-based digital agency helping companies expand globally. Since our founding in 2018, we have delivered multilingual websites, UI/UX design, international branding strategies, and innovative digital solutions tailored to the needs of each market. Our bilingual team bridges Japanese culture and global business practices, empowering companies to succeed internationally.

Company Profile

Company name: Skydea, Inc. (株式会社SKYDEA)
Leadership: Hitomi Abiko, CEO; Mike Doan, COO
Established: August 2018
Location: 9-2-13-208 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Business: Digital strategy consulting, web design,
UI/UX design, branding
URL: https://skydea.co/

For Inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:

Skydea, Inc.
Public Relations Officer, Creative Tokyo
E-mail: hello@skydea.co

PR Times: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000008.000081380.html