Favorable exchange rate lures shoppers to Japan

A sudden trend has emerged among Chinese consumers, with many of them rushing to Japan to purchase small electrical goods such as rice cookers. Reports show that in some shops in Japan, orders from Chinese tourists account for 80 percent of the total. Comments:

Many analysts and media link the trend with China's inferior technologies and low-end manufacturing industries, but the truth is it has a financial root. The renminbi has robustly appreciated against most foreign currencies, which means a discount for Chinese consumers buying products abroad. It is natural for Chinese travelers to buy products overseas.

Yangtze Evening News, Feb 9

On being asked why they chose Japanese goods, several Chinese customers said they were more convenient and had more functions. Chinese factories can produce good products, too, but they fail to design the products with the customer in mind. The trend should be a lesson for domestic entrepreneurs.

cnhubei.com, Feb 10

The wave of buying electronics from Japan once again shows the folly of calls to boycott Japanese products. Those thinking of such a boycott, please crush your smartphones first, which use screens made in Japan; put your laptop in the trash can, because it might use a Japanese motherboard; or stop going to hospitals because Japanese medical devices are there. Do not forget that we live in an age of globalization.

China Youth Daily, Feb 10

With the incomes of Chinese residents continuing to rise, the age of consuming low-cost mass-produced goods is gone and more personalized consumption will become the trend. However, domestic industries have to give up the cake to Japanese enterprises - fundamental innovations are needed to change this.

haiwainet.cn, Feb 10