Market Trends of Japan Smart Home Industry
Rising Focus Toward Energy Efficiency is Driving the Market
- Following the Fukushima disaster in 2011 and Japan's subsequent costly reliance on imported fossil fuels, the nation implemented policies to boost its use of renewable energy. These policies also emphasized energy efficiency and conservation, crucial for Japan's energy security.
- This commitment is evident in Japan's robust ETI scores for regulation and political dedication. For context, Japan ranked 27th out of 120 countries in the 2023 ETI, maintaining consistent scores for system performance and transition readiness over the past decade. Notably, Japan's Sixth Strategic Energy Plan, unveiled in October 2021, aims for renewables to make up 36-38% of its energy mix by 2030.
- Fast forward to March 2024, Japan pledged JPY 90.1 million to bolster the APEC region's energy efficiency and low-carbon initiatives. This funding, channeled through the APEC Energy Working Group, explicitly targets the sub-fund energy efficiency, low carbon, and energy resiliency measures. Its goal is to bolster sustainable growth, enhance energy security, and broaden energy access across various sectors.
- Adding to this momentum, Japan's land ministry unveiled plans in 2023 to reintroduce a subsidy program. This initiative aims to assist families with young children and newlyweds in constructing energy-efficient homes, especially in the face of escalating real estate prices.
- Under this program, households with a child under 18 or a married couple, where either partner is under 39, can receive a JPY 1 million subsidy. This is contingent on building a new house that meets the stringent criteria of a net zero energy house (ZEH). These initiatives collectively underscore Japan's growing emphasis on energy efficiency, boding well for the country's smart home market.
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Smart Appliances to Hold Significant Market Share
- The surge in smart homes in Japan can be primarily attributed to the dominance of major domestic electronics manufacturers, who have a strong foothold in the global market. These Japanese smart home firms are at the forefront of innovation, crafting sophisticated automation solutions. Their expertise lies in developing systems that intelligently manage lighting, heating, security, and various appliances, all through smart devices and IoT technology.
- Japan boasts a lineup of top-tier smart home players, including Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi Electric. It is worth highlighting that Japan stands out as the home to every major camera brand, such as Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Pentax, Sigma, and Olympus. This camera industry dominance can be traced back to the decline of Germany's camera sector during wartime, Japan's rapid economic recovery, and its robust post-war intellectual property standards.
- Furthermore, Japan's historical prowess in TV manufacturing, bolstered by the presence of industry giants' headquarters, has laid a strong foundation. These companies have not only introduced a diverse range of smart home offerings but have tailored them to meet the demands of today's homeowners, enhancing convenience, safety, and comfort, thereby propelling Japan's smart home market.
- In a significant move in July 2023, Toshiba unveiled its latest innovation, the 'Toshiba 4K Mini LED Smart TV M650,' setting new benchmarks in visual excellence. This cutting-edge TV boasts a host of connectivity features, including HDMI, Bluetooth audio, dual-band Wi-Fi, and USB ports. It is equipped with multiple voice assistant options, such as Alexa, VIDAA, and Google Assistant.
- In June 2023, Quectel Wireless Solutions, an IoT solutions provider, launched its latest Quectel FCM360W Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module. This module combines a high-performance processor with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 capabilities.
