Since their invention by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994, QR codes have expanded beyond their initial industrial tracking purposes to marketing and advertising applications. Now that Smartphone users the world over carry barcode readers in their pockets, the two-dimensional digital images are used to lead consumers to websites that provide more detailed product or service information (a process known as “hardlinking”), and in some cases to track the location of the consumers who seek this information.

We surveyed 100 mothers of 6 to 15-year-olds in each of twelve markets throughout Asia (Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam) about the cultural, sports, and academic activities in which their children participate.

Geeks, nerds, maniacs, die-hards, freaks – call them anything but losers – exist in every culture. In Japan, many go by the name “otaku,” a slang word used to describe gaming, anime, manga (comic book), and girls group enthusiasts, as well as girls who really love history (rekijo), among others.

If Japanese manufacturers were worried about the impact of the Fukushima nuclear crisis on demand for Japanese products, they might not need to be, at least not in the domestic market or throughout Asia. We asked panelists throughout 12 Asian markets which countries’ brands they prefer across nine consumer product categories, and we found that Japan came out on top in all but two: clothes, footwear, and bags, and pharmaceutical/medical products, where the United States edges out Japan. In every other category, USA brands took second place behind Japan, except for automobiles, where Germany came in second with just over half the share that Japan occupies.

With a large population engaged in ever more frequent short-range travel and enjoying increasing budgets for recreation, Asia seems to be the perfect market for the increasingly prevalent low-cost carrier. AIP surveyed 2400 people in 12 countries and regions across Asia to understand their familiarity with and usage of low-cost carriers.

The earliest evidence of alcohol consumption in Asia is from some 9000 years ago (around 7000 BC) in China. This drink was kept in wine jars and apparently made from fermenting rice, fruit and honey. The consumption of alcohol developed throughout the region, many times taking a central role in religious ceremonies and being offered to the gods in order to keep them happy.

AIP Corporation conducted a lifestyle survey on environmental consciousness across 13 countries/regions. As environmental consciousness rises around the world, we verify differences in awareness, consciousness, and purchase intent in each of these countries.

In William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Prince Henry remarks, “If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work.” While we here at AIP consider the surveys we offer respondents to be entertainment, not work, we recognize that our panelists sometimes take vacations from their computers—and our surveys—during holidays in their countries.

The rush to open fast fashion stores is continuing in countries around the world. (“Fast fashion” refers to brands and business configurations which mass-produce and sell low-cost clothing based on the latest fashion trends.）In April 2011, AIP surveyed women across 12 Asian countries about their awareness and purchases of fast fashion brands.

From May 9 to 18, AIP-Hakuhodo Earthquake Recovery Project* conducted a survey to examine how attitudes towards and images of Japan and Japanese products changed among people living outside of Japan after the Magnitude 9.1 earthquake which struck the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11. According to the results of the survey, the majority of non-Japanese “hope that Japan recovers quickly” and want to contribute to Japan’s recovery as consumers.