Household appliances in Japan - statistics and facts

Impact of smart technology

One major strategy Japanese manufacturers employ in order to stay competitive is to develop products with enhanced efficiency and new functions. Just as in the case of smart devices, these newly added functions are supposed to make the daily lives of consumers more convenient and comfortable. For instance, home appliances increasingly offer automation and remote control, which save time and energy. Washing machines can automatically adjust the detergent to the load of clothes to be washed, while refrigerators can notify users if certain items, such as drinks, are out of stock. At the same time, the increasing dependence on Internet of Things (IoT) technology also makes security measures necessary in order to protect the privacy of users and to prevent any unwanted manipulation of appliances. Smart appliances account for the largest share of the smart home market in Japan and are expected to grow further in absolute terms in the coming years.

Appliances in the daily lives of consumers

The history of household appliances in Japan is closely linked to the economic development of the country. In the second half of the 1950s, when Japan’s economy grew at a high pace and more and more people moved to urban areas, major appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines became a symbol of the middle-class lifestyle many people aspired to. Today, it is very common for households to own a wide variety of home appliances. As survey figures on the household penetration rate of kitchen appliances show, goods such as refrigerators, microwaves, and rice cookers are owned by the vast majority of Japanese households. Partly due to the hot and humid summer, average annual household expenditures are particularly high in the case of air conditioners. A majority of survey respondents states to be aware of times when one can buy household appliances at a bargain price, which indicates a certain level of price-consciousness among Japanese consumers. One newly emerging phenomenon are subscription services for household appliances, which enable people to try out and use the most advanced technology without having to pay the full price.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.