Research, ASO know-how and lessons from the campaigns we run — written by aix.
Of the 16 apps charting in two or more of the Korean, Japanese and US App Stores on November 9, 2026, six ship an identical title everywhere. The six are all AI assistants or US big tech. The other ten rewrite it.
No. Chart-topping apps are six to nine years old in all three markets. What differs is cadence: 45 of 50 US apps shipped a version within a week, against 27 in Korea and 28 in Japan. Apple App Store, November 2026.
Japan’s internet users are not refusing AI-made video and audio ads outright. In JIAA’s 2026 survey, 52.0% said the technology may be used if conditions are met, and the top condition was disclosure.
All six cross-border apps on the Korea and Japan charts rebuilt their screenshots for every country. Three changed the title and one split into two apps. Apple App Store listing data, November 2026.
In today’s increasingly health-conscious world, the healthcare/fitness app market is diverse, with many apps appealing to users interested in health management and fitness.
In a groundbreaking move, Google Play developers now have access to an experimental AI tool that promises to revolutionize the way store listings are created. This cutting-edge feature, aptly named…
The Airbnb app has achieved the 24th position among Travel category apps in the Japanese App Store. While this accomplishment is noteworthy, a closer examination of its App Store Optimization (ASO)…
Delving into the complexities of the Japanese language can pose a significant challenge. If you’re on the lookout for pertinent Japanese keywords within the app store, you’ve come to the right place.…
Welcome to the vibrant world of app marketing in Japan, where the pursuit of excellence is matched only by the rich cultural tapestry that defines this dynamic market. As global businesses set their…
In our previous discussions, we delved into the dynamic world of dating and matching apps in Japan, unraveling the threads of promotion, ads, and keyword trends. Today, we embark on a visual journey,…
In the fiercely competitive realm of mobile apps, securing a high rank on the App Store is pivotal for reaching your target audience. Mastering App Store Optimization (ASO) is the key to elevating…
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, staying ahead of emerging trends is paramount for businesses seeking to connect with younger audiences. Currently making waves is “TikTok Lite,” an…
“adidas” on App Store Japan (As of: Nov. 13, 2023) The adidas app currently holds the 3rd position in the Sports Category on the App Store in Japan. In assessing its App Store Optimization (ASO)…
With the festive season approaching, Christmas stands as a unique time in Japan, known for its association with dating and romance. If you’re read our article about Christmas in Japan, you’d know…
While Christmas is not recognized as a national holiday, since only about 1 percent of the entire population identifies as Christian, it is a festivity that is highly celebrated. Despite its origins…
In a previous discussion, we delved into the icon trends prevalent among puzzle games in Japan. However, the visual representation of a game goes beyond just its icon. In this article, we will focus…
“H&M – we love fashion” on App Store Japan (As of: Nov. 7, 2023) The H&M app, currently holding the 21st rank in the Shopping Category within the App Store Japan, shows potential for improvement in…
Just as Apple announced its plans to require “Privacy Manifests” to more proactively monitor and enforce their long-held policy that prohibits fingerprinting last summer, and Google planning to…
Known as ‘勤労感謝の日’ (Kinrō Kansha no Hi), Thanksgiving in Japan stands as a recognized national holiday. The focus of this day centers around worker appreciation, highlighting the exchange of gifts…
In an exciting announcement, aix Inc., the company behind ASO index, proudly reveals its nomination as a finalist in the ASO category at the renowned ‘App Growth Awards 2023,’ the world’s largest…
Are you struggling to get your app noticed in the crowded marketplace of the App Store? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With millions of apps competing for attention, it’s crucial to have a strong ASO…
Previously, we delved into the common trends in the promotion and advertising of puzzle games in Japan. This time, let’s take a look at the top ranking Japanese puzzle games creatives, starting with…
The Japanese language indeed is one of the most difficult languages to dig deeper into. So if you want to know relevant Japanese keywords in the app store, you came to the right place. In this…
Japan and Korea, neighboring countries with a perceived likeness, are often recognized for their shared traits. Despite their geographical proximity and cultural overlaps, both nations maintain…
The IKEA app, currently positioned as the 35th ranked app (at the time of writing) in the Shopping Category within the App Store Japan, demonstrates a fairly good performance in App Store…
Japan’s Culture Day, known as “Bunka no hi,” is a national holiday that holds a special place in the hearts of its people. Celebrated annually on November 3rd, it’s a day when the nation comes…
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment, Japan has emerged as a veritable puzzle paradise. Renowned for its rich gaming culture, the Land of the Rising Sun has unequivocally embraced…
In the ever-evolving landscape of app optimization, even subtle changes can wield profound influence. The recent changes in the Japan Google Play Store’s metadata guidelines, reducing the permissible…
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and relationships, Japan has emerged as a fascinating arena for the promotion of dating apps. In a society deeply rooted in tradition and cultural…
The mobile gaming industry continues to thrive as one of the most lucrative sectors in the tech world. In 2022, the battle for user attention and engagement through advertising intensified, with…
In the midst of the digital hustle and bustle, a subtle yet enchanting topic dominated Japanese X (Twitter) yesterday (October 12, 2023) – “金木犀 (kinmokusei).” A seemingly simple word, but one that…
Halloween is just around the corner! Japan is slowly getting covered with orange and purple, pumpkins, cute ghosts and witches once October hits the country. While this celebration wasn’t as…
As the mobile and application market continues to grow, the major app stores, App Store and Play Store also have continued to evolve. One of the major improvements these stores made was to provide…
In the dynamic world of mobile apps, staying ahead of the competition and making your app stand out is crucial. Maximizing Play Store Custom Store Listings (CSL) is a great strategy that app…
In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile app marketing, developers are constantly seeking new ways to stand out and reach their target audiences effectively. App Store Custom Product Pages (CPP) have…
Azul Claro Numazu is a Japanese football club that competes in the J3 League, which is the third tier of professional football in Japan. The club is associated with Shizuoka Sangyo University and has…
In today’s digital age, mobile apps have become an integral part of our lives. Whether it’s for entertainment, productivity, or communication, there’s an app for nearly everything. As app developers…
Another week, another Discover Keywords from Japan app store! It’s now October and let’s see what the first week of October has for us in the App Store’s Discover keyword suggestions. In case you…
In just a few days, Japanese people will have another thing called “３連休,” “san renkyū” or a 3-day weekend. The reason why is because every second Monday of October, Japan celebrates Sports day! What,…
Autumn in Japan, known as “aki,” is a season steeped in cultural significance and rich traditions. In this article, we will delve into the customs and festivals that make autumn a special time in…
In a world where mobile apps are the heartbeat of our daily lives, getting noticed amidst the face-paced digital landscape is a challenge. As app marketers, we understand the huge importance of App…
We’ve come to the last menu of the ASO index! In this article, we’ll uncover more powerful features ASO index has to offer. Let’s have a recap of the other menus we’ve already talked about. We’ve…
Previously, we went over the Keyword Tracking feature of ASO index for part 1 of the Keyword Analysis panel of ASO index. If you haven’t read through that article yet, you can read it here. In this…
In the previous articles, we covered the step-by-step guide for ASO index’s App Overview and ASO Lab. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Keyword Analysis menu of ASO index. The Keyword…
Last time, we guided you through the App Overview panel of ASO index. This time in this article, we’re going to discuss everything about ASO Lab and the power that it holds in helping you understand…
Today, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide on using ASO index… To guide you better, we’ll divide this step-by-step article series into 5 parts – App Overview, ASO Lab, Keyword Analysis part 1…
Tokyo Game Show 2023 (TGS 2023) was held from September 21st to 24th in Chiba, Japan. As if the event is proving that the event still has a huge influence in the industry, TGS 2023 has invited 700+…
Welcome back, fellow Japan market enthusiast! Today, we’re continuing our journey into Japan’s mobile market. We’ve got a little treat for you—another glimpse at the popular keywords on Apple’s App…
In the ever-evolving world of mobile apps, staying ahead of the competition is the key to success. That’s why we are thrilled to announce the release of ASO index, your all-in-one App Store…
It’s September again! To most people in Japan, it signifies the start of autumn and the time to eat “Yakiimo” or Japanese sweet potato… But for tech-enthusiasts, specifically Apple fans, it can only…
Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024 (McCrindle), is rapidly evolving along with ongoing technological development. This also indicates that Generation Alpha is no longer a subject of…
As a global marketer, it is no secret that the Japanese market is one of the most challenging markets to break into. This is due to the language barrier, unique cultural backgrounds, and Japan’s…
Apple just released its newest products – the iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch models and Airpods Pro 2 earbuds – and the anticipation among tech enthusiasts couldn’t be higher. Was the wait worth it?…
In the world of mobile apps and gaming, one metric stands out when it comes to financial success: Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). While ARPU can vary greatly across different regions, one country…
Welcome to the world of LINE, a popular messaging platform with a vast user base and immense marketing potential. As businesses strive to connect with their target audience in a digital landscape,…
In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce and mobile shopping, it is crucial for shopping apps to stay competitive and attract users. One of the strategies employed by these apps is offering exciting…
The advent of shopping apps has transformed the landscape of online shopping, delivering enhanced convenience and efficiency to consumers. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of Japan’s…
The emergence of apps categorized as utilities has brought significant changes to how people optimize their devices and accomplish practical tasks, offering enhanced convenience and efficiency. This…
The entertainment mobile app market has revolutionized the way people consume and engage with various forms of entertainment. This article delves into a comparative analysis of the characteristics of…
The mobile gaming industry has experienced tremendous growth globally, captivating millions of users and generating substantial revenue. This article aims to explore and compare the characteristics…
Mobile apps have revolutionized the way people shop, offering convenience, accessibility, and personalized experiences. This article delves into a comparative analysis of the shopping mobile app…
In our previous article, we explored the landscape of Japan’s most popular SNS platforms. Now, it’s time to dive deeper and uncover the potential marketing approaches for each of these platforms.…
In today’s digital world, where websites and mobile apps are vying for attention, being visible to potential users is like shining a spotlight on your online presence. Imagine you have a website that…
Explore Japan’s bustling digital realm, where social media and connectivity thrive. With advanced technology and widespread smartphone use, the Japanese market offers a vibrant landscape for SNS.…
The rise of educational apps has revolutionized the way people engage with learning materials, making education more accessible and interactive. In this article, we delve into a comparative analysis…
The annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is a highly anticipated event for tech enthusiasts and developers alike. In its latest edition, WWDC 2023 unveiled a range of exciting updates and…
aix Inc. and its R&D team has felt the need of developing an ASO tool that makes ASO more understandable, allows more profound keyword optimization in Asian languages, and provides access from…
Apple hosted this year’s WWDC on June 5th, 2023, and as usual, the event’s opening started with a keynote video, introducing new Apple products and upcoming updates for their software. More sessions…
Japan’s mobile market is a dynamic and innovative powerhouse, characterized by its mobile-first approach, app-centric behavior, and tech-savvy consumer base. The market reached approximately $103.6…
The year 2022 has been another dynamic year when many countries decided to live with COVID-19 and started opening up the barricades. Yet Russia broke a war against Ukraine in February, and it is…
It has been one or two months since Apple and Samsung released their new smartphone in the market. Apple’s iPhone 14 received much attention from users because of its new feature, Dynamic Island, and…
Every September, Apple announces and releases new products and software updates. On September 13, 2022, Apple rolled out iOS 16, and this software update has drawn as much attention as new products,…
Google has launched a new update on its search system, called “Helpful Content.” As Google is the world’s largest search portal that transfers 5.6 billion searches per day, so the newly-added search…
The previous articles were about the Korean and Japanese languages and how their linguistic characteristics may affect how users search apps on app stores. Yet the articles were written for…
The app market in South Korea has been growing fastly, and now it is the third largest app market in East Asia, following China and Japan. Statista has projected that the number of app downloads in…
One of the most popular topics in the world of ASO is localization. Localization is essential when you want to expand the reach of your app to global. Just as you attempt to learn a couple of phrases…
The previous article, Japan vs. Korea Part 1, discussed the differences between the screenshots in Korea and Japan. Even though it was the same app, screenshots on the Korean and Japanese Apple App…
App Store Optimization(ASO) is an app marketing strategy that aims to increase an app’s search ranking and maximize its downloads. Applying ASO also brings more users as it is expected to increase…
The algorithm of app stores is calculated by various factors, so it seems appropriate to implement ASO from diverse angles. While Meta Keyword Optimization is a must-to-take measure, other strategies…
A previous article, “CRO Advanced: How to Convert Visitors to Users,” introduced a strategy that increases the number of downloads and discussed optimizing the creatives (e.g. screenshots, icons,…
Article, “MKO: Advanced: How to Select the Perfect Keywords for Your App,” had introduced Meta Keyword Optimization as a strategy that makes your app to rank at high in the search result so its…
This report will explain Meta Keyword Optimization (MKO) which can help your app to rank higher in the search result and be exposed to more users.
Have you ever thought about how many apps exist? The data collected by statista (statista(apple),statista(Google)) in Q1 2022 shows that there are 3.8 million apps in Apple App Store and 3.3 million…
While it is true both Japan and Korea are exotic to most western countries, Japan and Korea have various differences from each other. These two countries are geologically close, yet not close enough…
Tell us about your app. We’ll show you where growth can come from.
