Big in Japan: LINE sticker of Moomin broke through 6 million downloading in one week

LINE provides many free stickers as well as paid stickers. A lot of stickers which cooperated with companies are included in them. Last week, Japanese cosmetics brand Orbis carried out the promotion using the free sticker of Finnish character Moomin. They offered free Moomin sticker to LINE users who added their official LINE  account as friends. It made a big success. The free sticker of Moomin broke through 6 million downloading in only one week.

Moomin is very popular in Japan. Because Anime of Moomin were produced originally in Japan, many goods are still sold in fancy goods shops, and Moomin cafes are always full. Speaking of a Finnish character in Japan, it is Moomin than Angry Birds.

According to the press release of Orbis, the free Moomin stickers were used more than 30 million times. All these are numbers only in Japan. The most popular design was Hattifnatt. LINE users liked that they were expressionless and had a wineglass.

I think the stickers of the messaging apps can become the new platform to introduce a character to abroad. The LINE sticker has already played role.

Cygames starts a radio show of Rage of Bahamut

Japanese social game developer and publisher Cygames stimulates cross media development of their mobile game "Rage of Bahamut". They published art books, sold goods and sexy figures, and they start the Internet radio program.

This is broadcasted in Internet radio HiBiKi Radio Station on 12:00 every week from December 11. MC are popular voice actor Shota Aoi and Ayumi Tsuji. This is an important element, because voice actors are very popular in Japan. Cygames added voices to characters of Rage of Bahamut Jp ver. Because voices of voice actors have value in Japan, they contribute to the acquisition of the active users.

Google started sale of Google Gift Card in Japan

Google Japan announced that they started sale of Google Gift Card in Japan from today. This is the sixth place following US, the U.K., France, Germany, Canada.

Kinds of a cards sold in Japan are 1,500 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 10,000 yen, 15,000 yen and 20,000 yen. There are very many and easy to buy them! They are sold in Seven-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Circle K Sunkus, MINISTOP, three F of main convenience stores, Aeon and Ito-Yokado of the department store, and Don Quixote of the discount store. I think this to be a good news for Android users of the teenager. What do they use a virtual currency for? Of course they are a game apps and LINE stickers! :)

Like the SnapChat? Japanese startup Cocone released Messaging apps "TonTon" where a message disappears

Unfortunately SnapChat does not have popularity at all in Japan. However, the messaging apps that resembled it was released. It is "TonTon"(iOS/Android). TonTon is service of Japanese startup Cocone, and the system is very simple.

At first, when user's registration, the phone number is not necessary. Only by the setting the user name and it's completed in only five seconds.

The most important function is automatic removal of messages. It's like images of SnapChat. All messages disappear from the both sides of a sender and the addressee in constant time.

In addition, there are no stickers in TonTon. This is rare for Japanese messaging apps. There is a function to tell a friend about one's existence by a knock in substitution for it. This is an origin of the service names of TonTon. "Ton-Ton" means a knock in Japanese onomatopoeic word.

Cocone explains this is the service that is easier than other messaging apps. Surely other precedence messaging apps(ex LINE) more many functionalize it. TonTon focus on a momentary chat.

Puzzle & Dragons becomes the arcade game at last

Now, GungHo's popular mobile game "Puzzle & Dragons" is everywhere. Real goods, Books and Nintendo 3DS soft "Puzz-Dra Z". Today, GungHo and Square Enix announced that they developed an arcade game of Puzzle & Dragons "Puzzle and Doragons Battle Tournament". It operates in earnest in spring of 2014.

It has a complete new story unlike application version and Puzz-Dra Z. The game system is 3-match puzzles(This is the same). However, a totally new story, new monsters, an avatar function are added. Furthermore, players can do a tournament battle with 16 rivals by an online play function. The online battle is the important element of current Japanese arcade games. However, can players read a all story in short time? The worry is useless. They prepare IC card "NESiCA" for exclusive use of the arcade game. Players can save all data of the game using NESiCA.

This is 1 play 100 yen. They carry out a test in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka in December 13 - 15. Probably they will become prosperous.