The Japan-Related Web: Innovators and Imitators
By billywest • Jul 16th, 2008 • Category: Featured Story, The Latest
When searching the Japan-related web, you’re likely to find a wealth of interesting sites and blogs. For a long time, though, it was difficult to find one source that linked together the best (and sometimes not) in Japan news, blogs, travel info…etc.
Then came along JapanSoc, a wonderful Japan social-networking site created by webmaster Nick Ramsay. Many who publish their own Japan blogs, or are interested in all things Japan-related on the web flocked to the site and put it to good use. Today, it’s still the best place to post and find Japan-related stuff on the web.
But, with great ideas you get imitators. They pale in comparison to innovators, but sometimes they have the clout to bully the competition. And yes, JapanSoc has an imitator. You might say, hey, it’s a free market; let it happen. That’s true, but you can always support the best. And, without a doubt, JapanSoc is the best Japan social-networking site out there.
So, support JapanSoc! Don’t support its imitators if they don’t bring anything useful or original to the table.
That is all.
billywest is a resident of South Tokyo and lives on the Toyoko line.
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Support JapanSoc!…
The title says it all….
Imitator? Who? I understand you don’t want to give any free advertising, but can you give a hint?
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Go to JapanSoc and look up the post titled, “JapanSoc Has a Rival!”
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Cheers Billy. I hope everyone benefits from JapanSoc!
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Nice work Billy … i am interested to see how this goes for both though, seeing as the new arrival has substantial traffic they can promote with.
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Yeah, the other site does seem like it has a built-in audience.
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Since JapanSoc is simply a clone of digg.com with the difference that it is targeted at articles about Japan, I don’t really see the problem with other people doing the same thing. The other site does indeed seem very similar (e.g. the same page names), but I think that is due to the use of the same social news software (Pligg) to power it.
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I don’t think it’s that simple. The brilliance of JapanSoc is that it focuses on the Japan side of social networking, bookmarking, and blogging. That’s what sets it apart. The new site is just focusing on the same field that JapanSoc is, and that can hardly be called brilliant, or even clever. Basically, it’s a site that has a built-in audience that may be large enough to give it enough steam to overshadow the site it was copied from. If we’re talking pure business here, well, I guess that’s what happens in the dog eat dog world we live in.
Now, if the new site improves to the point to where it’s better than JapanSoc, there’ll be something to be said for that.
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i see no reason to stray from Japansoc
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I think we can already see both sites going in different directions, or at least I hope they are. JNJ seems focused on news articles, with rapid updates that should please news junkies. With its ready-made audience, JNJ is likely to do very well as a news site. JapanSoc, on the other hand, is first and foremost a social bookmarking site for bloggers and their readers. Beyond providing a platform for bloggers to showcase their articles, I’d like JapanSoc to play an even bigger role in connecting expats in Japan, and that’s why I’ve set up the JapanSoc Community Blog and am reviving the Japan Blog Matsuri.
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Wow, I am glad that you are running Japansoc Nick because you “get it”.
The Japan-related web is not about competition. It is about how great a resource we can create. each in his own niche. all collaborating.
sure things don’t always work out that way but one has to try
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