Being based in Japan, it’s quite apparent the spread of iPhones and Xperias in the land. Several years ago, a market study by Counterpoint even made the suspicion even more visible. This week the country’s big three carriers publically announced their Summer 2016 products. While the lack of Samsung products might be perfectly on par for course here, the lack of the HTC 10 and the LG G5 – in any permutation – is a bit more surprising.

Here’s NTT docomo:

Note that just a single variant of the Xperia X will be released: the Performance. Aquos is a phone by Sharp, Arrows by Fujitsu, and the Disney Mobile by an unknown OEM, likely Fujitsu.

Softbank (owner of Sprint):

Just three phones were announced, the Xperia X Performance, a Sharp Aquos device – no Aquos Crystal follow up though – and a Digno device, made by Kyocera. For reference, Softbank released the Galaxy S6 Edge several weeks after NTT docomo and KDDI au last year, so it is still a possible product.

And finally, KDDI au:

Two devices here, the Galaxy S7 Edge and the Xperia X Performance.

MIA: The Galaxy Galaxy S7

While the Galaxy S7 Edge is going to release in just a few days here in Japan, the Galaxy S7 (standard) is not being carried by any carrier. This seems like a logical progression given that the Galaxy S6 (standard) was only sold by NTT docomo, while all the major mobile service providers offered the S6 Edge.

What is curious is the indication that Samsung – or Galaxy as the company has chosen to call itself here – actually had the device advertised on its website for a few months. Originally, the website had only the S7 Edge complete with the “Galaxy” logo branding on the phone, then it was changed to the international design with the S7 included, and with “Samsung” logo branding. It has now essentially revered back to the original form, pictured below:

MIA: The LG G5

No G5 for Japan!

Truth be told, there has not been an LG G-series offering sold in Japan since NTT docomo offered the G2 back in 2013. Instead, the product has been stripped of its “G” moniker and converted to a more Japan-specific model, known as the ISAI. Indeed last year saw the release of the G4 re-branded as the isai Vivid. This year however – at least for now – it seems that LG will not be producing a single smartphone for the summer season.

Perhaps it makes sense, as the company is seemingly having enough trouble getting its modular flagship made properly based on reports from users. Introducing a model modified for Japan would be even more work. Aside from that, anything LG would ostensibly release at this point would just be a rehash of the G4/isai Vivid.

MIA: The HTC 10

The HTC 10 (Red) was supposed to be an exclusive for Japan. And yet…

It was expected that the HTC 10 would release in Japan, especially given a leak that suggested KDDI au was going to be the exclusive carrier of the red color variant. And yet, the new summer season’s products have been posted and not a single HTC model has been added. Softbank had originally sold the HTC Desire and HTC Desire HD ages ago, but has long since stopped carrying HTC products. NTT docomo has never carried an HTC-branded smartphone.

Of course it’s quite possible that HTC could hold a special unveiling event in Japan within the next few weeks, and thus all hope should not be cast out just yet.

Picture of a (domestic) problem

Arguably the issue here seems to be that Japan’s mobile market has seen arguably the most dramatic change of pace in ages. Whereas carriers have made it a point to have numerous products to push twice a year, this summer will see some seriously slim pickings. This is arguably the result of two distinct major factors going on:

1. SIM Free phones have become widely available at stores around the country. Everywhere from giant electronics retailers to even supermarkets are now selling SIM free phones and MVNO contracts. Asus has a wide assortment of products, as does Huawei. These devices are significantly cheaper than carrier devices, which can often cost 90,000 yen (roughly $890).
2. Many Japanese OEMs have bowed out from the smartphone maketplace. Panasonic and NEC have both ceased making devices for all intents and purposes. Mitsubishi stopped back in the feature phone days.
3. Sharp, which has always supplied numerous variants of its Aquos models in a single cycle, is being purchased by Taiwan’s Foxconn. It would be safe to assume it’s spending ways are being plugged to stop hemorrhaging cash.
4. Sony has opted to release but a single X product, suggesting perhaps the variations of the Z5 last year were not well received.

Another aspect of the situation is that Japan’s custom of having mobile phone carriers launch new products twice a year does not mesh well with the approaches being used by Apple, Samsung, HTC, and various other companies. With Apple and Samsung in particular, these OEMs have enough clout to seemingly supersede the wishes of carriers, especially here in Japan where companies like NTT docomo have allegedly lorded over the manufacturers with an “iron fist”. In turn this has resulted in carriers announcing products at points decidedly different from their typical “Summer” and “Winter” product schedules.

This is exactly why it is still possible that the HTC 10 could be launched here at a later date, presumably more of HTC’s liking. Or, it could be sold by HTC itself, directly, without any carrier affiliation whatsoever.

Wrap Up

About a decade ago, it would be absolutely unthinkable to utter the phrase “wow, there are so few options in Japan” with respect to phones. The country led the world with feature phones and the myriad number of abilities and accessories they had. Yet now, when OEMs from countries like Korea and China are dominating the industry, Japan has found itself in a rather curious situation. Indeed for those who care, importing from other countries has never looked better.

What do you think? Are you surprised by the situation?