First off - I have no idea who these people are in that picture, but look how happy they are?? You think they had to wait in line for that 360? I doubt it.

Everybody knows that the 360 is struggggglin' in Japan but the question remains, why? I, Anthony Sarni could offer up a couple answers for you but let's be honest...you probably shouldn't believe anything I tell you.

BusinessWeek on the other hand, knows their stuff. They put together a very nice little article entitled, "Why Xbox 360 Isn't Playing Well in Japan" and I must say, for a bunch of suits - it's not a bad article. Most definitely worth checking out if you want a few good reasons why the 360 isn't "playing well" across the Pacific.

---

Here's a quick little excerpt from the article:

To get an idea of what's ailing the Xbox 360 in Japan, look around the Internet and check out the video game blogs. There, you'll find a litany of complaints directed against Microsoft's next-generation game console. The Xbox-bashing ranges from the machine's perceived uninspiring design to the overall scarcity of enticing must-have game titles to date. It's hardly the sort of word-of-mouth buzz the software titan would have hoped for some four months after releasing its new, souped-up game machine amid great fanfare in Japan.

Even Microsoft officials in Japan concede the Xbox 360 rollout has been less than stellar in Japan. "It wasn't a great lift-off," says Microsoft spokesman Yasuyuki Saito. Although a poor showing in Japan won't be a total disaster, since the Xbox is doing well in the U.S. and Europe, the market is one of the most competitive and critical in the $25 billion global game industry.

Since its launch in early December, the console has sold roughly 123,000 units, less than double the 62,135 that stores sold in the new machine's opening weekend, according to industry research firm Enterbrain. Compare that to the 123,000 units the first Xbox sold in the first three days of its launch in Japan in 2002, and you get an idea of just how disappointing sales have been.

"The Xbox 360 is not attractive... it's big and heavy," says Ichiro Ookawa, manager at Sofmap, an electronics retailer in Tokyo's Akihabara district. Because the consoles aren't selling, software makers have been slow to release new titles. "It's a vicious cycle," adds Ookawa.

---

You know, I absolutely love that point that Ichiro made - forget about games and everything else...the 360 isn't selling because of the styling. Japanese are all about small, sleek, sexy devices...not this white godzilla.

Microsoft so totally doesn't get Japan.

Oh, and by the way, check out the full BusinessWeek article here.

Props to Xbox-Scene on the story.