New digital maps for Japan
Friday May 30th 2008
Filed Under GfK GeoMarketing
Bruchsal, May 30, 2008
New digital maps for Japan
GfK GeoMarketing recently released 16 new digital maps for Japan. These offer internationally active companies a reliable basis for geomarketing – i.e., the analysis of the Japanese market with respect to region-specific criteria.
GfK GeoMarketing recently updated and expanded its digital map set for Japan. The revised map set includes, for the first time, a map with coverage of the country’s approximately 950 three-digit postal code districts as well as a map featuring 10,000 city points. Together the maps comprise the most comprehensive digital map set available for postal and administrative districts in Japan. The map set is available in all common data formats and includes Japanese and international name attributions.
Digital postal code maps provide companies with a solid foundation for sales territory and expansion planning. In conjunction with a geomarketing software application, the maps allow companies to visualize their company and market data through the use of the postcodes associated with this information. This straightforward but powerful technique gives companies the ability to reveal their customer distribution, branch location turnover volume and market potential on insight-generating digital maps.
Due to frequently changing postal and administrative boundaries, up-to-date data and accurate maps are required in order to carry out this process successfully. For example, Japan’s municipal boundaries have undergone numerous reforms in recent years. Since the year 2000, the number of municipalities has almost halved to the current count of 1,983 (as of 1.1.2008). The revised administrative map for Japan reflects these changes.
The city maps have also been completely revised and expanded: featuring more than 10,000 city points depicted according to the number of inhabitants, these maps provide an ideal orientation tool. New additions to the revised map set for Japan include maps of the rail network, airports and elevation levels.
Particularly notable is the map set’s increased level of detail: all of GfK GeoMarketing’s maps are vector-based, meaning that they allow limitless zooming. As a result, the achievable detail for many locations is comparable to a traditional printed map at a scale of 1:50,000. This level of detail is a prerequisite for using the maps in other digital environments.
“The superb level of detail that characterizes the Japan map set is particularly apparent when viewing the coastlines,” says Klaus Dittmann, director of GfK GeoMarketing’s cartography division. “Satellite imagery was used as a basis for all of the new maps, allowing for an optimal level of detail and precision.”
“In conjunction with a geomarketing software application, digital maps featuring postcode and administrative boundaries constitute one of the most important tools for a company’s planning, controlling and sales needs, particularly in an international context,” adds Wolfram Scholz, managing director of GfK GeoMarketing. “Worldwide sales territories can only be accurately visualized, planned or optimized with the help of precise, up-to-date and high-quality digital maps as well as a high-performing geomarketing software application. The new map set for Japan provides our customers with an immensely reliable and up-to-date foundation for achieving success in this important market.”
You can find further information on the digital maps for Japan at
www.gfk-geomarketing.com/japan.
Downloads
Print-quality graphs and illustrations can be downloaded at
>> 
www.gfk-geomarketing.com/japan maps (approx. 68 KB)
>> 
Download press release
www.gfk-geomarketing.com/press/pdf_pr/japan2008.pdf (approx. 68 KB)
About GfK GeoMarketing
GfK GeoMarketing is one of Europe’s largest providers of geomarketing solutions for customers from all branches of trade. Its services include:
Consultancy and reports 
Market Data
Digital Maps
RegioGraph and 
DISTRICT geomarketing software solutions
The company is a subsidiary of the international GfK network. Ranked among the world’s top 5 market research organizations, the GfK Group consists of 115 subsidiaries and approx. 9,000 employees, with operations in more than 100 countries.
More information on GfK GeoMarketing:
www.gfk-geomarketing.com
The GfK GeoMarketing press newsletter is published by:
GfK GeoMarketing GmbH,
Germany
www.gfk-geomarketing.com
Press Information:
Ms. Cornelia Lichtner
Public Relations
Tel. +49 (0)7251 9295 270
Fax +49 (0)7251 9295 290
c.lichtner@gfk-geomarketing.com
Management Board: Raimund Ellrott, Olaf Petersen, Wolfram Scholz, Dr. Eberhard Stegner
Amtsgericht Mannheim, HRB 250872