It’s commonly known that a business formula can’t be applied to different markets with equal satisfactory results, corporations have to retools its strategies and get to know the market, each and every one, understand how to reach its people and provide custom solutions. Something similar is what Apple has to do in order to get the iPhone to the masses in Japan.

According to a survey by iSHARE, 91.0% of Japanese mobile phone users are not planning to purchase iPhone, while the iphone enjoys an enormous popularity worldwide, Japan will test Apple and Softbank ability to put the mobile device in the hands of thousands of japaneses, Softbank is the premier iphone reseller in Japan and the third bigger mobile phone operator in that country.

Softbank will have to put all its energy to reach the 91% of mobile phone users that don’t plan to buy an iphone, convince them that the iphone is the most revolutionary mobile device that they will see for years (in a country where children love their Tamagotchi and electronic gadgets is the rule) this is a hard road to transit for the iPhone and if Apple doesn’t provide the japaneses with tools and services tailored to meets their japaneses expectations, then there is nothing for Apple in Japan.

The formula could be the same, but the package needs to be changed and adapted, cut what isn’t worth it and bake it with more japanese flavors, Apple can’t make any mistake with the iPhone in Japan, rivals are on hold with new mobile phones with more features and better business and cultural strategies.