The Japanese had issues on their mind in February similar to U.S. Web users, according to comScore. Valentine's Day prompted growth in the retail-food and fragrances/cosmetics categories as women sent
gifts to men to celebrate the holiday, while the government category grew as people prepared for tax season.
Mozilla was the fastest-growing site in Japan, as it was in many
countries around the world, due to the release of their updated Firefox browser. Traditionally, February is a month when many musicians release new albums in Japan, leading several music information
sites to experience increases, including Utapmap.com, Oricon.co.jp, and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Yahoo Sites continued their strong lead as the top Web property in the Japanese market.
"Valentine's Day has traditionally been celebrated in Japan with the women giving men gifts--especially chocolates, a practice that is slightly different from other parts of the world," said Maru
Sato, managing director of comScore Japan.
--Tanya Irwin