「コト消費」

English translation: "Coto" consumption, "experiential" consumption

16:28 Jun 11, 2010
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Retail
Japanese term or phrase: 「コト消費」
Does anyone know if there is a generally accepted translation for the above term?

I tried "value-based consumption" and (the unwieldy) "consumption of intangible qualities."

Thanks for your assistance!
avaaid
Local time: 01:00
English translation:"Coto" consumption, "experiential" consumption
Explanation:
This is an emerging consumption behavior where the consumer seeks value in experiences, entertaining aspects and story-lines through a product he or she purchases rather than getting pleasure out of merely possessing said product. There is no perfect one-word English translation of this, and so it's written as "coto" consumption.
商品の所有よりも,娯楽性・体験性・物語性などに価値を求める消費行動。コト消費 vs. モノ消費として記述されている。

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Note added at 38 mins (2010-06-11 17:06:36 GMT)
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Avaaid-san. If you check some search engines, it's described as "coto" and not "koto" for some reason. Your "consumption of intangible values" sounds really good though, and so you might add that as part of your notation somewhere in your translation. Fumipi829
Selected response from:

fumipi829
Local time: 00:00
Grading comment
Thank you very much. In the end, I went with "koto consumption" (consumption based on intangible qualities).
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4"Coto" consumption, "experiential" consumption
fumipi829
2pursue a better (or improved) quality of life (rather than material possessions)
izziS
Summary of reference entries provided
FYI
cinefil

  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
pursue a better (or improved) quality of life (rather than material possessions)


Explanation:
I am not sure if there is any standard translation. However, I think, 「コト消費」 means the lifestyle that one pursues a better quality of life. In contrast, 「モノ消費」 means the lifestyle that one pursues material possessions. Hopefully, somebody else can come up with a more concise translation.

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Note added at 29 mins (2010-06-11 16:57:36 GMT)
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Another thought. Depending of the context, you may write "pursue quality, not quantity"

izziS
United States
Local time: 02:00
Native speaker of: Japanese
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, izziS-san. I found this dictionary entry, which jives with what you say, and which also lead me to use "values-based": http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn/234648/m0u/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%88%E6%B6%88%E8%B2%BB/

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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"Coto" consumption, "experiential" consumption


Explanation:
This is an emerging consumption behavior where the consumer seeks value in experiences, entertaining aspects and story-lines through a product he or she purchases rather than getting pleasure out of merely possessing said product. There is no perfect one-word English translation of this, and so it's written as "coto" consumption.
商品の所有よりも,娯楽性・体験性・物語性などに価値を求める消費行動。コト消費 vs. モノ消費として記述されている。

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 38 mins (2010-06-11 17:06:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Avaaid-san. If you check some search engines, it's described as "coto" and not "koto" for some reason. Your "consumption of intangible values" sounds really good though, and so you might add that as part of your notation somewhere in your translation. Fumipi829


fumipi829
Local time: 00:00
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Thank you very much. In the end, I went with "koto consumption" (consumption based on intangible qualities).
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, fumipi829-san. Perhaps the solution is to write: "koto consumption" (consumption of intangible values).

Asker: Oops. I meant to write "koto consumption" (consumption based on intangible qualities).

Asker: Thank you for the note about "coto" and the feedback, fumipi829-san. Your input is most helpful.

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Reference comments


10 hrs
Reference: FYI

Reference information:
The structure of the environment in which we operate
continues to evolve due to factors such as the changes in
the labor market and in household composition resulting
from a declining birthrate and an aging society, the
increase and diversification of consumer services as
evidenced by the recent popularity of catch phrases such as
“tangible to intangible” and “long tail,” and the ongoing
trend toward greater individuality.
http://www.jasdaq.co.jp/files/ir/JP3245400001/tool/200405131...

cinefil
Japan
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 16
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thank you, cinefil-san!

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