Core Viewpoint - Japanese companies are facing significant challenges in the Chinese market, leading to closures and exits from various sectors, but they are simultaneously increasing investments in high-end technology and local operations in China [4][22][29]. Group 1: Company Closures and Exits - Canon has closed its printer production base in Zhongshan, which was once a major manufacturing hub, reflecting a significant decline in its market presence [5]. - Nissan announced the closure of its Wuhan factory, which had a low production utilization rate of only 3%, leading to its acquisition by another company [6]. - Mitsubishi has completely exited the Chinese automotive market after over 40 years of operation, ceasing its vehicle production [6]. - Sony has officially withdrawn its Xperia smartphone business from China, indicating a strategic retreat from the market [6]. - Yakult closed its first factory in Guangzhou after experiencing a drastic drop in sales, with daily sales nearly halving compared to previous years [6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competition - The decline of Japanese brands in China is attributed to the rapid advancement of domestic brands, which have overtaken their Japanese counterparts in various sectors [11][12]. - Japanese companies have been slow to adapt to market changes, relying heavily on their brand reputation and quality, which has diminished due to various scandals [14][17]. - The local adaptation of Japanese companies has lagged, with many failing to incorporate local consumer preferences into their product offerings [19][20]. Group 3: Strategic Shifts and Investments - Despite the closures, Japanese investment in China has surged, with a 55.5% year-on-year increase in the first three quarters of this year, leading all countries [23]. - Companies like Toyota are making significant investments in high-end technology, such as establishing a wholly-owned electric vehicle company in Shanghai [24]. - Panasonic is investing in semiconductor packaging materials in Shanghai, indicating a strategic focus on critical supply chains amid global competition [28]. - The overall trend shows a "K-shaped differentiation," where low-end capacities are exiting while high-end investments are increasing, reflecting a strategic shift in how Japanese companies view the Chinese market [29].

没那么简单。 这两年，很多日企传出关停、倒闭的消息。有人说，日本制造，是不是在拼命撤出中国？ 1 日本企业，日子似乎不好过。 就在11月，佳能关闭了中山打印机生产基地，让不少网友唏嘘"一代人的青春结束了"。 要知道，曾经在中山佳能工厂上班被视为"金饭碗"，食堂3元管饱，免费宿舍，空调随便吹，求职者排长队入职，高峰期员工上万，生产上 亿台激光打印机，2022年还实现工业总产值近32亿。 可现在，这家工厂生产的佳能打印机，完全失守国内市场，只能撤退了。最高补偿2.5N+1，有人晒出拿到手40万，传遍全网。 佳能只是一个缩影。 ——今年4月，日产汽车宣布将于明年3月31日前关停武汉汽车工厂。7月，该工厂被岚图汽车以7.32亿元收购。 要知道，这座投资数十亿的汽车工厂，2022年才投产，计划年产30万辆。没想到车子卖不动，年产量长期不足1万辆，产能利用率低到只有 3%，闲置生产线成了吞噬企业现金流的"黑洞"。 ——今年7月，三菱汽车终止了和沈阳航天的发动机合资项目。早在2023年，三菱就已经停止了在华的整车生产。在华深耕了四十多年的三 菱，彻底退出了中国汽车制造的舞台。 ——今年8月，索尼Xperia官方微信公众号注 ...

没有一句再见。 索尼手机，这回真凉了！ 功能手机时代，索尼爱立信曾是无数年轻人的梦中情机。 K750i、W800、C905这些产品曾风靡一时，几乎是潮流的代名词。 可惜，当智能化浪潮来袭，索尼手机没有跟上时代的脚步，又卷不过国产手机的高性价比，曾经那个年 轻白领最爱的索尼手机就此逐渐成为了过往。 没有发布会、没有告别信、没有最后一款纪念机型。一夜之间，官网关了，公众号注销了，微博停更 了，一切都静悄悄。 参保人数从600多人也减少到了个位数，曾誓做安卓第一的索尼手机，如今却悄无声息地退出了中国市 场。 卷不过国产，跟不上时代。 在中国这个全球竞争最激烈的智能手机市场，索尼手机的退场更显凄凉。 在全球市场，一代日本神机也在逐渐坠落。 因为，市场从不怀旧，它只前行向上。 01 一代神机，败退中国。 近日不少媒体发现，索尼Xperia的官方微信公众号已于11月初进入注销流程，"停止使用"的灰色提示成 为其在华业务落幕的注脚，变相宣告了索尼手机业务正式退出中国市场。 事实上，索尼Xperia在更早之前的专属域名因业务调整被停止使用并失效，官方微博最后一条动态也停 留在了9个月前，索尼中国官网更是移除了"手机"产品分类 ...

Core Viewpoint - Sony Mobile has quietly exited the Chinese market, marking the end of its presence without any formal announcement or farewell [5][12][11]. Group 1: Market Performance - Sony Mobile's market share in China has dwindled to less than 0.1% in 2023, relegating it to the "others" category [12]. - The official WeChat account of Sony Xperia entered the cancellation process in early November, signaling the closure of its operations in China [5][12]. - The last update on Sony's official Weibo account was nine months ago, and the Chinese website has removed the mobile product category entirely [8][12]. Group 2: Historical Context - Sony Ericsson was once a leading player in the mobile phone market, achieving a peak sales figure of 103 million units in 2007, second only to Nokia and Samsung [17]. - The launch of the Xperia series in 2008 marked a shift, but subsequent models struggled due to delayed releases and quality issues [18][21]. - By 2014, Sony's global market share had plummeted to just 2%, unable to compete with emerging brands like Xiaomi and Huawei [23]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The rise of domestic brands offering high cost-performance ratios has overshadowed Sony's offerings, which failed to adapt to changing consumer preferences [28]. - Sony's focus on industrial design and high-end features did not resonate with Chinese consumers, who preferred more practical and localized options [27][28]. - The competitive landscape has shifted dramatically, with brands like Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo dominating the market [28]. Group 4: Broader Implications - The exit of Sony Mobile reflects a broader trend of Japanese companies struggling in the Chinese market, where local brands have gained significant ground [29]. - The decline of Sony Mobile symbolizes the end of an era for niche brands in the face of mass-market competition [35].

Core Viewpoint - Sony's television and mobile phone businesses are facing significant challenges in the Chinese market, with declining market share and increasing customer complaints regarding product quality and service issues [1][10][15]. Television Business - Sony's market share in the Chinese television market has dropped to below 5% in 2024, with each of the four major foreign brands averaging around 1.25% [1][6]. - Customer complaints highlight a quality crisis, with reports of multiple models experiencing sound output failures shortly after the warranty period [2][5]. - The XR-65X90J model, launched in 2021, has been particularly criticized for a mainboard failure that requires costly repairs, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among users [2][5]. - The overall reputation of Sony televisions has declined, with a significant number of complaints on various platforms indicating systemic quality issues [2][5][10]. - Industry experts suggest that Sony needs to acknowledge these issues, improve customer service, and consider extending warranty periods to regain consumer trust [5][10][11]. Mobile Phone Business - Sony's mobile phone brand, Xperia, has officially exited the Chinese market, with the cancellation of its official WeChat account and the cessation of new product launches since September 2023 [13][15]. - The decline of Sony's mobile business mirrors that of its television segment, as it has struggled to compete against domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, which offer superior technology and user experience [10][11][13]. - Sony's previous strong position in the mobile market has eroded, leading to its classification as a niche player with no new models introduced in recent years [10][13]. Financial Performance - Sony's financial report for Q2 FY25 indicates strong growth in its music, imaging, and gaming sectors, but the television and mobile divisions are categorized under "other businesses," which are experiencing revenue declines and net losses [14][15]. - The overall performance of Sony's television business is at risk of further deterioration if quality and customer satisfaction issues are not addressed [15].

Core Viewpoint - Sony has decided to exit the smartphone market in mainland China, marking the end of its mobile phone era in the region after over a decade of presence [3][10]. Group 1: Historical Context - Sony's journey began in 1946 with a startup capital of 190,000 yen, evolving into a technology empire known for innovations like the first transistor radio and the Walkman [5][6]. - The Xperia brand was established in collaboration with Ericsson in 2001, achieving significant market share in the early 2010s [8]. Group 2: Market Performance - From 2015 to 2019, Sony's global smartphone sales plummeted from approximately 25 million units to just over 3 million units, a staggering decline of 88% [10]. - The last model released in China was the Xperia 5 V in September 2023, with subsequent models not being launched in the market [10]. Group 3: Strategic Shift - Sony's exit from the smartphone market is part of a broader strategic realignment, focusing on core businesses such as gaming, music, and film, which account for over 60% of its consolidated sales revenue [14][16]. - The company has been reallocating resources away from underperforming sectors like mobile phones to enhance its competitive edge in more profitable areas [14][16]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - Despite having advanced technology, Sony's smartphones struggled due to high prices and a lack of localization, leading to a minimal market share in China [16][17]. - The competitive landscape in the Chinese smartphone market is fierce, with local brands dominating and Sony's offerings being relegated to a niche status [17]. Group 5: Future Directions - Sony continues to supply key sensors to major smartphone manufacturers and is exploring new applications in sectors like automotive technology, indicating a shift towards B2B opportunities [17].

Core Viewpoint - Sony's mobile phone business in China has effectively ended, marked by the shutdown of its official WeChat account and the removal of its product listings, following a significant decline in market share and sales performance [5][7][9]. Group 1: Business Operations - Sony's official WeChat account for Xperia was shut down in November 2025, indicating the end of its mobile operations in China [7]. - The last new model launched in China was the Xperia 5V in September 2023, with no subsequent models released [7][9]. - Sony's market share in China's smartphone sector fell below 0.1% as of 2023, categorizing it as "other" in IDC's report [9]. Group 2: Historical Context - Sony's mobile phone success peaked during the Sony Ericsson era, with annual sales exceeding 100 million units, driven by popular products like the Walkman and Cyber-shot series [9]. - After acquiring Ericsson's shares in 2012, Sony's mobile division began a prolonged decline, struggling to compete with the rise of the iPhone and other smartphone innovations [9][10]. - By 2018, global sales plummeted to 1.6 million units, with significant financial losses reported in its mobile communications segment [10]. Group 3: Strategic Missteps - Sony's rigid adherence to a "hardware-driven" philosophy led to a disconnect with market demands, focusing on technical specifications over software services [15]. - The company's strategic misjudgments, particularly in display technology, contributed to its loss of market leadership in consumer electronics [15]. - Despite a strong presence in audio and gaming, Sony's television and mobile divisions are struggling, with market shares dwindling significantly [15][16]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Sony is reportedly planning to release two new Android models, the Xperia 1 VIII and Xperia 10 VIII, in 2026, despite its retreat from the Chinese market [17]. - Any potential return to the Chinese market would require a fundamentally different approach, integrating its strengths in audio, gaming, and sensors rather than relying solely on hardware [18].

Core Insights - Sony's Xperia brand has officially ceased operations in China, marking a significant retreat from the market after years of declining performance [1][3] - The decision to shut down the brand is attributed to long-standing issues with market adaptation and competition from local brands [3][12] Historical Context - Sony's mobile division was once highly regarded in China, particularly during the Sony Ericsson era from 2005 to 2010, when it was popular among young consumers [4] - The introduction of the Xperia brand initially saw success, with notable models like the Xperia Arc and Xperia Z series gaining traction [6][9] - However, by 2016-2018, local competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi began to dominate the market, leading to a decline in Sony's market share [9][10] Market Performance - Sony's smartphone market share in China has dwindled to less than 0.1% as of 2023, reflecting its inability to compete effectively [12] - The brand's focus on niche features and high pricing has alienated mainstream consumers, contributing to its decline [10][12] Strategic Missteps - Despite the "One Sony" strategy aimed at leveraging synergies across its various business units, the mobile division failed to capitalize on these resources effectively [14][16] - Sony's lack of software support and local market adaptation has been a critical factor in its failure to resonate with Chinese consumers [16][19] Future Outlook - Sony's mobile division is no longer seen as a profitable business but rather as a platform for testing new imaging technologies [20] - The increasing collaboration between Sony's imaging business and Chinese brands raises concerns about the future viability of the Xperia brand [22]

Core Viewpoint - Xiaomi's "street shooting mode" feature has raised privacy concerns due to its potential misuse for covert photography, leading to widespread discussions on social media [1][9]. Feature History - The "black screen shooting" function was introduced with Xiaomi's MIUI 8 system in 2016 but was removed six years later [2]. - Starting from MIUI 11 in 2019, Xiaomi added a shutter sound to the "street shooting mode" for privacy reasons and eliminated the video recording capability in that mode [3]. - By the end of 2022, MIUI 14 completely removed the "black screen shooting" feature, retaining only the ability to quickly launch the camera while the screen is on [5][6]. User Experience and Concerns - Despite the removal of the black screen shooting function, concerns about "covert photography" persist [9]. - A tutorial for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra demonstrated that the "street shooting mode" could still capture images quickly, raising further privacy issues [10][11]. - User comments reflect a mix of humor and concern regarding the potential for misuse of the feature, particularly among female users [13]. Broader Context of Privacy Issues - The issue of covert photography has historical roots, with past controversies surrounding silent cameras and their impact on privacy [15][18]. - Similar privacy regulations have been implemented in other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, mandating that cameras must emit sound when taking photos [18]. - The discussion extends to other technologies, such as Google Glass, which faced backlash for privacy concerns due to its discreet nature [19][20]. Ethical Considerations - The debate highlights a fundamental question about the boundaries of technology and the responsibilities of tech companies in designing products that consider user privacy [22][23].