Why crowdfunding in Japan looks so different from the West

Why crowdfunding in Japan looks so different from the West

Crowdfunding in Japan is booming — but not in the way many overseas users or serial backers might expect. While market leaders Kickstarter and Indiegogo began as scrappy playgrounds for indie inventors and garage-tinkering dreamers, Japan’s major platforms have long favored polished products, big brand names and risk-free innovation. Product…