A Tokyo-based research company, Impress R&D, released a study this week that shows that the iPhone has taken the top spot in the Japanese smartphone market.  Between the iPhone3G and the iPhone 3GS, Apple mounts the hill to take the throne as King of the Mountain with a staggering 46% of the market after it’s debut in 2008.

This is big news since it is said that the Japanese market is a hard one to crack, as they tend to be quite resistant to newcomers, especially those from Western markets.  The former title-holder is the Sharp WillCOM W-Zero 3 Advance.  It held the title in 2007 and 2008, and now it is in the third spot.  It seems as thought the ease of use of the iPhone has opened the Japanese market wide open.  From the reviews that I have read about other Japanese smartphones, it seems as though the phones are harder to use than Chinese algebra.

Good job guys!  The mobile carrier that is providing the iPhone in Japan is pushing the phone pretty hard on the advertising front.  Constant exposure on television, and print ads in major media will do the it’s part to get front of the mind recognition, and then a very competitive pricing plan gets devices in pockets.

This is the device that came after the iPhones in Japan.  Would you rather have your iPhone, or this?