Japanese gadget connoisseurs go frugal

As products from toasters to laptops carry increasingly similar components and special features - and as consumers increasingly seek bargains - price is becoming as important a distinction among electronics in Japan as it is in most countries.

Lesser-known manufacturers, which have seen success around the world for years, are finally cutting into the sales of homegrown electronics powerhouses like Sony and Panasonic. Opportunities are opening here for retailers catering to consumers who are comfortable seeing electronics as commodities.

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