In a move that could begin to break down the exclusive, obstructive and inefficient Japanese retail distribution system, Businessland Inc has won the support of four powerful local partners in its effort to get into the Japanese market. Fujitsu Ltd, Sony Corp and Canon Inc will each take 5% of the new subsidiary, and the major software and peripherals distributor Softbank Corp will take 26%, leaving Businessland with 54%. Businessland Japan Co Ltd will initially be capitalised at $20m and start with 14 employees and one outlet – in Tokyo. The target is 100 staff by year-end. It will carry products from all its investors, and also from IBM Japan, NCR Corp and NEC Corp, but not, initially, the Hewlett-Packard Co, Apple Computer Inc and Compaq Computer Corp kit carried in the US. The fact that Canon is an investor and that Businessland carries the NeXT Computer System in the US suggests it will take the NeXT Inc box in Japan: Canon is a NeXT investor.
