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October 1999

Globalisation - Japanese Photo Stickers

By Sarah Leung

Another article from this beat:
The Right Tune - Appreciating Classical Music

In the past, no one could take photos without a camera while wandering about department stores. However, every-one can do it now because of photo sticker stations.  This photo sticker craze actually migrated from Japan some 3 years ago.

Miss Virginia Leung, an 18-year-old Form 7 student, likes taking photo stickers.

"Photo stickers keep all my beautiful and precious memories. And the price of photo stickers is not high," said she.

Miss Sophia Yuen, a 20-year-old in Japanese Studies at Hong Kong University, is another example.

Said she: "This entertainment gives my family and me joy.

"For example, I have taken photo stickers with my granny.  I stuck the stickers on her bag. We were both happy."

However, Mrs. Yuen, Sophia's mother, does not like taking photo stickers. Mrs. Yuen explained, "It is not worth wasting money on it.

"However, I will not stop my children from taking photo stickers unless they are too absorbed in it," said she.

Although not all people like this newly migrated twist in pop culture, photo sticker stations are gaining widespread popularity in the region.

It is not difficult to find photo sticker machines in shopping malls in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.

In fact, due to keen competition, photo sticker stations have gone through many changes in order to attract customers.

In the beginning, photo stickers only had simple backgrounds and frames.

Then, photo sticker stations that contained images of idols and pop stars arrived in Hong Kong.

Today, the latest ones can produce full-body photos and cards.

According to Prof. Ng Chun Hung of the Department of Sociology at Hong Kong University, youngsters like photo stickers for three reasons.

Said he: "The new generation has more pocket money, so they can afford more unnecessary entertainment.

"Moreover, youngsters are fond of cute things. Photo stickers are tailor-made for youngsters.

"Lastly, youngsters are impressed by the new technology, which allows people to take photos without cameras."

In fact, knowing how popular these photo sticker stations are, many distributors and shop owners in Hong Kong are investing money in these stations.

Miss Vera Hsu, managing director of Million Enterprise Ltd., is a good example. She started the business 3 years ago.

She said photo sticker stations blossomed in Hong Kong because of one basic economic rule: Where there is a demand, there is a supply.

Despite the keen competition, Miss Hsu said she is still confident in the business prospects.

Said she: "Our company will keep introducing new collections of photo sticker stations to Hong Kong."

However, the customers of those photo sticker stations seem to have a different view.

Miss Yuen, the Hong Kong University student, said, "Taking photo stickers is a kind of trendy culture. It will easily be replaced by new trends."

Many people are worried that these trends will hinder the development of Hong Kong culture.

Said Miss Yuen: "Hong Kong people only learn and acquire foreign cultures. They put little effort on developing Hong Kong culture."

However, Professor Ng said that apart from absorbing Japanese culture, Hong Kong people still preserve and develop their own culture.

Miss Leung, the Form 7 student, has similar view.

Said she: "Hong Kong culture is forced to upgrade itself. Otherwise, it will be replaced by foreign cultures and vanish."

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