New figures have shown demand for tablets in Japan has more than doubled in 2012 from the previous year.
Although Japan’s technology scene is synonymous with the use of smartphones and handhelds gaming systems, data released by the Tokyo-based MM Research Institute has shown the number of tablets shipped has jumped from under three million to 5.68 million, according to Pocket Gamer.
More than 50 per cent of all tablet sales in the far-eastern country were for different models of the Apple iPad, which has been met with continued success across multiple world economies.
Other manufacturers, including ASUS, Amazon, Samsung and NEC, split the rest of the market relatively evenly – with Google Android devices particularly popular among Japanese consumers.
This jump in tablet sales comes as PC sales continue to drop, with only 11.15 million units shipped – down 1.1 per cent year on year.
MM Research predicts the Japanese tablet market will increase to 9.5 million by 2015, with sales expected to rise above PC shipments within three years.