Special Project Page
For more details, visit the dedicated page: https://kakaku.com/hikaku/
First Project: Thorough Comparison of Smartphones Around 100,000 Yen
The inaugural project focuses on smartphones, an essential part of modern life. Titled “Thorough Comparison of Smartphones Around 100,000 Yen in Summer 2026!”, it scrutinizes eight popular, recently available models within the 50,000 to 100,000 yen price range. Comprehensive verification was conducted across multiple categories, including processing performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and body design.
Background of “Hikaku Research Institute” Establishment
As consumer needs for careful evaluation of products and services grow amid rising prices, individuals face limitations in purchasing and comparing multiple items. Furthermore, with the proliferation of generative AI, the efficient organization of “secondary information”—such as instantly aggregated and summarized online data—has become readily accessible. However, such data summaries often fail to capture the “real feeling” that comes from actually using a product or service extensively.
In this AI era, the thorough comparison by humans using their five senses and the “primary information” obtainable only through proprietary verification are considered more crucial than ever. With the mission to “make shopping comparison a habit,” this project was launched as an entity that conducts thorough comparisons on behalf of consumers.
Overview of the Project
The project covers a wide range of items, including digital devices like smartphones and PCs, home appliances, and services such as internet providers and insurance. The evaluations go beyond mere side-by-side comparisons of catalog information. The researchers primarily purchase and use the products themselves, conducting independent verifications and comparisons without any bias towards manufacturers. Through tests in dedicated lab rooms, professional researchers will evaluate products from multiple perspectives, using standardized verification criteria and independently defined viewpoints, and widely disseminate the results.
“Shopping Professionals” Leading the Verification
The “Hikaku Research Institute” employs professionals with over two decades of expertise cultivated at Kakaku.com as researchers for thorough comparisons. The leader of this initiative is Takeshi Kamata, who has been involved in Kakaku.com’s operations for over 20 years and holds a comprehensive home appliance advisor qualification. Kamata and his team, comprising media editing veterans and former electronics retail store staff, are “shopping professionals” with deep knowledge in various genres, meticulously assessing products and services.
Key Features
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Independence: Unbiased Evaluations, Including Disadvantages
Official information like catalogs primarily highlights the appeal of products and services. However, the Hikaku Research Institute, which operates on the principle of self-funded purchases, openly shares the disadvantages and points of caution discovered through extensive actual use. This approach aims to minimize the risk of regrettable purchases and provide a satisfying shopping experience. -
Thorough “Consumer Perspective” and Transparency: Disclosure of Unique Verification Processes and Evaluations
The institute maintains a user-centric perspective, striving for transparency by making verification methods and processes as open as possible. It aims to uncover “hidden qualities and brilliance” with human-specific nuanced observations that AI-driven summaries might miss. -
Publication of “Hikaku White Paper” and Recruitment of Research Partners
Looking ahead, the project plans to publish a report titled “Hikaku White Paper,” summarizing the value of comparisons and key points to consider. Concurrently, the institute is actively seeking “research partners”—researchers, academic institutions, and companies—who can provide specialized knowledge and research data related to consumer behavior and product evaluation.Contact for inquiries: https://help.kakaku.com/contact/hikakuken.html
Dissemination Channels
The verification results and activities of this project will be disseminated through the following media:
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YouTube: Easily understandable videos of purchased, utilized, and compared products and services.
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note: Detailed verification processes and niche perspectives not fully conveyable in videos will be published as articles.
Kakaku.com will continue to enrich content in various lifestyle domains to support a richer daily life.
About Kakaku.com
Kakaku.com is a purchasing support website with the concept of “‘Glad I bought it’ for everyone.” It aggregates prices, specifications, reviews, and testimonials across various lifestyle categories, including PCs, home appliances, smartphones, interior goods, fashion, internet providers, and insurance. The platform supports users in comparing necessary information before purchasing products or subscribing to services.
As of March 2026, monthly users were 31.01 million, and monthly total page views were 235.84 million PV. User breakdown: smartphones 21.54 million people, PCs 9.47 million people.
Kakaku.com, Inc. Company Overview
Location: Digital Gate Building, 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Atsuhiro Murakami
Business Activities: Planning and operation of websites and applications, provision of various platforms
Company-operated websites: https://corporate.kakaku.com/service
