AsianFin -- Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp. inaugurated its first permanent store in Japan on Saturday, marking a strategic move to enhance sales by allowing customers to directly experience its high-end smartphones and a range of electronic appliances.

Located in Aeon Mall Urawamisono, a shopping mall operated by Aeon Retail Co. in Saitama near Tokyo, the store is part of Xiaomi’s broader plan to establish five to ten stores across Japan by the end of this year.

The opening attracted over 100 customers who lined up before the store’s launch. The outlet offers more than 160 products, including smartphones, TVs, vacuum cleaners, and cooking appliances. Xiaomi, which operates approximately 15,000 stores globally, aims to strengthen its foothold in the Japanese market through this expansion.

Masaki Nishimura, a 32-year-old company employee and Xiaomi smartphone user, expressed his excitement about the new store. “I’ve been using Xiaomi’s smartphone, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to test features like the camera before making a purchase,” he said.

During the opening ceremony, Li Gangjian, General Manager of Xiaomi’s East Asia operations, emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding its retail presence in Japan. “We plan to increase the number of stores across the country, enabling more customers to experience the innovation and excitement of Xiaomi’s technology,” he stated.

The launch of the permanent store underscores Xiaomi’s ambition to deepen its engagement with Japanese consumers and solidify its position as a leading global technology brand.