# Fingerprint Shopping Systems Japan is Testing a Unique System for Consumer Purchases By Meghan Young | Published 2016-04-18 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fingerprint-shopping References: [engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/10/japan-wants-tourists-to-pay-using-fingerprints/) Consumer habits have just taken an interesting turn thanks to recent developments in Japan involving fingerprint shopping. Now, this isn't referring to shopping for fingerprints -- which would seem like an underground business if there ever was one -- but instead shopping by fingerprints. Foregoing [cards and chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sams-club-4) all together, the country is experimenting with the technology in a few places right now. Currently available in 300 locations in a handful of areas (Atami, Hakone, Kamakura and Yugawara), fingerprint shopping hopes to expand nationwide by 2020, right when Tokyo is hosting the Summer Olympics. Of course safety and security is also a high issue. People won't like the idea of the government being able to track your [shopping habits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shopping-basket-voting) and more. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 21% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Fingerprint Shopping:** Opportunity for retailers to leverage fingerprint technology for seamless and secure shopping experiences. - **Contactless Payment:** Potential for eliminating the need for cards and chips by utilizing biometric authentication for transactions. - **Data Privacy:** Growing concern around the privacy implications of fingerprint shopping and the need for robust security measures. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail:** Retailers can adopt fingerprint shopping systems to improve customer convenience and reduce friction in the purchasing process. - **Payment Solutions:** Payment solution providers can explore integrating fingerprint authentication into their systems to offer more secure and efficient transactions. - **Cybersecurity:** Opportunity for cybersecurity firms to develop advanced encryption protocols and biometric security technologies to protect user data in fingerprint shopping systems. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Smart Cashierless Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cashierless-shop.md) - [Seamless Biometric Payment Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mastercard-1.md) - [Grocery Payment Palm Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-one-1.md) - [Palm-Enabled Contactless Payments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-6.md) - [Convenient Palm Payment Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-one-payments.md) - [Biometric Banking Technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biometric-system.md) - [Fingerprint-Scanning Water Dispensers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-dispenser-concept.md) - [Contactless Airport Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airport-shop.md) - [Biometric Debit Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biometric-debit-card.md)