Google Japan doesn't have the typical plain design any more. There is a menu area with four tabs, each containing 4-5 icons that lead to other Google services.

http://www.google.co.jp/

I like that a lot. Bet they'd get a lot of pushback in the USA tho. Maybe it's just a test.

I can't see it, someone has a screenshot?

All four tabs:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2345073866_af1a225805_o.png
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/2345076426_dc68004932_o.png
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2345076472_684aec7acb_o.png
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2344246707_3a8e6d047f_o.png

I just see the usual Google, in Japanese, nothing more, even when setting HL and GL parameters :-S
Do you have other special parameters or cookies to get that?

I access google.co.jp on a PC with an IP located in Tokyo, locale set to Japan, Japanese OS.

Colin Colehour: You might know that I'm blogger at GoogleWatchBlog. Is it ok for you, if I use of your screenshots in my blog?

Some one any idea how it should be named. Maybe Google Tabs

I wonder why there are no Japanese characters for "I'm Feeling Lucky".

OK I got it :
http://72.14.207.104/webhp?hl=ja&gl=jp >> doesn't work.
http://64.233.167.104/webhp?hl=ja&gl=jp >> works

(Added an update, thanks!)

Google Korea's homepage is much better and doesn't have unnecessary tabs and products grouped randomly:
http://www.google.co.kr/

Interesting. Thanks for the screenshots (and the link)
=)

All is Japanese except "i'am feeling lucky" and "more"!

The Icons: http://www.google.com/intl/ja/images/jawh_prodiconl2.png

and the tabs: http://www.google.com/intl/ja/images/productlinktabs.png

If they want to introduce different localized navigators, they should include them into all google services and not only on the homepage.

Hebbet, Sure go ahead and use the screenshots. Just state that they were posted here first.

Someone of my readers send my some screens using a proxy.

It is very easy for Google to trace the habit of Japanese using Google applications. Then Google put the frequent used applications in the front page rather in the dropdown menu.

While Google can do the same thing for US users, however, US users may prefer cleaner interface.

Google China now has something new (Google Korea-like) on their home page... http://g.cn

http://googlechinablog.com/uploaded_images/new-homepage-723846.JPG

From left to right: video, images, news, maps, blog search, "Re Bang", "Dao Hang" (site navigation/directory)

see here http://blogoscoped.com/forum/127556.html