Konichiwa Zhongguo! Chinese Internet search engine Baidu.com (BIDU) is planning a Japanese invasion as it today formally opens its Japanese search engine at www.baidu.jp.

Baidu announced its intentions to enter the Japanese search market in December 2006 and began server testing in Japan in March 2007.

"Japan is one of the world's most connected societies, and we have already seen positive reception from local users using our beta website," said Masuda Jun, vice president of Baidu's Japanese subsidiary, in a press statement. "Following the formal launch of our Japan site, we expect to see even greater user reception to the four different Japanese language services we will offer, including web search, image search, video search and blog search services."