AI Visibility Benchmark Report 2026Citation Rates Across 10 Industries in Japan
Where does your AI Visibility stand within your industry? First-ever benchmarks across 10 industries in Japan.
Why Industry Benchmarks Matter
"Our Citation Rate is 5% -- is that good or bad?" To answer this question, you need industry-specific baselines.
The five metrics defined in the AI Visibility Measurement Stack have vastly different "normal" ranges depending on the industry. Comparing a publisher's 15% Citation Rate with a manufacturer's 3% is meaningless without context.
This report, based on Sighted's monitoring data and insights from the GPR experiment, publishes AI Visibility benchmarks across 10 industries in the Japanese market for the first time.
Data Methodology Note
Figures represent estimated ranges based on Sighted monitoring data, GPR experiment data, and industry consultations as of H1 2026. Benchmarks shift as AI search evolves. Annual updates planned.
Benchmark Overview: 10 Industries
| Industry | Mention Rate | Citation Rate | Response Share | Question Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS / IT | 8-15% | 3-8% | 5-12% | Med-Large |
| E-commerce | 5-10% | 2-5% | 3-8% | Large |
| Local Business | 3-8% | 1-4% | 10-25% | Small |
| Media / Publishers | 15-30% | 10-20% | 8-15% | Large |
| Finance / Fintech | 10-20% | 5-12% | 5-10% | Medium |
| Real Estate | 5-12% | 2-6% | 8-15% | Medium |
| Education | 8-18% | 4-10% | 5-12% | Med-Large |
| Manufacturing | 3-8% | 1-5% | 15-30% | Small |
| Professional Services | 5-15% | 3-8% | 8-20% | Small-Med |
| HR / Recruitment | 5-12% | 2-6% | 5-10% | Medium |
Values are median ranges for industry queries (non-branded, generic questions). Brand queries excluded.
Industry-by-Industry Analysis
SaaS / IT
Mention Rate
8-15%
Citation Rate
3-8%
Response Share
5-12%
Question Space
Med-Large
Global English-language competitors dominate. Opportunity in Japanese-specific content.
E-commerce
Mention Rate
5-10%
Citation Rate
2-5%
Response Share
3-8%
Question Space
Large
Major marketplace platforms dominate product comparison queries. Opportunity in niche categories.
Local Business
Mention Rate
3-8%
Citation Rate
1-4%
Response Share
10-25%
Question Space
Small
Geographic specificity leads to high Response Share. Google Maps integration matters.
Media / Publishers
Mention Rate
15-30%
Citation Rate
10-20%
Response Share
8-15%
Question Space
Large
Highest Citation Rate of any industry. Content volume and update frequency directly correlate.
Finance / Fintech
Mention Rate
10-20%
Citation Rate
5-12%
Response Share
5-10%
Question Space
Medium
Authority on regulatory topics is critical. Accuracy directly impacts Citation Rate.
Real Estate
Mention Rate
5-12%
Citation Rate
2-6%
Response Share
8-15%
Question Space
Medium
Region x property type combinations form niche Question Spaces.
Education
Mention Rate
8-18%
Citation Rate
4-10%
Response Share
5-12%
Question Space
Med-Large
How-to queries offer strong Citation opportunities. E-E-A-T Experience signal is important.
Manufacturing
Mention Rate
3-8%
Citation Rate
1-5%
Response Share
15-30%
Question Space
Small
High specialization and narrow Question Space lead to high Response Share per player.
Professional Services
Mention Rate
5-15%
Citation Rate
3-8%
Response Share
8-20%
Question Space
Small-Med
Depth of expertise determines Citation Rate. FAQ-style content performs well.
HR / Recruitment
Mention Rate
5-12%
Citation Rate
2-6%
Response Share
5-10%
Question Space
Medium
Question Space splits between job-seeker and employer queries.
Three Cross-Industry Patterns
1. Narrow Question Spaces yield higher Response Share
Industries with high specialization and fewer total questions (Manufacturing, Local Business) naturally concentrate Response Share among fewer players. Industries with broad Question Spaces (E-commerce, Media) face more intense competition for share.
2. Citation Rate correlates with content depth
Media/Publishers lead Citation Rate because they overwhelm other industries in both content volume and quality. Finance and Education also show relatively high Citation Rates -- the result of deep explanatory content on regulations and specialized knowledge being valued by AI.
Critically, it is not just content volume but per-page information density and self-containedness that drive Citation Rate. See the Content Quality Guide for details.
3. Japanese-language content advantage
For Japanese-language queries, AI responses preferentially cite content written in Japanese. While global SaaS companies may dominate in English, queries specific to the Japanese market (regulations, business customs, Japanese-specific terminology) present Citation opportunities for high-quality Japanese content.
How to Use These Benchmarks
Step 1: Get your scores
Use a monitoring tool to measure your Mention Rate, Citation Rate, and Response Share for industry queries.
Step 2: Compare against benchmarks
Locate your industry in the table above and determine whether your scores fall in the upper, middle, or lower range.
Step 3: Map to maturity
Combine benchmark comparison with the AI Visibility Maturity Model. Being above industry average but still at Stage 3 (Cited) means specific actions are needed to advance.
Step 4: Set improvement targets
Use the upper end of benchmark range as a short-term target and exceeding the range as a medium-term goal. Plan improvements using the AEO Execution Framework.
Compare Your AI Visibility Against Industry Benchmarks
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