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TOKYO, Apr 21 (Reuters) Design software maker Adobe Systems Inc. aims to increase its revenues in Japan by more than 40 percent in the business year ending in November 2007, its chief executive said on Friday.

''I have an ambitious goal of hitting half a billion dollars by the time we exit fiscal year 2007,'' said Chief Executive Bruce Chizen in an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, stressing that it was a goal, not a target.

Japan is the second-largest market after the United States for the California-based company known for its Photoshop editing and Acrobat document-sharing software.

Chizen said Adobe expected revenues of about $350 million from its Japan business in its current business year, ending Dec.

1. He said Japan could be a $1 billion market for the company.

Adobe last month reported a 39 percent increase in total first-quarter revenue to $655.5 million, although net income was lower due to the cost of acquiring Macromedia in December.

Chizen said Adobe still had room to expand its business with mobile operators, video game companies and consumer electronics makers.

''Given where we are, given the presence that Adobe has here, I belive that we have a greater opportunity here in Japan than we do in China,'' he said.

REUTERS CS SND1455