Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Index Rebalance

Pan Pacific International Holdings / Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The March 2026 review for the Nikkei 225 is turning out to be a little more interesting than one might have expected a few months ago. </li>
<li>As of the end of August, the 3mo ADTV for Kioxia (285A) was ¥18bn despite expectations it would go into M _ _ _. The 1mo average today? ¥383bn.</li>
<li>That means it has rapidly climbed into the top echelons of 5yr trading history. Importantly, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jx-advanced-metals-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44346:1" rel="noopener">JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kokusai-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40152:1" rel="noopener">Kokusai Electric (6525 JP)</a> are not far behind.</li>
</ul>


The March 2026 review for the Nikkei 225 is turning out to be a little more interesting than one might have expected a few months ago. 
As of the end of August, the 3mo ADTV for Kioxia (285A) was ¥18bn despite expectations it would go into M _ _ _. The 1mo average today? ¥383bn.
That means it has rapidly climbed into the top echelons of 5yr trading history. Importantly, JX Advanced Metals (5016 JP) and Kokusai Electric (6525 JP) are not far behind.


[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Mar26 - Kioxia (285A) On the Menu, Others Not Far Behind

Director, Head of Research, Smartkarma

Pranav Rao

Director, Head of Research

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Welcome to Curator’s Cut — a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,500+ insights published on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>In this cut, we review CATL's H-share lock-up expiry, iron ore equity opportunities in the face of Simandou's expected supply, and the accelerating consolidation in Japan's consumer sector.</li>
<li>Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you’d like to see highlighted next.</li>
</ul>


Welcome to Curator’s Cut — a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,500+ insights published on Smartkarma.
In this cut, we review CATL's H-share lock-up expiry, iron ore equity opportunities in the face of Simandou's expected supply, and the accelerating consolidation in Japan's consumer sector.
Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you’d like to see highlighted next.


Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. </li>
<li>The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.</li>
<li>The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.</li>
</ul>


Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. 
The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.
The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.


Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Izumi is joining the race to buy up more of Japan’s food and FMCG retail share. </li>
<li>Currently one of the dominant players in Kyushu, Izumi says it will use M&amp;A to increase store numbers over the next decade.</li>
<li>This will also mean pivoting more towards food rather than its traditional GMS format just like its competitors.</li>
</ul>


Izumi is joining the race to buy up more of Japan’s food and FMCG retail share. 
Currently one of the dominant players in Kyushu, Izumi says it will use M&amp;A to increase store numbers over the next decade.
This will also mean pivoting more towards food rather than its traditional GMS format just like its competitors.


Izumi Plans 300 Supermarkets Including Through M&A

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>In this in-depth review, it is clear that while Japanese clothing markets had a solid year in FY2024-25, once again the top 100 retailers outperformed by a large margin.</li>
<li>This meant they surpassed 71% share of the market but, within the specialty market alone, the top 10 retailers own 34%. This is now a clear oligopoly.</li>
<li>There are no signs of the situation changing either but rather the capacity of the leaders to invest should further expand share at the top.</li>
</ul>


In this in-depth review, it is clear that while Japanese clothing markets had a solid year in FY2024-25, once again the top 100 retailers outperformed by a large margin.
This meant they surpassed 71% share of the market but, within the specialty market alone, the top 10 retailers own 34%. This is now a clear oligopoly.
There are no signs of the situation changing either but rather the capacity of the leaders to invest should further expand share at the top.


The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

Japan

AEON CO., LTD. operates general merchandise stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores throughout Japan. The Company is also engaged in women's and casual clothing store business, development business of commercial property, and financing service through the subsidiaries.

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Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Mar26 - Kioxia (285A) On the Menu, Others Not Far Behind

The Nikkei 225 Mar-26 rebalance is shaping up to be something different than one might have predicted just a month ago. High volume has trumped the...

Travis Lundy

Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

This Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Pranav Rao

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Izumi Plans 300 Supermarkets Including Through M&A

Izumi aims to expand its presence in Japan's food and FMCG retail market through M&A, shifting focus from GMS to food to compete with rivals.

Michael Causton

The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Mar26 - Kioxia (285A) On the Menu, Others Not Far Behind

The Nikkei 225 Mar-26 rebalance is shaping up to be something different than one might have predicted just a month ago. High volume has trumped the...

Travis Lundy

Curator's Cut: Powering Down CATL, Iron Ore Plays & Japan Consumer Consolidation

This ​Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Pranav Rao

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

​Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Izumi Plans 300 Supermarkets Including Through M&A

​Izumi aims to expand its presence in Japan's food and FMCG retail market through M&A, shifting focus from GMS to food to compete with rivals.

Michael Causton

The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

​Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...

Michael Causton

This Curator's Cut highlights CATL's premium powering down, iron ore opportunities even as Simandou goes live, and Japan's consumer sector...

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Izumi aims to expand its presence in Japan's food and FMCG retail market through M&A, shifting focus from GMS to food to compete with rivals.

Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...