Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Equity Bottom-Up

Rakuten Mobile announced it will start to sell the iPhone from April 30th. This is a big deal! <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple Inc (AAPL US)</a> 's  iPhone accounts for roughly half of all smartphones in Japan and its popularity is on the rise again as the recent steep mobile price reductions have freed up a greater proportion of monthly user budgets that can be spent on handsets

Rakuten Mobile announced it will start to sell the iPhone from April 30th. This is a big deal! Apple Inc (AAPL US) 's  iPhone accounts for roughly half of all smartphones in Japan and its popularity is on the rise again as the recent steep mobile price reductions have freed up a greater proportion of monthly user budgets that can be spent on handsets

Rakuten Group - IPhone Adoption Boosts Consumer Offering Now that Funding Is Secured

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. 

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a>' merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE Corp (3938 JP)</a> will create a business with 300 million domestic users and 15 million corporate accounts with vast potential to synergise data across browsing, media, chat, shopping, banking and mobile.The combined business has huge reach: in news alone, the usage rate of the Yahoo and LINE news services reaches 60% to 75% of those who use news distribution services in Japan.The first step is a new gift and group shopping experience for LINE users but Z Holdings has Rakuten in its sights, with plans to go after Rakuten's strengths, particularly loyalty points and e-commerce.

Z Holdings (4689 JP)' merger with LINE Corp (3938 JP) will create a business with 300 million domestic users and 15 million corporate accounts with vast potential to synergise data across browsing, media, chat, shopping, banking and mobile.The combined business has huge reach: in news alone, the usage rate of the Yahoo and LINE news services reaches 60% to 75% of those who use news distribution services in Japan.The first step is a new gift and group shopping experience for LINE users but Z Holdings has Rakuten in its sights, with plans to go after Rakuten's strengths, particularly loyalty points and e-commerce.

Last year saw the launch of a new netsuper by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amazon-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:409:1" rel="noopener">Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/life-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1743:1" rel="noopener">Life Corp (8194 JP)</a>. The combination of the leading e-commerce retailer and the country’s top supermarket chain makes this one of the strongest contenders in the race for online food sales, particularly as Life is under the control of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> – although <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> aren’t standing still.
Amazon is now expanding its tie-up with Life and plans to bring in Valor as a new partner later this year and is highly likely to add further partnerships going forward.

Last year saw the launch of a new netsuper by Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US) and Life Corp (8194 JP). The combination of the leading e-commerce retailer and the country’s top supermarket chain makes this one of the strongest contenders in the race for online food sales, particularly as Life is under the control of Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) – although Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) and Z Holdings (4689 JP) aren’t standing still.
Amazon is now expanding its tie-up with Life and plans to bring in Valor as a new partner later this year and is highly likely to add further partnerships going forward.

Amazon Adds Partnership with Valor in Race for Japan Online Food Retail Leadership

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zozo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1" rel="noopener">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a> is accelerating category expansion and last month unveiled a new luxury/designer section alongside its new cosmetics space. Zozo Villa will help Zozo increase sales as well as raise margins through higher average shipment values.

ZOZO Inc (3092 JP) is accelerating category expansion and last month unveiled a new luxury/designer section alongside its new cosmetics space. Zozo Villa will help Zozo increase sales as well as raise margins through higher average shipment values.

The war between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> and Rakuten for leadership in digital ecosystems has seen Z Holdings acquire new partners and subsidiaries, and take leadership in cashless payments and then messaging through its merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE Corp (3938 JP)</a>.Now <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> is fighting back with a truly game changing deal with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> that could provide the reach and finance to develop new synergies in e-commerce, logistics, cashless payments and points, banking, insurance and mobile.This is a major reset in the rivalry in digital commerce, making Rakuten almost like a state-backed enterprise – with all the benefits that implies. Z Holdings should be worried.

The war between Softbank Corp (9434 JP)/Z Holdings (4689 JP) and Rakuten for leadership in digital ecosystems has seen Z Holdings acquire new partners and subsidiaries, and take leadership in cashless payments and then messaging through its merger with LINE Corp (3938 JP).Now Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) is fighting back with a truly game changing deal with Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) that could provide the reach and finance to develop new synergies in e-commerce, logistics, cashless payments and points, banking, insurance and mobile.This is a major reset in the rivalry in digital commerce, making Rakuten almost like a state-backed enterprise – with all the benefits that implies. Z Holdings should be worried.

Gamechanger: Rakuten’s Win-Win Alliance with Japan Post

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Rakuten Group - IPhone Adoption Boosts Consumer Offering Now that Funding Is Secured

Rakuten has secured the iPhone for its mobile service which removes a key differentiating factor although the largest one, coverage, will take...

Kirk Boodry

Z Holdings Begins LINE Leverage

Z Holding's is beginning to lay out its plans for exploiting LINE's potential. ZHD/LINE has massive reach which will help it tackle previous weak...

Michael Causton

Amazon Adds Partnership with Valor in Race for Japan Online Food Retail Leadership

Amazon is reaching out to the leading supermarkets in each region to create a network of supply and delivery points for its online supermarket in...

Michael Causton

Zozo Villa Reborn

Key to Zozo's revival is category expansion. The latest are cosmetics and luxury, with the latter in particular expected to deliver higher shipment...

Michael Causton

Gamechanger: Rakuten’s Win-Win Alliance with Japan Post

Japan Post's investment in Rakuten is a genuinely seismic shift in the balance of power in digital ecosystems in Japan, bolstering Rakuten where it...

Michael Causton

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