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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Loyalty points offer a significant incentive for consumers when deciding where to buy and many surveys confirm that points are a key factor in selection of online store.  </li>
<li>With inflation biting, the big loyalty programmes are promoting points as a way to save on future purchases.</li>
<li>Rakuten is by far the largest provider (10 pts above anyone else) and is enjoying strong growth – which could help adoption of its mobile store.</li>
</ul>


Loyalty points offer a significant incentive for consumers when deciding where to buy and many surveys confirm that points are a key factor in selection of online store.  
With inflation biting, the big loyalty programmes are promoting points as a way to save on future purchases.
Rakuten is by far the largest provider (10 pts above anyone else) and is enjoying strong growth – which could help adoption of its mobile store.


Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

<ul><li>Formosa Town in Telangana, India establishes industrial zone for Taiwanese firms, adapting to evolving geopolitical environment.</li><li>AMD CEO Lisa Su builds alliances in China to advance AI and PC tech, highlighting Taiwan's pivotal role in the era of artificial intelligence.</li><li>Arizona governor underscores defense collaboration, TSMC partnership, and the opening of Din Tai Fung in Taiwan during official visit.</li></ul>

Formosa Town in Telangana, India establishes industrial zone for Taiwanese firms, adapting to evolving geopolitical environment.AMD CEO Lisa Su builds alliances in China to advance AI and PC tech, highlighting Taiwan's pivotal role in the era of artificial intelligence.Arizona governor underscores defense collaboration, TSMC partnership, and the opening of Din Tai Fung in Taiwan during official visit.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (20-Mar-2025): Telangana forms industrial zone for Taiwanese.

<ul>
<li>Amazon’s growing lead in Japan’s e-commerce market looks increasingly inexorable. </li>
<li>While growth in Japan was slower than some other Amazon markets, it still outpaced Rakuten. LY Corp did better but partly in reaction to poor results the year before. </li>
<li>Meanwhile, a recent survey suggests growing interest in brand-operated online stores, particularly to read more in-depth content and use brand-based points.</li>
</ul>


Amazon’s growing lead in Japan’s e-commerce market looks increasingly inexorable. 
While growth in Japan was slower than some other Amazon markets, it still outpaced Rakuten. LY Corp did better but partly in reaction to poor results the year before. 
Meanwhile, a recent survey suggests growing interest in brand-operated online stores, particularly to read more in-depth content and use brand-based points.


The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

<ul><li>Rakuten is utilizing AI and O-RAN to lower telecom costs and broaden its global footprint in the industry, focusing on efficiency and expansion.</li><li>IBM has launched Granite 3.2, an advanced AI platform that incorporates on-demand reasoning and vision-language model to bolster its AI capabilities, fostering innovation in the field of artificial intelligence.</li><li>The GSMA has revealed the four key pillars that will shape the future of 5G technology at MWC 2025, highlighting the importance of advancements in connectivity for the development of mobile networks.</li></ul>

Rakuten is utilizing AI and O-RAN to lower telecom costs and broaden its global footprint in the industry, focusing on efficiency and expansion.IBM has launched Granite 3.2, an advanced AI platform that incorporates on-demand reasoning and vision-language model to bolster its AI capabilities, fostering innovation in the field of artificial intelligence.The GSMA has revealed the four key pillars that will shape the future of 5G technology at MWC 2025, highlighting the importance of advancements in connectivity for the development of mobile networks.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (05-Mar-2025): Rakuten uses AI and O-RAN to save on telecom costs, targets global growth.

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Trung Nguyen

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

<ul>
<li>Rakuten's Q4 and FY 2024 results were solid, with robust revenue growth and strong earnings improvement.</li>
<li>The company reached self-funding status at both the group and Mobile levels.</li>
<li>Rakuten achieved all of its FY 2024 targets, especially those for the Mobile segment.</li>
</ul>


Rakuten's Q4 and FY 2024 results were solid, with robust revenue growth and strong earnings improvement.
The company reached self-funding status at both the group and Mobile levels.
Rakuten achieved all of its FY 2024 targets, especially those for the Mobile segment.


Rakuten Group - Earnings Flash - FY 2024 Results - Lucror Analytics

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Rakuten (4755 JP)

Rakuten: 17% More Points in 2022

Rakuten;s biggest strength in e-commerce and the wider digital ecosystem is its popular loyalty points programme. Rivals are circling but Rakuten...

Michael Causton

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (20-Mar-2025): Telangana forms industrial zone for Taiwanese.

Formosa Town in Telangana, India establishes industrial zone for Taiwanese companies; AMD CEO Lisa Su strengthens partnerships in China for AI and...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.

Michael Causton

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (05-Mar-2025): Rakuten uses AI and O-RAN to save on telecom costs, targets global growth.

Rakuten and IBM leverage AI to drive innovation, while GSMA sets the foundation for 5G's future and Taiwan's electronics industry embraces AI...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Rakuten Group - Earnings Flash - FY 2024 Results - Lucror Analytics

Rakuten's Q4 and FY 2024 results were solid, with robust revenue growth and strong earnings improvement. The company reached self-funding...

Lucror Analytics

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Rakuten: 17% More Points in 2022

Rakuten;s biggest strength in e-commerce and the wider digital ecosystem is its popular loyalty points programme. Rivals are circling but Rakuten...

Michael Causton

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (20-Mar-2025): Telangana forms industrial zone for Taiwanese.

Formosa Town in Telangana, India establishes industrial zone for Taiwanese companies; AMD CEO Lisa Su strengthens partnerships in China for AI and...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

​Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.

Michael Causton

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (05-Mar-2025): Rakuten uses AI and O-RAN to save on telecom costs, targets global growth.

Rakuten and IBM leverage AI to drive innovation, while GSMA sets the foundation for 5G's future and Taiwan's electronics industry embraces AI...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Rakuten Group - Earnings Flash - FY 2024 Results - Lucror Analytics

Rakuten's Q4 and FY 2024 results were solid, with robust revenue growth and strong earnings improvement. The company reached self-funding...

Lucror Analytics

Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.