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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>FMCG retailers remained dominant and market concentration increased, with top firms expanding through consolidation. </li>
<li>Discounters, drugstores and e-commerce outperformed the market overall, while general merchandise stores and apparel/lifestyle declined.</li>
<li>Profitability varied significantly, but discounters stood out as consumers flocked to their stores to escape inflation where they could.</li>
</ul>


FMCG retailers remained dominant and market concentration increased, with top firms expanding through consolidation. 
Discounters, drugstores and e-commerce outperformed the market overall, while general merchandise stores and apparel/lifestyle declined.
Profitability varied significantly, but discounters stood out as consumers flocked to their stores to escape inflation where they could.


Japanese Big Retailers: Winners and Losers

<ul>
<li>Consumer distribution has been transformed since 2020 through accelerated concentration of market share. While some has come about through organic growth, the real drivers have been M&amp;A and MBOs. </li>
<li>The result is a realignment of the retail leader board as companies like PPI, Welcia and Trial buy their way to the top, while others, notably Seven &amp; I, shrink.</li>
<li>Here we identify the retail leaders in driving consolidation going forward, and the intensifying pressure on both smaller retailers and the wholesalers that supply them.</li>
</ul>


Consumer distribution has been transformed since 2020 through accelerated concentration of market share. While some has come about through organic growth, the real drivers have been M&amp;A and MBOs. 
The result is a realignment of the retail leader board as companies like PPI, Welcia and Trial buy their way to the top, while others, notably Seven &amp; I, shrink.
Here we identify the retail leaders in driving consolidation going forward, and the intensifying pressure on both smaller retailers and the wholesalers that supply them.


[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Ito-Yokado’s withdrawal from the Hokkaido market has proven a windfall for affiliated chain, Daiichi. </li>
<li>The Hokkaido supermarket has already opened new stores in sites vacated by Ito-Yokado – the only difficulty has been finding ways to fill the larger spaces.</li>
<li>Now Arcs is waiting in the wings in case Daiichi becomes available for takeover – Arcs' chairman owns 1% of Daiichi personally.</li>
</ul>


Ito-Yokado’s withdrawal from the Hokkaido market has proven a windfall for affiliated chain, Daiichi. 
The Hokkaido supermarket has already opened new stores in sites vacated by Ito-Yokado – the only difficulty has been finding ways to fill the larger spaces.
Now Arcs is waiting in the wings in case Daiichi becomes available for takeover – Arcs' chairman owns 1% of Daiichi personally.


Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Aug 29th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,417m.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Fast Retailing, Nintendo, Fujikura, Furukawa Electric, Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Aug 29th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,417m.
We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.
We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Fast Retailing, Nintendo, Fujikura, Furukawa Electric, Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 29th): Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Jul 18th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,250m.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest, Sanrio, Ihi, Fast Retailing, Softbank, Seven &amp; I, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Jul 18th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD17,250m.
We tabulate league tables for top/bottom net long/short of margin trading by value, net margin buy as multiple of ADT.
We highlight net margin buy/sell changes in Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest, Sanrio, Ihi, Fast Retailing, Softbank, Seven &amp; I, Mitsubishi Ufj Financial, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jul 18th): Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest, Sanrio, Ihi, Fast Retailing

Japan

Arclands Corporation operates home centers. The Company mainly sells home improvement products, household utensils, car and leisure products, gardening supplies, and other products. Arclands also operates restaurants management, DIY(Do It Yourself) products sales, real estate development, and other businesses.

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Arclands Corporation (9842 JP)

Japanese Big Retailers: Winners and Losers

An in-depth review of Japan retailers with sales of ¥250+ in 2025: FMCG retailers dominate with market concentration increasing, discounters...

Michael Causton

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...

Michael Causton

Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 29th): Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), Disco (6146 JP), Yoshinoya (9861 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jul 18th): Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest, Sanrio, Ihi, Fast Retailing

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Lasertec (6920 JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Advantest (6857 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japanese Big Retailers: Winners and Losers

An in-depth review of Japan retailers with sales of ¥250+ in 2025: ​FMCG retailers dominate with market concentration increasing, discounters...

Michael Causton

[Japan M&A] Who Owns Who: The Growing Concentration of Power in Japanese Consumer Markets

​Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...

Michael Causton

Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

​Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 29th): Ryohin Keikaku, Disco, Yoshinoya, Advantest

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), Disco (6146 JP), Yoshinoya (9861 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Jul 18th): Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest, Sanrio, Ihi, Fast Retailing

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Lasertec (6920 JP), Fujikura (5803 JP), Advantest (6857 JP),...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

An in-depth review of Japan retailers with sales of ¥250+ in 2025: FMCG retailers dominate with market concentration increasing, discounters...

Consumer distribution has shifted post-2020, with market concentration driven by M&A and MBOs. We identify the leaders of this consolidation,...

Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...