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>Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.</li>
<li>The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.</li>
<li>This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.</li>
</ul>


Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.
The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.
This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.


Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>LY Corp’s new Agent AI is the first step in a path to total domination of Japan’s underdeveloped but rapidly expanding digital payments industry.</li>
<li>By replicating Tencent’s business model, LY aims to cement its place as Japan’s core digital infrastructure, spanning communication, payments, commerce, media, and enterprise services.</li>
<li>Despite the vision, shares lag sharply due to a comedy of one-off calamities, but even with modest execution, we think there is meaningful upside, limited downside.</li>
</ul>


LY Corp’s new Agent AI is the first step in a path to total domination of Japan’s underdeveloped but rapidly expanding digital payments industry.
By replicating Tencent’s business model, LY aims to cement its place as Japan’s core digital infrastructure, spanning communication, payments, commerce, media, and enterprise services.
Despite the vision, shares lag sharply due to a comedy of one-off calamities, but even with modest execution, we think there is meaningful upside, limited downside.


LY Corp's (4689) Plan to Dominate Practically Everything

<ul>
<li>E-Commerce growth slowed marginally as the sector consolidated post-Covid but remained higher than any other channel in 2022. </li>
<li>By 2025-26, it will be the largest channel, overtaking convenience stores – but Japan’s continuing support for retail stores means that omnichannel will be the main model.</li>
<li>As a result, the majority of transactions will be researched, initiated, and fulfilled through a combination of online and physical stores.</li>
</ul>


E-Commerce growth slowed marginally as the sector consolidated post-Covid but remained higher than any other channel in 2022. 
By 2025-26, it will be the largest channel, overtaking convenience stores – but Japan’s continuing support for retail stores means that omnichannel will be the main model.
As a result, the majority of transactions will be researched, initiated, and fulfilled through a combination of online and physical stores.


E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

<ul>
<li>Private brands developed and managed by retailers themselves offer plenty of price and marketing flexibility during these inflationary times.</li>
<li>But it is not only their popularity as cheaper alternatives that is growing, so too are pack sizes, as consumers increase shopping volume and reduce shopping trip frequency.</li>
<li>The trend is another sign of why investors should look out for retailers with good private brands, given the impact on both sales and margin growth.</li>
</ul>


Private brands developed and managed by retailers themselves offer plenty of price and marketing flexibility during these inflationary times.
But it is not only their popularity as cheaper alternatives that is growing, so too are pack sizes, as consumers increase shopping volume and reduce shopping trip frequency.
The trend is another sign of why investors should look out for retailers with good private brands, given the impact on both sales and margin growth.


Private Brands in Japan: Getting Bigger – Literally

<ul>
<li>New regulations due in April are forcing Japan’s logistics industry to evolve rapidly and seek efficiencies to offset a drastic shortage of drivers.</li>
<li>Most firms are aware of the long-term gains that removing inefficiencies in the current system will lead to and should result in improved operating margins.</li>
<li>The government announced new support policies and many consumers say they are willing to accept slower deliveries, which should lower costs for e-commerce.</li>
</ul>


New regulations due in April are forcing Japan’s logistics industry to evolve rapidly and seek efficiencies to offset a drastic shortage of drivers.
Most firms are aware of the long-term gains that removing inefficiencies in the current system will lead to and should result in improved operating margins.
The government announced new support policies and many consumers say they are willing to accept slower deliveries, which should lower costs for e-commerce.


Better Logistics, Slower Shipping, Lower Costs, Higher Profits

Japan

ASKUL Corporation sells office equipment products to medium and small sized business offices via the Internet and facsimiles.  The Company provides next day delivery services throughout Japan.

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Askul Corp (2678 JP)

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

LY Corp's (4689) Plan to Dominate Practically Everything

LY Corp's Agent AI aims to dominate Japan's digital payments industry by replicating Tencent's business model. Stock lags due to one-off...

Michael Allen

E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Michael Causton

Private Brands in Japan: Getting Bigger – Literally

Private brands offer price and marketing flexibility during inflation, and their popularity is increasing. Investors should focus on retailers...

Michael Causton

Better Logistics, Slower Shipping, Lower Costs, Higher Profits

Japan's distribution industry is adapting to new regulations due in April, addressing driver shortages and resulting in new efficiencies that will...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

LY Corp's (4689) Plan to Dominate Practically Everything

​LY Corp's Agent AI aims to dominate Japan's digital payments industry by replicating Tencent's business model. Stock lags due to one-off...

Michael Allen

E-Commerce in Japan: Omnichannel Consolidation

​E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Michael Causton

Private Brands in Japan: Getting Bigger – Literally

​Private brands offer price and marketing flexibility during inflation, and their popularity is increasing. Investors should focus on retailers...

Michael Causton

Better Logistics, Slower Shipping, Lower Costs, Higher Profits

​Japan's distribution industry is adapting to new regulations due in April, addressing driver shortages and resulting in new efficiencies that will...

Michael Causton

LY Corp's Agent AI aims to dominate Japan's digital payments industry by replicating Tencent's business model. Stock lags due to one-off...

E-commerce growth in Japan remains strong post-Covid, set to overtake convenience stores by 2025-26, with omnichannel model becoming dominant for...

Private brands offer price and marketing flexibility during inflation, and their popularity is increasing. Investors should focus on retailers...

Japan's distribution industry is adapting to new regulations due in April, addressing driver shortages and resulting in new efficiencies that will...