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>Japanese still love shops partly because they are so easy to access thanks to station shopping hubs and fast transport links. </li>
<li>But new data shows e-commerce not only remains one of the fastest-growing retail channels but is poised to become the country’s largest by 2027. </li>
<li>While economic pressures and consumer interest in physical shopping have slowed year-on-year growth, the broader trends favour online shopping’s expansion – driven by food, fashion and omnichannel innovation.</li>
</ul>


Japanese still love shops partly because they are so easy to access thanks to station shopping hubs and fast transport links. 
But new data shows e-commerce not only remains one of the fastest-growing retail channels but is poised to become the country’s largest by 2027. 
While economic pressures and consumer interest in physical shopping have slowed year-on-year growth, the broader trends favour online shopping’s expansion – driven by food, fashion and omnichannel innovation.


E-Commerce in Japan: Faster Growing but Slowing

<ul>
<li>There has been a long-term trend of market concentration in Japan's retail sector for more than a decade.</li>
<li>But consolidation is accelerating due to the pressures to find growth in a depopulating market and the winner takes all phenomenon which rewards the leading chains.</li>
<li>With higher growth and greater access to capital for the best retailers, the net result is dramatically higher levels of M&amp;A in sectors like drugstores and even supermarkets.  </li>
</ul>


There has been a long-term trend of market concentration in Japan's retail sector for more than a decade.
But consolidation is accelerating due to the pressures to find growth in a depopulating market and the winner takes all phenomenon which rewards the leading chains.
With higher growth and greater access to capital for the best retailers, the net result is dramatically higher levels of M&amp;A in sectors like drugstores and even supermarkets.  


Japan Retail: Market Concentration Accelerates Through M&A and Organic Growth

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

Shenton Research

Shenton Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Aug 28th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD29,092m.</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 Kioxia, Seikoh Giken, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Advantest, Create Restaurants, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Yoshinoya, Nintendo, Mizuho Financial, Bic Camera.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in margin trading positions of JPX stocks as of Aug 28th. The aggregated net margin trading position is USD29,092m.
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 Kioxia, Seikoh Giken, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Advantest, Create Restaurants, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Yoshinoya, Nintendo, Mizuho Financial, Bic Camera.


JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 28th): Kioxia, Seikoh Giken, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Advantest

<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>Japan’s consumer markets had a remarkably good year in 2023, despite the spectres of inflation and negative real wage growth marring consumer confidence. </li>
<li>These fears were offset by a desire to get out and spend some of the mounting savings. Those savings still rose a cumulative average of ¥1.45 million in 2023.</li>
<li>Covid and inflation forced major change and provided a solid footing for what is expected to be a good 2024 on the back of hopes for genuine real wage growth.</li>
</ul>


Japan’s consumer markets had a remarkably good year in 2023, despite the spectres of inflation and negative real wage growth marring consumer confidence. 
These fears were offset by a desire to get out and spend some of the mounting savings. Those savings still rose a cumulative average of ¥1.45 million in 2023.
Covid and inflation forced major change and provided a solid footing for what is expected to be a good 2024 on the back of hopes for genuine real wage growth.


2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

Japan

BIC CAMERA INC. operates electronic retail stores throughout Japan focusing on the Tokyo metropolitan area.  The Company sells audio and video equipments, electrical home appliances and telecommunication equipments.  Bic Camera also runs an Internet shopping site.

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Bic Camera Inc (3048 JP)

E-Commerce in Japan: Faster Growing but Slowing

The following is a complete review of the Japanese e-commerce sector, highlighting key players and forecasts through the next five years.

Michael Causton

Japan Retail: Market Concentration Accelerates Through M&A and Organic Growth

Market concentration in Japan's retail sector has been increasing due to the need for growth in a shrinking market, leading to a surge in M&A...

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 28th): Kioxia, Seikoh Giken, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Advantest

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), Seikoh Giken (6834 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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

2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

E-Commerce in Japan: Faster Growing but Slowing

The following is a complete review of the Japanese e-commerce sector, highlighting key players and forecasts through the next five years.

Michael Causton

Japan Retail: Market Concentration Accelerates Through M&A and Organic Growth

​Market concentration in Japan's retail sector has been increasing due to the need for growth in a shrinking market, leading to a surge in M&A...

Michael Causton

JPX Margin Trading Weekly (Aug 28th): Kioxia, Seikoh Giken, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Advantest

We analyzed JPX margin trading positions report for the past week and highlighted Kioxia (285A JP), Seikoh Giken (6834 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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

2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

​Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...

Michael Causton

Market concentration in Japan's retail sector has been increasing due to the need for growth in a shrinking market, leading to a surge in M&A...

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

Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...