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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsuya-co-ltd-25630769-1690-43a0-a02d-75db9e9aac59" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17802:1" rel="noopener">Matsuya Co Ltd (8237 JP)</a> had a terrific FY2024, posting a new sales record at its Ginza store, the first since 1992. </li>
<li>There are worries that this year or next will be the peak given the ongoing decline in sales to locals, and if a strengthening Yen puts paid to tourist largesse.</li>
<li>The same headwinds are hitting all the major department store firms, including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/isetan-mitsukoshi-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18871:1" rel="noopener">Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd (3099 JP),</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takashimaya-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:370:1" rel="noopener">Takashimaya (8233 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/j-front-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8947:1" rel="noopener">J Front Retailing (3086 JP).</a>
</li>
</ul>



Matsuya Co Ltd (8237 JP) had a terrific FY2024, posting a new sales record at its Ginza store, the first since 1992. 
There are worries that this year or next will be the peak given the ongoing decline in sales to locals, and if a strengthening Yen puts paid to tourist largesse.
The same headwinds are hitting all the major department store firms, including Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd (3099 JP),Takashimaya (8233 JP) and J Front Retailing (3086 JP).



Matsuya’s Record Sales May Signal Peak for Sector

Index Rebal/Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Index Rebal/Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.</li>
<li>The annual index review takes place in August every year. We look at the latest rankings of potential ADDs/DELs every month.</li>
<li>Below is a look at the rankings of potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 August 2025 rebalance based on trading data as of end-February 2025.</li>
</ul>


JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.
The annual index review takes place in August every year. We look at the latest rankings of potential ADDs/DELs every month.
Below is a look at the rankings of potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 August 2025 rebalance based on trading data as of end-February 2025.


Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Feb 2025 Ranks

<ul>
<li>JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.</li>
<li>The annual index review takes place in August every year. We look at the latest rankings of potential ADDs/DELs every month.</li>
<li>Below is a look at the rankings of potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 August 2025 rebalance based on trading data as of end-<em>December</em> 2024.</li>
</ul>


JPX-Nikkei 400 is composed of common stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a free-float-adjusted capped index composed of 400 constituents.
The annual index review takes place in August every year. We look at the latest rankings of potential ADDs/DELs every month.
Below is a look at the rankings of potential ADDs/DELs for the JPX-Nikkei 400 August 2025 rebalance based on trading data as of end-December 2024.


Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Dec 2024 Ranks

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Isetan-Mitsukoshi has gone from being the most cautious forecaster among the big department store retailers to the most optimistic.</li>
<li>This is largely on the back of previously unimaginable sales records at its main stores, especially Isetan Shinjuku.</li>
<li>All of which is bringing in piles of profit, with projections of exceeding its previous average profit by four times.</li>
</ul>


Isetan-Mitsukoshi has gone from being the most cautious forecaster among the big department store retailers to the most optimistic.
This is largely on the back of previously unimaginable sales records at its main stores, especially Isetan Shinjuku.
All of which is bringing in piles of profit, with projections of exceeding its previous average profit by four times.


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takashimaya-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:370:1" rel="noopener">Takashimaya (8233 JP)</a> reported Q2 earnings, a dividend hike, upward revisions to the FY26 MTMP, and a decent-sized buyback to raise leverage levels and ROE.</li>
<li>The company is yen-sensitive both in overseas retail and domestic department stores on inbound traffic. One could imagine future issues. </li>
<li>The register looks like it is quite open. It is not. That is worth considering now and in future.</li>
</ul>


Today, Takashimaya (8233 JP) reported Q2 earnings, a dividend hike, upward revisions to the FY26 MTMP, and a decent-sized buyback to raise leverage levels and ROE.
The company is yen-sensitive both in overseas retail and domestic department stores on inbound traffic. One could imagine future issues. 
The register looks like it is quite open. It is not. That is worth considering now and in future.


Takashimaya (8233 JP) Decent Earnings, BIG Buyback (Odd Register Dynamics)

Japan

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. is a holding company established through a merger of Mitsukoshi and Isetan. The group operates department stores nationwide, selling clothing, foods, household goods, cosmetics and general merchandise.

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

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd (3099 JP)

Matsuya’s Record Sales May Signal Peak for Sector

Matsuya had a strong FY2024 with record sales, but this may be the peak due to falling local sales and impact of strong Yen on tourist spending....

Michael Causton

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Feb 2025 Ranks

There are 45 Potential ADDs and 44 Potential DELs (unique names) presented in the current Quiddity Leaderboard. The High and Medium conviction ADDs...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Dec 2024 Ranks

The LONGs have outperformed the SHORTs by 3.1% in December 2024. The HIGH and MED potential ADDs could continue to outperform the HIGH and MED...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Isetan Shinjuku to Hit ¥424 Billion

Isetan-Mitsukoshi, once cautious, now optimistic as record sales at main stores drive profits to exceed previous averages by four times.

Michael Causton

Takashimaya (8233 JP) Decent Earnings, BIG Buyback (Odd Register Dynamics)

Takashimaya today announced H1 earnings, higher divs, a small upward shift in the MTMP, and a buyback. The trick to the buyback is in the register....

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Matsuya’s Record Sales May Signal Peak for Sector

​Matsuya had a strong FY2024 with record sales, but this may be the peak due to falling local sales and impact of strong Yen on tourist spending....

Michael Causton

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Feb 2025 Ranks

There are 45 Potential ADDs and 44 Potential DELs (unique names) presented in the current Quiddity Leaderboard. The High and Medium conviction ADDs...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Quiddity JPX-Nikkei 400 Rebal 2025: End-Dec 2024 Ranks

The LONGs have outperformed the SHORTs by 3.1% in December 2024. The HIGH and MED potential ADDs could continue to outperform the HIGH and MED...

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Isetan Shinjuku to Hit ¥424 Billion

​Isetan-Mitsukoshi, once cautious, now optimistic as record sales at main stores drive profits to exceed previous averages by four times.

Michael Causton

Takashimaya (8233 JP) Decent Earnings, BIG Buyback (Odd Register Dynamics)

Takashimaya today announced H1 earnings, higher divs, a small upward shift in the MTMP, and a buyback. The trick to the buyback is in the register....

Travis Lundy

Matsuya had a strong FY2024 with record sales, but this may be the peak due to falling local sales and impact of strong Yen on tourist spending....

Isetan-Mitsukoshi, once cautious, now optimistic as record sales at main stores drive profits to exceed previous averages by four times.