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>Adastria's growth has been sporadic in recent years as it adjusts to maturity and saturation in core apparel markets.It has diversification projects but these will take time to develop.</li>
<li>It thinks it can find faster growth by franchising and licensing with already well-known brands, starting with Forever 21.</li>
<li>It also has a new business providing apparel collections to General Merchandise Retailers, starting with Izumi.</li>
</ul>


Adastria's growth has been sporadic in recent years as it adjusts to maturity and saturation in core apparel markets.It has diversification projects but these will take time to develop.
It thinks it can find faster growth by franchising and licensing with already well-known brands, starting with Forever 21.
It also has a new business providing apparel collections to General Merchandise Retailers, starting with Izumi.


Adastria Signs Forever 21, New Growth Through Licensing?

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/izumi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13173:1" rel="noopener">Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP)</a> is Japan’s largest retailer in the South and, at least until 2018, was the last GMS to maintain a growth trajectory. Now, with the popularity of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosmos-pharmaceutical-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3797:1" rel="noopener">Cosmos Pharmaceutical (3349 JP)</a>  discount food chain eating into Izumi’s profits in Kyushu and the same lack of enthusiasm for the GMS format also spreading as it has elsewhere, Izumi last month announced a wide-ranging and ambitious plan to reinvent itself over the next five years. Izumi’s alliance with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seven-i-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1041:1" rel="noopener">Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP)</a> will also grow in importance.</p>
<p>These plans include expansion online and investment in discount retailing. The problem with the former is that there are already many more and better organised competitors and in the latte, Izumi has no experience in the kind of supply chain expertise required to build a discount retail business of any scale.</p>
<p>While Izumi has been one of the few well-run GMS operators in the past five years, there is increasing concern that it will fall victim to pressures from discounters on one side and e-commerce competitors on the other.</p>

Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP) is Japan’s largest retailer in the South and, at least until 2018, was the last GMS to maintain a growth trajectory. Now, with the popularity of the Cosmos Pharmaceutical (3349 JP)  discount food chain eating into Izumi’s profits in Kyushu and the same lack of enthusiasm for the GMS format also spreading as it has elsewhere, Izumi last month announced a wide-ranging and ambitious plan to reinvent itself over the next five years. Izumi’s alliance with Seven &amp; I Holdings (3382 JP) will also grow in importance.
These plans include expansion online and investment in discount retailing. The problem with the former is that there are already many more and better organised competitors and in the latte, Izumi has no experience in the kind of supply chain expertise required to build a discount retail business of any scale.
While Izumi has been one of the few well-run GMS operators in the past five years, there is increasing concern that it will fall victim to pressures from discounters on one side and e-commerce competitors on the other.

Izumi Focus on Food and Online Should Improve Margins

<p>Last year saw the launch of a new netsuper by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amazon-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:409:1" rel="noopener">Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/life-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1743:1" rel="noopener">Life Corp (8194 JP)</a>. The combination of the leading e-commerce retailer and the country’s top supermarket chain makes this one of the strongest contenders in the race for online food sales, particularly as Life is under the control of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP)</a> – although <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> aren’t standing still.</p>
<p>Amazon is now expanding its tie-up with Life and plans to bring in Valor as a new partner later this year and is highly likely to add further partnerships going forward.</p>

Last year saw the launch of a new netsuper by Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US) and Life Corp (8194 JP). The combination of the leading e-commerce retailer and the country’s top supermarket chain makes this one of the strongest contenders in the race for online food sales, particularly as Life is under the control of Mitsubishi Corp (8058 JP) – although Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) and Z Holdings (4689 JP) aren’t standing still.
Amazon is now expanding its tie-up with Life and plans to bring in Valor as a new partner later this year and is highly likely to add further partnerships going forward.

Amazon Adds Partnership with Valor in Race for Japan Online Food Retail Leadership

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/izumi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13173:1" rel="noopener">Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP)</a> has taken a 20% share in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/maruyoshi-center-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6892:1" rel="noopener">Maruyoshi Center (7515 JP)</a>, the last major independent supermarket chain in Shikoku.</p>
<p>Coupled with Izumi’s new partnership with Seven &amp; I, the move opens up the battle lines between Izumi and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> as the only two major FMCG retailers in southern Japan.</p>

Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP) has taken a 20% share in Maruyoshi Center (7515 JP), the last major independent supermarket chain in Shikoku.
Coupled with Izumi’s new partnership with Seven &amp; I, the move opens up the battle lines between Izumi and Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) as the only two major FMCG retailers in southern Japan.

Izumi and Maruyoshi Center Become Affiliates, Furthers Proxy War with Aeon

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

Quantitative Analysis

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/347/original/2019-04-20_09-59-40.png?1555722056" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85347"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>UnCh</strong> - Japanese equities are unchanged in US dollar terms over both three and six months. The Bank of Japan has intervened on 42 of the 121 trading days since October 22nd or an average of 1.6 times a week as foreigners remain underweight. As corporate results and macro data continue to disappoint, the outlook for the market is muted ahead of the upcoming ten-day holiday which combines the traditional Golden Week holidays with the accession of the new Emperor and the beginning of the Reiwa era (令和時代).  </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/405/original/2019-04-21_07-28-03.png?1555799330" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85405"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Investing.com</div><p><strong>CURRENCY RISK?</strong> - "UnCh" also applies to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/22826" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22826:1">JPY (USDJPY CURNCY)</a>  Implied volatility for 9-month USDJPY options reached a new 25-year low last week of 6.11. The previous two lows were in 2006 and 2015 and were followed by periods of sustained Yen strength. The equity market currently appears to be discounting precisely the opposite.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/350/original/2019-04-20_10-21-58.png?1555723331" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85350"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>VTR</strong> - The ratio of the value of stocks traded to the total market value continues to decline. The average for 2019 is 11% below that for the same period last year and is unchanged at 39bps in each month year-to-date.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/381/original/2019-04-20_14-34-11.png?1555738458" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85381"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>VOLUME SCORE TIMELINE</strong> - Volumes have been highest in the <strong>Internet</strong>, <strong>Retail</strong>, and<strong> Telecoms</strong> sectors, while the <strong>Materials</strong>,<strong> Transportation</strong>, <strong>Utilities</strong> and<strong> Real Estate</strong> Sectors have seen the lowest.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/352/original/2019-04-20_10-29-59.png?1555723806" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85352"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>LOWS &gt; HIGHS</strong> - With a deficit of positive news at the individual company level, the number of new 52-week highs has exceeded the number of new 52-week lows on only one-third of the last 31 trading days. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/363/original/2019-04-20_12-34-06.png?1555731278" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85363"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>DRIFTING LOWER</strong> - TTM and Forecasts Aggregate Operating and Net Income continue to drift lower ahead of the full-year results for March year-end companies which are due in a more-concentrated-than-usual period either side of the long break.   </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/384/original/2019-04-20_17-30-47.png?1555749055" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85384"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics <p></p>
</div><p><strong>MIND THE GAP</strong> - Based on our Scoring methodology for aggregate Results &amp; Revisions, the 'gap' between total market value and earnings momentum is now as wide as at the two previous 'peaks' in January 2018 and September 2018.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/435/original/File%202019-04-21%2015%2055%2018.jpeg?1555829876" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85435"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Bank of America Merrill Lynch</div><p><strong>GLOBAL WAVE</strong> - The market is implying that the earnings cycle is close to a bottom which is in accord with BAML's Global Earnings Revision Ratio having ticked up last month for the first time in 14 months. BAML has yet to call a Trough in their Global Wave and, were they to do so, such a Trough would be the first above '50' since 2006.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/378/original/2019-04-20_14-00-43.png?1555736454" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85378"></figure><p><strong>FORECASTS LEADING EARNINGS LOWER</strong> - Separating our the Results Score and the Forecast &amp; Revision Score, the latter is continuing to lead the former to the downside, although both Scores are in aggregate still positive. Reported earnings and forecasts are still growing year-on-year; however, the momentum is slowing rapidly.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/085/379/original/2019-04-20_14-04-23.png?1555736670" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="85379"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>INTERIM LEADING ANNUAL LOWER</strong> -  Between February and September in each year, there is a statistically significant number of Interim Forecasts that they can be compared to the Annual Forecasts with which they are combined to derive the score in the previous chart. Interim Forecasts are often prepared by the divisional heads are not accorded the same 'reverence' as the Annual Forecasts. As a result, the Interim numbers offer a good leading indicator of short-term trends. In recent weeks, the aggregate Interim Forecast/Revision Score has turned sharply lower and is now at the lowest point in almost two years.   </p><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> section below, we will review Sector performance, company results, revisions and stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/14191" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14191:1">Koshidaka (2157 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2765" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a>, <strong>Drugstores</strong>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/237" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:237:1">Daiwa House (1925 JP)</a>, <strong>Toyota Parts companies</strong>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2:1">Yamato Holdings (9064 JP)</a>.</p>

Source: Japan AnalyticsUnCh - Japanese equities are unchanged in US dollar terms over both three and six months. The Bank of Japan has intervened on 42 of the 121 trading days since October 22nd or an average of 1.6 times a week as foreigners remain underweight. As corporate results and macro data continue to disappoint, the outlook for the market is muted ahead of the upcoming ten-day holiday which combines the traditional Golden Week holidays with the accession of the new Emperor and the beginning of the Reiwa era (令和時代).  Source: Investing.comCURRENCY RISK? - "UnCh" also applies to JPY (USDJPY CURNCY)  Implied volatility for 9-month USDJPY options reached a new 25-year low last week of 6.11. The previous two lows were in 2006 and 2015 and were followed by periods of sustained Yen strength. The equity market currently appears to be discounting precisely the opposite.   Source: Japan AnalyticsVTR - The ratio of the value of stocks traded to the total market value continues to decline. The average for 2019 is 11% below that for the same period last year and is unchanged at 39bps in each month year-to-date.Source: Japan AnalyticsVOLUME SCORE TIMELINE - Volumes have been highest in the Internet, Retail, and Telecoms sectors, while the Materials, Transportation, Utilities and Real Estate Sectors have seen the lowest.Source: Japan AnalyticsLOWS &gt; HIGHS - With a deficit of positive news at the individual company level, the number of new 52-week highs has exceeded the number of new 52-week lows on only one-third of the last 31 trading days. Source: Japan AnalyticsDRIFTING LOWER - TTM and Forecasts Aggregate Operating and Net Income continue to drift lower ahead of the full-year results for March year-end companies which are due in a more-concentrated-than-usual period either side of the long break.   Source: Japan Analytics 
MIND THE GAP - Based on our Scoring methodology for aggregate Results &amp; Revisions, the 'gap' between total market value and earnings momentum is now as wide as at the two previous 'peaks' in January 2018 and September 2018.Source: Bank of America Merrill LynchGLOBAL WAVE - The market is implying that the earnings cycle is close to a bottom which is in accord with BAML's Global Earnings Revision Ratio having ticked up last month for the first time in 14 months. BAML has yet to call a Trough in their Global Wave and, were they to do so, such a Trough would be the first above '50' since 2006.FORECASTS LEADING EARNINGS LOWER - Separating our the Results Score and the Forecast &amp; Revision Score, the latter is continuing to lead the former to the downside, although both Scores are in aggregate still positive. Reported earnings and forecasts are still growing year-on-year; however, the momentum is slowing rapidly.Source: Japan AnalyticsINTERIM LEADING ANNUAL LOWER -  Between February and September in each year, there is a statistically significant number of Interim Forecasts that they can be compared to the Annual Forecasts with which they are combined to derive the score in the previous chart. Interim Forecasts are often prepared by the divisional heads are not accorded the same 'reverence' as the Annual Forecasts. As a result, the Interim numbers offer a good leading indicator of short-term trends. In recent weeks, the aggregate Interim Forecast/Revision Score has turned sharply lower and is now at the lowest point in almost two years.   In the DETAIL section below, we will review Sector performance, company results, revisions and stock performance over the previous two weeks, as well as adding some brief comments on Koshidaka (2157 JP), Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), Drugstores, Daiwa House (1925 JP), Toyota Parts companies, and Yamato Holdings (9064 JP).

🇯🇵 Japan • Fortnightly Update - "UnCh"

Japan

IZUMI CO., LTD. operates shopping centers mainly in the Chugoku area, selling food products, clothing, and household utensils.  The Company also operates real estate business and credit card services.

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Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP)

Adastria Signs Forever 21, New Growth Through Licensing?

Adastria has suffered from inconsistent growth recently as it adjusted to maturity and the pandemic but has come up with two new growth ideas:...

Michael Causton

Izumi Focus on Food and Online Should Improve Margins

Izumi has been one of the few decent performers among GMS retailers in the past five years but now looks under increasing pressure - despite new...

Michael Causton

Amazon Adds Partnership with Valor in Race for Japan Online Food Retail Leadership

Amazon is reaching out to the leading supermarkets in each region to create a network of supply and delivery points for its online supermarket in...

Michael Causton

Izumi and Maruyoshi Center Become Affiliates, Furthers Proxy War with Aeon

Izumi Co Ltd (8273 JP) has taken a 20% share in Maruyoshi Center (7515 JP), the last major independent supermarket chain in Shikoku. Coupled with...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 Japan • Fortnightly Update - "UnCh"

UnCh - Japanese equities are unchanged in US dollar terms over both three and six months. The Bank of Japan has intervened on 42 of the 121 trading...

Campbell Gunn

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