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>The drugstore sector is now 30% larger than it was in 2015, the fastest growth of any retail channel other than e-commerce. </li>
<li>In 2020 and 2021 that growth continued, with only some minor signs of slowing after the boost that many chains enjoyed at the beginning of the pandemic. </li>
<li>Expansion into food means that drugstores are fast becoming competitors to other retailers and, by 2025, the sector could even break ¥10 trillion, matching the size of convenience stores.</li>
</ul>


The drugstore sector is now 30% larger than it was in 2015, the fastest growth of any retail channel other than e-commerce. 
In 2020 and 2021 that growth continued, with only some minor signs of slowing after the boost that many chains enjoyed at the beginning of the pandemic. 
Expansion into food means that drugstores are fast becoming competitors to other retailers and, by 2025, the sector could even break ¥10 trillion, matching the size of convenience stores.


Japanese Drugstores: The Best Retail Bet Japan Has

<ul>
<li>As more suppliers announce price increases, larger retailers are turning to discount campaigns to establish some early price credibility before competition gets even fiercer. </li>
<li>Lower prices will increasingly attract customers as price sensitivity quickly rises, benefiting discount retailers.</li>
<li>But, with the Yen so low, import prices are also set to add to the pressure pin standard price retailers – a full list of vulnerable retailers below.</li>
</ul>


As more suppliers announce price increases, larger retailers are turning to discount campaigns to establish some early price credibility before competition gets even fiercer. 
Lower prices will increasingly attract customers as price sensitivity quickly rises, benefiting discount retailers.
But, with the Yen so low, import prices are also set to add to the pressure pin standard price retailers – a full list of vulnerable retailers below.


Japan's Big Retailers Resist Price Pressure

<ul>
<li>The latest figures show that Japanese incomes fell for the first time in five years in 2021. </li>
<li>But despite this, average monthly household expenditure recovered and then accelerated at the end of the year. Online spending grew significantly, and much of this was new growth</li>
<li>We detail below which retailers are likely to benefit from these shifts in consumption behaviour over the next few years.</li>
</ul>


The latest figures show that Japanese incomes fell for the first time in five years in 2021. 
But despite this, average monthly household expenditure recovered and then accelerated at the end of the year. Online spending grew significantly, and much of this was new growth
We detail below which retailers are likely to benefit from these shifts in consumption behaviour over the next few years.


Japanese Household Expenditure in 2021 and Beyond: Which Retailers Will Benefit?

The latest Census in Japan confirms the ongoing fall in total population across most of the country but reveals surprising growth markets in small pockets, particularly around Greater Tokyo which now accounts for just under 30% of the total population.There are also ever growing numbers of single people, expanding the promising solo market. In the bigger cities, younger people bring new types of consumption but the increase in older singles is a growing problem.The following provides background macro trends for any investor looking at the Japan consumer space and some stocks we think will benefit from these macro trends.

The latest Census in Japan confirms the ongoing fall in total population across most of the country but reveals surprising growth markets in small pockets, particularly around Greater Tokyo which now accounts for just under 30% of the total population.There are also ever growing numbers of single people, expanding the promising solo market. In the bigger cities, younger people bring new types of consumption but the increase in older singles is a growing problem.The following provides background macro trends for any investor looking at the Japan consumer space and some stocks we think will benefit from these macro trends.

Shrinking, Ageing Japan but a Growing Solo Market

Inevitably, there were widespread problems throughout the Japanese retail sector in 2020, and with drugstores and supermarkets suffering a relative decline in the first quarter of 2021, things are still yet to improve. Department stores were hit hardest, with convenience stores also suffering their worst year on record but, in contrast, big specialty formats and supermarkets had a good year. The three big specialty sectors, electronics, drugstores and home centres, all had excellent years in 2020, as did supermarkets.Although incomes were robust, consumption declined, meaning that savings accounts are fuller than ever before, promising a surge in spending once confidence returns.

Inevitably, there were widespread problems throughout the Japanese retail sector in 2020, and with drugstores and supermarkets suffering a relative decline in the first quarter of 2021, things are still yet to improve. Department stores were hit hardest, with convenience stores also suffering their worst year on record but, in contrast, big specialty formats and supermarkets had a good year. The three big specialty sectors, electronics, drugstores and home centres, all had excellent years in 2020, as did supermarkets.Although incomes were robust, consumption declined, meaning that savings accounts are fuller than ever before, promising a surge in spending once confidence returns.

FY2020 Proves Better than Expected for Japan Retail but Savings Surge

Japan

KUSURI NO AOKI CO., LTD. operates a drug store chain.  The Company sells medical drugs, cosmetics, toiletries, household and sundry goods, and groceries.  Some of their stores sell alcoholic beverages and frozen foods as well.

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Kusuri No Aoki (3398 JP)

Japanese Drugstores: The Best Retail Bet Japan Has

Japan's drugstore sector has been written off by many leading analysts in the past. They were wrong then and are wrong now. The sector has plenty...

Michael Causton

Japan's Big Retailers Resist Price Pressure

The pressure on costs should just mean that retailers raise prices but with competition so intense, standard retailers are trying to resist raising...

Michael Causton

Japanese Household Expenditure in 2021 and Beyond: Which Retailers Will Benefit?

Japanese spent more on homes and less on clothes in the last two years but they also added to their savings. This insight analyses the key...

Michael Causton

Shrinking, Ageing Japan but a Growing Solo Market

Japan's population is contracting but there are areas of growth, particularly the solo market (single people living alone) and the senior market....

Michael Causton

FY2020 Proves Better than Expected for Japan Retail but Savings Surge

A bad year for dept. stores and sectors like apparel (with more bad news to come) but a great one for drugstores, electronics and food. Savings...

Michael Causton

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