Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS. SPX new 52W highs on Bank earnings, AI (thx to MSFT), and Resilient Retail print; MSFT prices Copilot at high end; US bank CEOs showing optimism. </li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Look for continued follow through in Japan equity bid; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak view;   Kishida cabinet reshuffle?</li>
<li>NUGGET. Isuzu(7202) - Big EV Spending but Still looks Cheap at 1x PBR. A 15% FY3/26 ROE as per mid term plan makes this look interesting for LT investors here.</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS. SPX new 52W highs on Bank earnings, AI (thx to MSFT), and Resilient Retail print; MSFT prices Copilot at high end; US bank CEOs showing optimism. 
JAPAN. NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Look for continued follow through in Japan equity bid; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak view;   Kishida cabinet reshuffle?
NUGGET. Isuzu(7202) - Big EV Spending but Still looks Cheap at 1x PBR. A 15% FY3/26 ROE as per mid term plan makes this look interesting for LT investors here.


Ohayo Japan | Bullish Banks, Ai , US Consumer; NUGGET: Isuzu(7202) - EV Outlook Better for Trucks

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  Strong close to Month, Quarter and Half Year as SPX rose +1.2% on Friday; AI Trade Back as NDX100 hit  $5trn Mkt cap; Apple now &gt;$3 trill !</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futs +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 144.3; Tokyo Inflation print 3.2% raises questions on national inflation and BOJ's next steps;  Tokyo heats up as Power conservation measures implemented</li>
<li>NUGGET.  We believe Toyota's concerns regarding BEVs are valid. We see them having the technology and manufacturing prowess at scale, strong branding, and global reach to eventually overtake Tesla</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  Strong close to Month, Quarter and Half Year as SPX rose +1.2% on Friday; AI Trade Back as NDX100 hit  $5trn Mkt cap; Apple now &gt;$3 trill !
JAPAN. NKY Futs +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 144.3; Tokyo Inflation print 3.2% raises questions on national inflation and BOJ's next steps;  Tokyo heats up as Power conservation measures implemented
NUGGET.  We believe Toyota's concerns regarding BEVs are valid. We see them having the technology and manufacturing prowess at scale, strong branding, and global reach to eventually overtake Tesla


Ohayo Japan | Bull Mkt - Nasdaq 100 Stunning +39%YTD ! NUGGET: Toyota(7203) BEV Strategy - A Defense

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. 

<ul>
<li>Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.</li>
<li>Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.</li>
<li>Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.</li>
</ul>


Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.
Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.
Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.


<ul>
<li>With energy costs still rising and ongoing supply-chain issues exacerbated by the re-emergence of Covid problems in China, Japanese consumers suddenly face the prospect of genuine price inflation.</li>
<li>How will they respond? Some retailers are trying to resist higher prices at the expense of profits and others have no choice but to raise prices.</li>
<li>We look at the wholesale, retail and consumer response to inflation and which retailers stand to benefit or lose from inflation.</li>
</ul>


With energy costs still rising and ongoing supply-chain issues exacerbated by the re-emergence of Covid problems in China, Japanese consumers suddenly face the prospect of genuine price inflation.
How will they respond? Some retailers are trying to resist higher prices at the expense of profits and others have no choice but to raise prices.
We look at the wholesale, retail and consumer response to inflation and which retailers stand to benefit or lose from inflation.


Widespread Price Rises at Japanese Retail and Wholesale

Equity Bottom-Up

There are few discount supermarkets in Japan and the largest by far is Kobe Bussan’s Gyomu Super franchise chain.
Despite its no frills presentation and reliance on frozen foods, over the past 12 months, prices that are up to half that charged at mainstream chains have drawn in more customers and across a wider age range.
The company is now expecting yet another record performance this year.
When we first recommend Kobe Bussan in October 2018, the share price stood at around ¥780 and has risen to ¥4,080 since. This isn't cheap but given the five year growth potential, we remain bullish about the fundamentals long-term.

There are few discount supermarkets in Japan and the largest by far is Kobe Bussan’s Gyomu Super franchise chain.
Despite its no frills presentation and reliance on frozen foods, over the past 12 months, prices that are up to half that charged at mainstream chains have drawn in more customers and across a wider age range.
The company is now expecting yet another record performance this year.
When we first recommend Kobe Bussan in October 2018, the share price stood at around ¥780 and has risen to ¥4,080 since. This isn't cheap but given the five year growth potential, we remain bullish about the fundamentals long-term.

Japan

Kusuri no Aoki Holdings Co., Ltd. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides medicines, cosmetics, health foods, beauty care, and household products. Kusuri no Aoki Holdings serves customers in Japan.

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Kusuri no Aoki Holdings (3549 JP)

Ohayo Japan | Bullish Banks, Ai , US Consumer; NUGGET: Isuzu(7202) - EV Outlook Better for Trucks

US equities hit new highs on bank and AI optimism; NKY Futures +0.8% vs Cash; USDJPY 138.8; Bank bid thematic gaining more traction on BOJ tweak...

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Bull Mkt - Nasdaq 100 Stunning +39%YTD ! NUGGET: Toyota(7203) BEV Strategy - A Defense

Strong US Close despite the spectre of inflation/Fed hikes; NKY Futs +0.7% vs Cash; USDJPY 144.3; Tokyo May Inflation print 3.2% - BOJ's next...

Mark Chadwick

Outlook for Japanese Retail in 2023

Most Japanese retailers can look forward to a good year in 2023 but there will be challenges for formats like supermarkets where consolidation is...

Michael Causton

Widespread Price Rises at Japanese Retail and Wholesale

Japan is finally getting inflation after a decade of government failed efforts. We examine the wholesale, retail and consumer response to evaluate...

Michael Causton

Kobe Bussan: Achieving New Records

Japan's discount food market is booming. The biggest discount supermarket operator is Kobe Bussan. The share price has around 6-fold since we first...

Michael Causton

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