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. 

Event-Driven

The Japanese drugstore sector has been consolidating fast for a decade led by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1">Aeon's (8267 JP)</a> Welcia subsidiary, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsuruha-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9536:1">Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sundrug-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12615:1">Sundrug Co Ltd (9989 JP)</a>, which have taken the top three spots in the sector ahead of the long-time leader, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsumotokiyoshi-holdings-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP)</a>.
Last month the latter tried to retake its pole position by opening negotiations to buy seventh-ranked <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cocokara-fine-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15447:1">Cocokara Fine (3098 JP)</a>. A few days later, however, sixth-ranked <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sugi-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9255:1">Sugi Holdings (7649 JP)</a> began its own negotiations, creating an unusual situation where two companies are publicly bidding for the same target.
(For details on the deal and the likely implications for respective share prices etc, as always I defer to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/travis-lundy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:25">Travis Lundy</a> who has an excellent analysis on this in his Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/cocokara-fine-cocokara" target="_blank">here</a>).
A deal with Cocokara Fine is crucial for Matsumotokiyoshi. If it succeeds, it will again lead the sector with a business a third bigger than the current leader. If it fails to woo the smaller firm and Sugi succeeds, however, Matsumotokiyoshi will have fallen from sector leader to the sixth position in three years and will likely want to start wooing current third-ranked player <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sundrug-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12615:1">Sundrug Co Ltd (9989 JP)</a>. It may even try and negotiate a partial merger with Tsuruha if it doesn't want to be left behind in what will likely become a sector dominated by three or four major retail groups in the next five years.
Whatever the outcome of the Cocokara Fine deal, further consolidation will occur in Japan's drugstore sector and M&amp;A will be a key strategy to make this happen.

The Japanese drugstore sector has been consolidating fast for a decade led by Aeon's (8267 JP) Welcia subsidiary, Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and Sundrug Co Ltd (9989 JP), which have taken the top three spots in the sector ahead of the long-time leader, Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP).
Last month the latter tried to retake its pole position by opening negotiations to buy seventh-ranked Cocokara Fine (3098 JP). A few days later, however, sixth-ranked Sugi Holdings (7649 JP) began its own negotiations, creating an unusual situation where two companies are publicly bidding for the same target.
(For details on the deal and the likely implications for respective share prices etc, as always I defer to Travis Lundy who has an excellent analysis on this in his Insight here).
A deal with Cocokara Fine is crucial for Matsumotokiyoshi. If it succeeds, it will again lead the sector with a business a third bigger than the current leader. If it fails to woo the smaller firm and Sugi succeeds, however, Matsumotokiyoshi will have fallen from sector leader to the sixth position in three years and will likely want to start wooing current third-ranked player Sundrug Co Ltd (9989 JP). It may even try and negotiate a partial merger with Tsuruha if it doesn't want to be left behind in what will likely become a sector dominated by three or four major retail groups in the next five years.
Whatever the outcome of the Cocokara Fine deal, further consolidation will occur in Japan's drugstore sector and M&amp;A will be a key strategy to make this happen.

Drug-Fuelled Marriages and Macho Shachos* in Japan

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Five weeks ago at the end of April just before Golden Week, specialty drugstore retailers <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cocokara-fine-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15447:1">Cocokara Fine (3098 JP)</a> (#7 in sales) and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/matsumotokiyoshi-holdings-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP)</a> (#4 or #5 in sales) announced the start of talks aimed at the possible merger of drugstore operations to become the largest drugstore operator in Japan with pro-forma net revenues of ~¥975bn annually (beating leader <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/welcia-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20895:1">Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)</a>'s ¥780bn, with an eventual capital merger possible. Talks were set to conclude by September.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/michael-causton" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:2415">Michael Causton</a>, as is his wont, wrote about the possible tie-up a couple of weeks ago in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/matsukiyo-and-cocokara-fine-tie-to-shake-up-drugstore-sector" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:29890">Matsukiyo and Cocokara Fine Tie to Shake up Drugstore Sector</a>. It is worth a read. For a long time, the drugstore sector was the darling of foreign investors because of decent top line growth but post-GFC the industry slowed down for several years before jumping in Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 (ending in early 2018 in most cases) but he thinks the sector still has growth (see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-drugstores-set-to-expand-further" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:28119">Japan Drugstores Set to Expand Further</a>).  His conclusion? <blockquote>Drugstore retailing today is unrecognisable compared to 10 years ago and the speed of change and development is now set to accelerate even further, with M&amp;A a key strategy.</blockquote><h2>The New News</h2>Over the weekend, Sector #6 <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sugi-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9255:1">Sugi Holdings (7649 JP)</a> announced that it had agreed to enter business integration talks with Cocokara Fine over the weekend with the aim to conclude talks by the end of July - at least a month ahead of when the talks between Matsukiyo and Cocokara were scheduled to end. It turns out the announcement between Matsukiyo and Cocokara turned some heads in the industry and Sugi Holdings approached Cocokara just a couple of days later. Interestingly - and highly unusual for Japan - Matsukiyo <a href="https://www.matsumotokiyoshi-hd.co.jp/news/data/7aab7e719783f4e1f894dee904e74820.pdf" target="_blank">said</a> (Japanese-only) today that it was going to continue to negotiate. This makes it a situation where there are two strategic acquirors for one asset (Cocokara) and they are both "friendly." This is practically unheard of in Japan. This sets up a competitive bidding situation for Cocokara which is worthwhile thinking about.<hr><div class="content-remarks">*With apologies to non-Japanese readers, the title is a pun playing on the origins of the company name and the English and Japanese treatment of "fine" and good.</div>

Five weeks ago at the end of April just before Golden Week, specialty drugstore retailers Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) (#7 in sales) and Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP) (#4 or #5 in sales) announced the start of talks aimed at the possible merger of drugstore operations to become the largest drugstore operator in Japan with pro-forma net revenues of ~¥975bn annually (beating leader Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)'s ¥780bn, with an eventual capital merger possible. Talks were set to conclude by September.Michael Causton, as is his wont, wrote about the possible tie-up a couple of weeks ago in Matsukiyo and Cocokara Fine Tie to Shake up Drugstore Sector. It is worth a read. For a long time, the drugstore sector was the darling of foreign investors because of decent top line growth but post-GFC the industry slowed down for several years before jumping in Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 (ending in early 2018 in most cases) but he thinks the sector still has growth (see Japan Drugstores Set to Expand Further).  His conclusion? Drugstore retailing today is unrecognisable compared to 10 years ago and the speed of change and development is now set to accelerate even further, with M&amp;A a key strategy.The New NewsOver the weekend, Sector #6 Sugi Holdings (7649 JP) announced that it had agreed to enter business integration talks with Cocokara Fine over the weekend with the aim to conclude talks by the end of July - at least a month ahead of when the talks between Matsukiyo and Cocokara were scheduled to end. It turns out the announcement between Matsukiyo and Cocokara turned some heads in the industry and Sugi Holdings approached Cocokara just a couple of days later. Interestingly - and highly unusual for Japan - Matsukiyo said (Japanese-only) today that it was going to continue to negotiate. This makes it a situation where there are two strategic acquirors for one asset (Cocokara) and they are both "friendly." This is practically unheard of in Japan. This sets up a competitive bidding situation for Cocokara which is worthwhile thinking about.*With apologies to non-Japanese readers, the title is a pun playing on the origins of the company name and the English and Japanese treatment of "fine" and good.

Equity Bottom-Up

Two of the country’s largest mass market drugstore operators announced talks about a new tie-up last month. If it happens, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2259" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2259:1">Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/15447" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15447:1">Cocokara Fine (3098 JP)</a> will jointly run a drugstore operation more than a third larger than any current rival.
In this fast developing sector, such a move will not be taken lying down by rivals and could well stimulate a rush of similar tie-ups over the next year.

Two of the country’s largest mass market drugstore operators announced talks about a new tie-up last month. If it happens, Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co (3088 JP) and Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) will jointly run a drugstore operation more than a third larger than any current rival.
In this fast developing sector, such a move will not be taken lying down by rivals and could well stimulate a rush of similar tie-ups over the next year.

Matsukiyo and Cocokara Fine Tie to Shake up Drugstore Sector

'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>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 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).  <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>CURRENCY RISK? - "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.   <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>VTR - 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.<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>VOLUME 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.<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>LOWS &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. <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>DRIFTING 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.   <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 
</div>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.<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>GLOBAL 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.<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>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.<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>INTERIM 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 <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>, Drugstores, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/237" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:237:1">Daiwa House (1925 JP)</a>, Toyota Parts companies, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2:1">Yamato Holdings (9064 JP)</a>.

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"

<a href="https://discover.decathlon.fr/conception" target="_blank">Decathlon</a> is a category killer sans pareil and will finally open its first store in Japan in March. If Decathlon implements its store roll out well, the French sports retailer will cause a major disruption in Japan's sports market.
Large domestic sports retailers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/13955" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13955:1">Xebio Holdings (8281 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/17762" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17762:1">Alpen Co Ltd (3028 JP)</a> will be gearing up to compete in some categories but are far behind in private label development and cost performance, and the major sports brands will have to accelerate their plans for retail stores while reviewing pricing (downwards). Sports firms like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/14244" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14244:1">Mizuno (8022 JP)</a>, with relatively low perceived brand value, could face challenges in the newly polarised market that will emerge from Decathlon's entry.
A major source of competition for Decathlon will come from a more unlikely retailer: the uniforms to outdoor apparel/gear firm, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/8467" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8467:1">Workman (7564 JP)</a>. While still small, Workman is already manoeuvring to hinder Decathlon's growth in Japan, and looks like having establishment backing to do so – and echoes the growth of Uniqlo after Gap entered the Japanese market in the 1990s and the rise and rise of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/20386" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20386:1">Nitori (9843 JP)</a> after IKEA's launch in 2006.
Both Gap and IKEA have relatively small operations in Japan today compared to their early potential. Decathlon will need to expand rapidly if it is to gain sufficient share to stop Workman emerging with a clear lead in its market.

Decathlon is a category killer sans pareil and will finally open its first store in Japan in March. If Decathlon implements its store roll out well, the French sports retailer will cause a major disruption in Japan's sports market.
Large domestic sports retailers like Xebio Holdings (8281 JP) and Alpen Co Ltd (3028 JP) will be gearing up to compete in some categories but are far behind in private label development and cost performance, and the major sports brands will have to accelerate their plans for retail stores while reviewing pricing (downwards). Sports firms like Mizuno (8022 JP), with relatively low perceived brand value, could face challenges in the newly polarised market that will emerge from Decathlon's entry.
A major source of competition for Decathlon will come from a more unlikely retailer: the uniforms to outdoor apparel/gear firm, Workman (7564 JP). While still small, Workman is already manoeuvring to hinder Decathlon's growth in Japan, and looks like having establishment backing to do so – and echoes the growth of Uniqlo after Gap entered the Japanese market in the 1990s and the rise and rise of Nitori (9843 JP) after IKEA's launch in 2006.
Both Gap and IKEA have relatively small operations in Japan today compared to their early potential. Decathlon will need to expand rapidly if it is to gain sufficient share to stop Workman emerging with a clear lead in its market. 

Workman Vs. Decathlon: The Upcoming Battle for Japan's Sports Market

Japan

MatsukiyoCocokara & Co. operates drug store chains. The Company retails medicines, cosmetics, health foods, beauty care products, and other products. MatsukiyoCocokara & also operates supermarkets and home centers.

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MatsukiyoCocokara (3088 JP)

Drug-Fuelled Marriages and Macho Shachos* in Japan

The Japanese drugstore sector has been consolidating fast for a decade led by Aeon's (8267 JP) Welcia subsidiary, Tsuruha Holdings (3391 JP) and...

Michael Causton

Cocokara Fine は Cocokara いいね*

Five weeks ago at the end of April just before Golden Week, specialty drugstore retailers Cocokara Fine (3098 JP) (#7 in sales) and...

Travis Lundy

Matsukiyo and Cocokara Fine Tie to Shake up Drugstore Sector

Two of the country’s largest mass market drugstore operators announced talks about a new tie-up last month. If it happens, Matsumotokiyoshi...

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

Workman Vs. Decathlon: The Upcoming Battle for Japan's Sports Market

Decathlon is a category killer sans pareil and will finally open its first store in Japan in March. If Decathlon implements its store roll out...

Michael Causton

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