Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The telecom sector seems like a notable winner with a change in political leadership.  Pushing through mobile price reductions was one of the few policy successes for the Suga administration and record low approval ratings meant a revival of the issues was never entirely off the table. New leadership without historical ties to the regulator is an improvement. We remain positive on Japanese telecoms with Buy ratings for NTT, KDDI and Softbank.

The telecom sector seems like a notable winner with a change in political leadership.  Pushing through mobile price reductions was one of the few policy successes for the Suga administration and record low approval ratings meant a revival of the issues was never entirely off the table. New leadership without historical ties to the regulator is an improvement. We remain positive on Japanese telecoms with Buy ratings for NTT, KDDI and Softbank.   

Japan Telecoms - Surprise Resignation of the Prime Minister Should Ease Regulatory Pressure

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. 

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

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

Google is reportedly close to acquiring smartphone settlements company Pring for ¥20-30bn which would open the door for it to offer a mobile payments service in Japan directly linked to bank accounts. And that is the appeal of Pring which is a relative minnow in the Japanese payments market with &lt;1mn users but has relationships with a wide range of Japanese financial institutions. Google is not a global fintech player but it has had some success in a few markets like the US and India whilst it has started to expand in Europe, and now apparently, Japan. Competitively, the major domestic players with vast consumer ecosystems are formidable competition but Google connects to half of all smartphone users through Android and has merchant relationships through its Internet advertising business.

Google is reportedly close to acquiring smartphone settlements company Pring for ¥20-30bn which would open the door for it to offer a mobile payments service in Japan directly linked to bank accounts. And that is the appeal of Pring which is a relative minnow in the Japanese payments market with &lt;1mn users but has relationships with a wide range of Japanese financial institutions. Google is not a global fintech player but it has had some success in a few markets like the US and India whilst it has started to expand in Europe, and now apparently, Japan. Competitively, the major domestic players with vast consumer ecosystems are formidable competition but Google connects to half of all smartphone users through Android and has merchant relationships through its Internet advertising business.

Japan Fintech - Google Push into Mobile Payments Could Raise Competitive Intensity

Japan’s retail and distribution sector has long been seen as fragmented, even to the point of being accused of inefficiency. On the surface, concentration levels do remain low, but scratch that surface and a very different picture emerges.
By format and by category sector, larger companies are taking increasing share and, over the past five years, this trend has accelerated.
Now, given the pressures of Covid, there is ample opportunity for stronger players to gain ground by buying out weaker ones, while some mid-level companies are joining together, hoping to become a fish too big to swallow.
Business tie-ups are also increasing in number, particularly as physical retailers seek to bring in and learn skills necessary to succeed in e-commerce and to build omnichannel models.
The following is a detailed review of how concentration has increased along with a map of who own who in retailing today.
There is a strong possibility that we could see some really big deals, even ones that span format and geographical borders, as many mid-sized retailers recognise that independent survival is getting hard. Acquirers will use the current environment to diversify into new areas, expand volumes and market share, or simply acquire more retail property for long-term development.

Japan’s retail and distribution sector has long been seen as fragmented, even to the point of being accused of inefficiency. On the surface, concentration levels do remain low, but scratch that surface and a very different picture emerges.
By format and by category sector, larger companies are taking increasing share and, over the past five years, this trend has accelerated.
Now, given the pressures of Covid, there is ample opportunity for stronger players to gain ground by buying out weaker ones, while some mid-level companies are joining together, hoping to become a fish too big to swallow.
Business tie-ups are also increasing in number, particularly as physical retailers seek to bring in and learn skills necessary to succeed in e-commerce and to build omnichannel models.
The following is a detailed review of how concentration has increased along with a map of who own who in retailing today.
There is a strong possibility that we could see some really big deals, even ones that span format and geographical borders, as many mid-sized retailers recognise that independent survival is getting hard. Acquirers will use the current environment to diversify into new areas, expand volumes and market share, or simply acquire more retail property for long-term development.

Who Owns Who: Concentration Levels Accelerate in Japan Retail, with More M&A to Come

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Japan Telecoms - Surprise Resignation of the Prime Minister Should Ease Regulatory Pressure

The telecom sector wins with political change. Mobile price cuts were one of the few policy successes for this PM and record low approval meant a...

Kirk Boodry

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

A complete review of the Japanese retail sector in the last 18 months, format by format, category by category, providing key trends and winners &...

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

Japan Fintech - Google Push into Mobile Payments Could Raise Competitive Intensity

Google is considering an acquisition that would allow it to compete directly in JP mobile payments. It lacks a direct consumer business but Android...

Kirk Boodry

Who Owns Who: Concentration Levels Accelerate in Japan Retail, with More M&A to Come

Japanese retail is in the process of extensive concentration and market consolidation through M&A, organic expansion and tie-ups. Numerous...

Michael Causton

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