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 growth in retail media (brand advertising delivered in stores based on detailed customer data) continues to be one of the big trends in 2024.</li>
<li>Large retailers are keen to add this new revenue stream – and lots of brands want to advertise with them – and companies like Rakuten are offering this service directly.</li>
<li>For many retailers, they still need help from experts in advertising and data analysis to make it work, providing an opportunity for Hakuhodo among others.</li>
</ul>


The growth in retail media (brand advertising delivered in stores based on detailed customer data) continues to be one of the big trends in 2024.
Large retailers are keen to add this new revenue stream – and lots of brands want to advertise with them – and companies like Rakuten are offering this service directly.
For many retailers, they still need help from experts in advertising and data analysis to make it work, providing an opportunity for Hakuhodo among others.


Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

<ul>
<li>1810 HK/BIDU: Google's Gemma is an important move for client-side AI (+)</li>
<li>3690 HK: Local news said Douyin has deemphasized take out business (+)</li>
<li>PDD/4689 JP/AMZN/4385 JP/4755 JP: Data indicates that Temu is particularly popular in Japan (+/~/-/-/-)</li>
</ul>


1810 HK/BIDU: Google's Gemma is an important move for client-side AI (+)
3690 HK: Local news said Douyin has deemphasized take out business (+)
PDD/4689 JP/AMZN/4385 JP/4755 JP: Data indicates that Temu is particularly popular in Japan (+/~/-/-/-)


[Blue Lotus Daily - TMT Update]: 700 HK/1810 HK/BIDU/JD/BABA/PDD/1024 HK/3690 HK/WB/4689JP/4755JP

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>The Nikkei hasn’t been this high since the Berlin Wall came toppling down. The Nikkei was up over 4% on the week and stands 15% higher YTD.</li>
<li>There were plenty of reasons not to be higher. US stocks closed marginally lower; AI stocks like  SMCI crashed on Friday; </li>
<li>Japanese stocks were higher but that hides significant divergence between the winners and losers after a heavy week of earnings releases. Perhaps a pause for breath next week.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei hasn’t been this high since the Berlin Wall came toppling down. The Nikkei was up over 4% on the week and stands 15% higher YTD.
There were plenty of reasons not to be higher. US stocks closed marginally lower; AI stocks like  SMCI crashed on Friday; 
Japanese stocks were higher but that hides significant divergence between the winners and losers after a heavy week of earnings releases. Perhaps a pause for breath next week.


Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/k-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36073:1" rel="noopener">K Bank (279570 KS)</a> raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.</li>
<li>K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.</li>
<li>In this note, we will talk about the lockup dynamics and possible placement.</li>
</ul>



K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.
K Bank is one of three Internet-only banks in Korea. It provides a full range of commercial banking products and services.
In this note, we will talk about the lockup dynamics and possible placement.


Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Three weeks ago, I published my "final expected list" for the Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal. This used the new Industry/Sector created, following the Guidebook. </li>
<li>I had looked at the language of the consultation and the language and made an assumption. </li>
<li>Developments since then warrant a second look, and an exploration into what MIGHT BE possible. </li>
</ul>


Three weeks ago, I published my "final expected list" for the Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal. This used the new Industry/Sector created, following the Guidebook. 
I had looked at the language of the consultation and the language and made an assumption. 
Developments since then warrant a second look, and an exploration into what MIGHT BE possible. 


[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Rakuten (4755 JP)

Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...

Michael Causton

[Blue Lotus Daily - TMT Update]: 700 HK/1810 HK/BIDU/JD/BABA/PDD/1024 HK/3690 HK/WB/4689JP/4755JP

Google's Gemma is an important move for client-side AI; Douyin shifts focus away from takeout; and Temu gains popularity in Japan.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...

Mark Chadwick

Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.

Sumeet Singh

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

Nikkei 225 Index methodology changes go further than the new Guidebook reports. That makes March 2027 different. HOW different we will only learn...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Retail Media in Japan: More Revenue for Retailers, More Sales for Brands

​Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...

Michael Causton

[Blue Lotus Daily - TMT Update]: 700 HK/1810 HK/BIDU/JD/BABA/PDD/1024 HK/3690 HK/WB/4689JP/4755JP

​Google's Gemma is an important move for client-side AI; Douyin shifts focus away from takeout; and Temu gains popularity in Japan.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Japan Weekly | Rakuten, Asics, Ebara, Tokyo Electron Chalk up Big Gains

​Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...

Mark Chadwick

Aequitas Kbank Lockup Expiry - Most Investors Will Be Out of Lockup, as 23% of Stock Is Released

K Bank (279570 KS) raised around US$340m in its South Korean IPO in March 2026. The lockup on its pre-IPO investors is set to expire soon.

Sumeet Singh

[Quiddity Index] Nikkei 225 Sep26 Rebal - New Rules NOW (Not Later) But 3 ADDs Remain Unchanged

Nikkei 225 Index methodology changes go further than the new Guidebook reports. That makes March 2027 different. HOW different we will only learn...

Travis Lundy

Retail media, a big trend in 2024, offers major revenue potential for retailers as well as intermediaries like Hakuhodo in advertising and data...

Google's Gemma is an important move for client-side AI; Douyin shifts focus away from takeout; and Temu gains popularity in Japan.

Despite potential reasons for caution, the Nikkei reached a new high not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a 4% increase for the week...