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 last 18 months were the most traumatic for the fashion retail history since WWII. </li>
<li>Average household consumption budgets for apparel fell 18% in 2020 to a monthly average of just ¥10,655, 22% down on five years previously.</li>
<li>The following is an in-depth review of the fashion sector with unique rankings of the top 100, most profitable, fastest growing chains.</li>
</ul>


The last 18 months were the most traumatic for the fashion retail history since WWII. 
Average household consumption budgets for apparel fell 18% in 2020 to a monthly average of just ¥10,655, 22% down on five years previously.
The following is an in-depth review of the fashion sector with unique rankings of the top 100, most profitable, fastest growing chains.


Fashion Retailing 2020-21: Leading Brands Suffer Worst Year in Modern History

Last year the Japanese fashion market contracted below ¥16 trillion for the first time in more than a decade and this year is proving much, much worse.In the last big crises – the 2008 financial shock and 2011 triple disasters – demand also fell dramatically and then recovered. But this time is different: as well as a fall in demand, the Covid-19 crisis has also led to a marked fall in supply.But there is some good news. Above all, Japanese are not travelling either at home or abroad and they are also eating out less.In the seven months to July, the average working household had cumulatively saved a net ¥1.25 million, more than 11 months in both 2018 and 2019 and more than an entire year before 2018.Suddenly wallets are full, which could mean more money to spend on treats – good news for luxury but also any brand or retailing offering something fun to divert from the all bleak news.While the short-term outlook remains dark, the medium-term should see both a return to a more stable trading environment and something of a splurge too as people express their relief that it’s all over.The following is a complete review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector including rankings of the top 100 retailers by sales, top by profit, sales growth, and store openings/closures.This insight is labelled bullish because the Japanese apparel/fashion sector will rebound from the current crisis although the long-term outlook for this sector is stagnant stability rather than significant growth. However, within this, there are significant growth stocks as detailed below.

Last year the Japanese fashion market contracted below ¥16 trillion for the first time in more than a decade and this year is proving much, much worse.In the last big crises – the 2008 financial shock and 2011 triple disasters – demand also fell dramatically and then recovered. But this time is different: as well as a fall in demand, the Covid-19 crisis has also led to a marked fall in supply.But there is some good news. Above all, Japanese are not travelling either at home or abroad and they are also eating out less.In the seven months to July, the average working household had cumulatively saved a net ¥1.25 million, more than 11 months in both 2018 and 2019 and more than an entire year before 2018.Suddenly wallets are full, which could mean more money to spend on treats – good news for luxury but also any brand or retailing offering something fun to divert from the all bleak news.While the short-term outlook remains dark, the medium-term should see both a return to a more stable trading environment and something of a splurge too as people express their relief that it’s all over.The following is a complete review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector including rankings of the top 100 retailers by sales, top by profit, sales growth, and store openings/closures.This insight is labelled bullish because the Japanese apparel/fashion sector will rebound from the current crisis although the long-term outlook for this sector is stagnant stability rather than significant growth. However, within this, there are significant growth stocks as detailed below.

Japan Fashion Retailing Complete Review 2019-20: Pain Now but a Recovery Is Certain

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/669/original/2020-07-01_05-28-36.png?1593548938" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143669"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/143/673/original/2020-07-01_06-01-59.png?1593550949" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="143673"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>
WASTE NOT..- Waste treatment company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiseki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2330:1" rel="noopener">Daiseki (9793 JP)</a>'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However, the 19% and 24% cuts to both Operating and Net Income for the first half and full-year highlight the current decline in industrial activity in Japan is likely to be prolonged and, possibly, similar to that seen in 2009. The outlook for Daiseki's listed subsidiary <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiseki-eco-solution-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13776:1" rel="noopener">Daiseki Eco. Solution (1712 JP)</a> is equally subdued.  Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-display-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8280:1" rel="noopener">Japan Display (6740 JP)</a> annual losses 'improved' to only ¥101 billion at the net level on ¥504 billion in sales, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona (2168 JP)</a> revised down the soon-to-be-declared FY2020 Net Income by 66% relative to TTM on further Anime theme park write-offs. LCD/SPE specialist <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marumae-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16671:1" rel="noopener">Marumae (6264 JP)</a> produced the best results of the day driven by a 38% year-on-year increase in quarterly sales.
<hr>
DAILY STATS
<hr>
</div><div>21 Quarterly Results</div><div><ul>
<li>
Results Score: 6 Positive / 3 Neutral / 12 Negative</li>
<li>
Average Results Score Change:-3.2</li>
<li>
Average % Change in Revenue: +0.2% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY</li>
<li>
Average Operating Profit Margin Change: 0.0ppt</li>
</ul></div><hr><div> 13 Annual • 8 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</div><div><ul>
<li>
Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 4 Positive / 2 Neutral / 7 Negative</li>
<li>
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 2 Positive / 1 Neutral / 5 Negative</li>
<li>
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -5.6</li>
</ul></div>


Source • Japan Analytics
WASTE NOT..- Waste treatment company Daiseki (9793 JP)'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However, the 19% and 24% cuts to both Operating and Net Income for the first half and full-year highlight the current decline in industrial activity in Japan is likely to be prolonged and, possibly, similar to that seen in 2009. The outlook for Daiseki's listed subsidiary Daiseki Eco. Solution (1712 JP) is equally subdued.  Meanwhile, Japan Display (6740 JP) annual losses 'improved' to only ¥101 billion at the net level on ¥504 billion in sales, while Pasona (2168 JP) revised down the soon-to-be-declared FY2020 Net Income by 66% relative to TTM on further Anime theme park write-offs. LCD/SPE specialist Marumae (6264 JP) produced the best results of the day driven by a 38% year-on-year increase in quarterly sales.

DAILY STATS

21 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 6 Positive / 3 Neutral / 12 Negative

Average Results Score Change:-3.2

Average % Change in Revenue: +0.2% Quarter YoY / -5.9% Rolling TTM YoY

Average Operating Profit Margin Change: 0.0ppt
 13 Annual • 8 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 4 Positive / 2 Neutral / 7 Negative

Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 2 Positive / 1 Neutral / 5 Negative

Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: -5.6


🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th June - Waste Not..

No one really knows what will happen after the initial shock of the coronavirus fades away. Many observers in Japan, expert and otherwise, are already predicting a completely new world in one way or another, but the reality is likely more prosaic.What is certain is that the Japanese consumer economy will recover and it is just a question of when.The most likely effect of the crisis is that it will catalyse a period of change already in process and which also happens to be one of the most dramatic and far-reaching seen so far in retail.But there is one trend that may well reverse as more businesses go under or contract, providing relief for many retailers: the labour shortage and rise in wages.The following offers an in-depth review of both the impact of the current crisis and implications as well as the long-term trends in Japanese retailing, providing insight into which sectors, formats and specific companies will win and lose in the next three years.For a short read, we provide the conclusions and winners and losers first.

No one really knows what will happen after the initial shock of the coronavirus fades away. Many observers in Japan, expert and otherwise, are already predicting a completely new world in one way or another, but the reality is likely more prosaic.What is certain is that the Japanese consumer economy will recover and it is just a question of when.The most likely effect of the crisis is that it will catalyse a period of change already in process and which also happens to be one of the most dramatic and far-reaching seen so far in retail.But there is one trend that may well reverse as more businesses go under or contract, providing relief for many retailers: the labour shortage and rise in wages.The following offers an in-depth review of both the impact of the current crisis and implications as well as the long-term trends in Japanese retailing, providing insight into which sectors, formats and specific companies will win and lose in the next three years.For a short read, we provide the conclusions and winners and losers first.

After Covid: The Future for Japanese Retail: Winners & Losers

Japan

Taka-Q Co., Ltd. manufactures mainly men's business suits and casual clothing and also women's and children's clothing.  The Company also markets international designers' brand goods and operates chain stores with Taka-Q and other brands.

Taka Q Ltd (8166 JP)

Fashion Retailing 2020-21: Leading Brands Suffer Worst Year in Modern History

This insight is an in-depth review of Japan's apparel sector providing key background and comparisons for investors, including rankings of the top...

Michael Causton

Japan Fashion Retailing Complete Review 2019-20: Pain Now but a Recovery Is Certain

The following is a complete, in-depth review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector covering key trends, rankings of the top 100 by sales and top...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 30th June - Waste Not..

WASTE NOT..- Waste treatment company Daiseki (9793 JP)'s first-quarter results saw Net Income decline by 17% on a 1% decline in sales. However,...

Campbell Gunn

After Covid: The Future for Japanese Retail: Winners & Losers

No one really knows what will happen after the initial shock of the coronavirus fades away. Many observers in Japan, expert and otherwise, are...

Michael Causton