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>As outlined in an overview on Japanese drugstores, the sector has outperformed all retail formats and grown 30% since 2015.</li>
<li>The sector continues to consolidate too, with greater share for a smaller number of leading firms.</li>
<li>This is being driven by organic expansion in and outside drugstores as well as M&amp;A, with a lot more of both to come.</li>
</ul>


As outlined in an overview on Japanese drugstores, the sector has outperformed all retail formats and grown 30% since 2015.
The sector continues to consolidate too, with greater share for a smaller number of leading firms.
This is being driven by organic expansion in and outside drugstores as well as M&amp;A, with a lot more of both to come.


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

Inevitably, there were widespread problems throughout the Japanese retail sector in 2020, and with drugstores and supermarkets suffering a relative decline in the first quarter of 2021, things are still yet to improve. Department stores were hit hardest, with convenience stores also suffering their worst year on record but, in contrast, big specialty formats and supermarkets had a good year. The three big specialty sectors, electronics, drugstores and home centres, all had excellent years in 2020, as did supermarkets.Although incomes were robust, consumption declined, meaning that savings accounts are fuller than ever before, promising a surge in spending once confidence returns.

Inevitably, there were widespread problems throughout the Japanese retail sector in 2020, and with drugstores and supermarkets suffering a relative decline in the first quarter of 2021, things are still yet to improve. Department stores were hit hardest, with convenience stores also suffering their worst year on record but, in contrast, big specialty formats and supermarkets had a good year. The three big specialty sectors, electronics, drugstores and home centres, all had excellent years in 2020, as did supermarkets.Although incomes were robust, consumption declined, meaning that savings accounts are fuller than ever before, promising a surge in spending once confidence returns.

FY2020 Proves Better than Expected for Japan Retail but Savings Surge

'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.

• RESULTS - 7th APRIL •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/374/original/image_44350750721617829220885.png?1617829221" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199374"></figure>RESULTS - All of the larger caps reporting on Wednesday scored negatively, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bell-system24-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27224:1" rel="noopener">Bellsystem24 (6183 JP)</a> faring the worst - the company is also forecasting only single-digit growth in FY22. <figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/375/original/image_88110638531617829511197.png?1617829511" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199375"></figure>• FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 7th APRIL •<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/376/original/image_19503684441617829618279.png?1617829618" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199376"></figure>FORECASTS/REVISIONS - Welcia's FY22 projection of a decline in net income confirms the market's pessimism towards drugstores. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dip-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6209:1" rel="noopener">DIP (2379 JP)</a> compensated for poor fourth-quarter results and a weak interim forecast with a full-year forecast of record sales and a return to 30% operating margins in the second half.<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/377/original/image_45189507451617831214172.png?1617831214" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199377"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/378/original/image_70346033161617831341739.png?1617831342" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199378"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/199/379/original/image_97042980771617831451634.png?1617831452" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="199379"></figure>

• RESULTS - 7th APRIL •RESULTS - All of the larger caps reporting on Wednesday scored negatively, with Bellsystem24 (6183 JP) faring the worst - the company is also forecasting only single-digit growth in FY22. • FORECASTS/REVISIONS - 7th APRIL •FORECASTS/REVISIONS - Welcia's FY22 projection of a decline in net income confirms the market's pessimism towards drugstores. DIP (2379 JP) compensated for poor fourth-quarter results and a weak interim forecast with a full-year forecast of record sales and a return to 30% operating margins in the second half.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​07 - Bellsystem24, Welcia & DIP

The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector by format with a brief overview of incomes and consumption trends and metrics before that. For any investor looking at the Japanese consumer/retail space, this insight will provide a rapid overview of all the major trends.2020 was a year to remember, although not for good reasons. While the news was overwhelmingly negative given the devastation that the pandemic caused to so many lives, for Japan as a country the experience could become a catalyst to spur positive change.No matter how much we might never wish to repeat the last 12 months, those governments and companies that learn from the experience will be better positioned whenever a new pandemic emerges.Department stores, convenience stores, and most fashion chains had a horrible year as so many people stayed away from major shopping areas, but many other retailers actually had stellar years, with further upside still to come.

The following is an in-depth review of the retail sector by format with a brief overview of incomes and consumption trends and metrics before that. For any investor looking at the Japanese consumer/retail space, this insight will provide a rapid overview of all the major trends.2020 was a year to remember, although not for good reasons. While the news was overwhelmingly negative given the devastation that the pandemic caused to so many lives, for Japan as a country the experience could become a catalyst to spur positive change.No matter how much we might never wish to repeat the last 12 months, those governments and companies that learn from the experience will be better positioned whenever a new pandemic emerges.Department stores, convenience stores, and most fashion chains had a horrible year as so many people stayed away from major shopping areas, but many other retailers actually had stellar years, with further upside still to come. 

Japan Retail Full Review 2020-2021: Some Retail Sectors Outperform in a Pandemic

Japan

WELCIA HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. is a holding company established through a merger of Welcia Kanto and Takada Pharmacy.  The Group mainly operates drug chain stores which sell medicines, health foods, cosmetics, nursery items and daily necessity goods.

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Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)

Drugstores in Japan: Winners and Losers

Japan's drugstore sector continues to grow but only a few retailers will emerge as winners as competitors carve out greater market share.

Michael Causton

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

FY2020 Proves Better than Expected for Japan Retail but Savings Surge

A bad year for dept. stores and sectors like apparel (with more bad news to come) but a great one for drugstores, electronics and food. Savings...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/07 - Bellsystem24, Welcia & DIP

RESULTS - All of the larger caps reporting on Wednesday scored negatively, with Bellsystem24 (6183 JP) faring the worst - the company is also...

Campbell Gunn

Japan Retail Full Review 2020-2021: Some Retail Sectors Outperform in a Pandemic

An in-depth update for investors in Japan's retail and consumer space on Japan's retail sector by retail type as well as a review of the impact of...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Drugstores in Japan: Winners and Losers

Japan's drugstore sector continues to grow but only a few retailers will emerge as winners as competitors carve out greater market share.

Michael Causton

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

FY2020 Proves Better than Expected for Japan Retail but Savings Surge

A bad year for dept. stores and sectors like apparel (with more bad news to come) but a great one for drugstores, electronics and food. Savings...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/​​​07 - Bellsystem24, Welcia & DIP

RESULTS - All of the larger caps reporting on Wednesday scored negatively, with Bellsystem24 (6183 JP) faring the worst - the company is also...

Campbell Gunn

Japan Retail Full Review 2020-2021: Some Retail Sectors Outperform in a Pandemic

An in-depth update for investors in Japan's retail and consumer space on Japan's retail sector by retail type as well as a review of the impact of...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 04/07 - Bellsystem24, Welcia & DIP