Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Michael is co-founder and partner at 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 and seminars on retail sectors and consumer trends, as well as telephone consulting/meetings with investors. 

All of JapanConsuming's team are bilingual and bi-cultural, and the company's research sources are:

Direct meetings with retailers, wholesalers, distributors, trade body staff, govt., marketing firms, academics etc.
Govt. data
Trade association data
Trade Press across all consumer sectors
Unique Network of buyers/managers/marketing staff at retail, as well as wholesalers and trading firms.
Editors/Journalists at publishing houses and PR/Ad firms.


JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Michael Causton set up and ran a consumer distribution business in Tokyo for 10 years and developed this into a business responsible for annual imports to Japan of several billion Yen, at the same time building up an inside knowledge of how Japanese distribution works and developing a network of contacts across the industry. Seeing the lack of quality market intelligence on Japanese markets, he co-founded JapanConsuming in 2000. He divides his time between Japan and Europe/US consulting for companies, governments and investors, including providing talks, seminars, and webinars as well as writing reports and books.

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Fast Retailing (9983) | Global Gains Keep It in Fashion

Fast Retailing (9983 JP) FY 2025 Results: Markets Expect a 4.7% Price Swing

Convenience Wear: Familymart Competes with Uniqlo in Basics

Earnings Kickoff Dominates October 2025 Key Events

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. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Tadashi Yanai has finally achieved one of his many long-term ambitions: surpassing ¥1 trillion in sales in the home market. </li>
<li>This, after exceeding ¥3 trillion globally for the first time but his goal of ¥10 trillion remains outstanding.  Whether a mostly single-brand company can achieve such volume is debatable.</li>
<li>Yanai is rebuilding GU in the hopes of creating a second brand – while at last admitting failure with his old French acquisitions.</li>
</ul>


Tadashi Yanai has finally achieved one of his many long-term ambitions: surpassing ¥1 trillion in sales in the home market. 
This, after exceeding ¥3 trillion globally for the first time but his goal of ¥10 trillion remains outstanding.  Whether a mostly single-brand company can achieve such volume is debatable.
Yanai is rebuilding GU in the hopes of creating a second brand – while at last admitting failure with his old French acquisitions.


Uniqlo Breaks Through ¥1 Trillion Milestone at Home but Group ¥10 Trillion Target Remains Elusive