Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
The sale of convenience store chain Ministop fell apart as potential bidder Lotte and the Japan-based convenience franchise failed to agree on a price. The AEON Group of Japan, the largest shareholder of Ministop Korea, filed a notice on Monday that it has…
I.T Group sales slipped in the company’s home market, but the fashion retailer is achieving high growth in Mainland China, the US and Japan. Unaudited sales data for the three months to November show an 8.5 per cent year-on-year improvement in Japan and the…
Japanese supermarket sales edged down 0.2 per cent in a third consecutive year of declines, according to figures released by an industrial body this week showing last year’s financial performance. The data for last year shows sluggish consumption regardless…
A one-year-old baby with an incredible mane of hair has been signed by Pantene as one of the faces of the brand in Japan. Instagram starlett Baby Chanco has stunned social media users over the last six months as her mother uploads images of her incredible,…
Japanese electronics retailer Nojima Corp has launched a conditional takeover bid for Courts Asia. The deal is conditional upon Courts Asia’s majority owner Singapore Retail Group (SRG) agreeing to the deal. Offering 20.5 cents a share for the business, the…
Japanese “okonomiyaki” pancake restaurant Chibo is launching in Indonesia this month. The opening is part of the firm’s unfolding global plans to counteract a dip in the Japanese food service market. It is partnering with local operator Jaddi Foods within…
Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Wednesday that it has fined Nissan Korea 900 million won ($802,100) for inflating gas mileage figures for its Infiniti Q50 2.2d sedans. The Japanese car’s fuel efficiency reaches 14.6 kilometers per liter (34.3 miles per…
Seiko Watch Corporation has opened an interactive hub of its watchmaking to allow visitors to “look, feel and experience” the rich history and heritage of the brand. The Seiko Dream Square is a new four-story retail complex in the heart of the watch brand’s…
Japan is expected to receive more Vietnamese workers this year, having become the most attractive labor export market in 2018. Last year marked the first time Japan became the most popular destination for Vietnamese migrant workers with over 68,700 people…
Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Tuesday that it has fined Toyota Motor Korea 817 million won ($729,000) for deceptive advertising of its RAV4 sport utility vehicle (SUV). Toyota Motor Korea advertised that its RAV4 obtained a top safety pick in five test…
Berjaya Land Bhd’s (BLand) subsidiary Berjaya Okinawa Development Co Ltd will develop the Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Okinawa in Japan, which has an estimated gross development value of US$1 billion (RM4.1 billion), in partnership with…
Japanese retail giant Seven & I has reported a 15.8 per cent increase in net sales for the nine months to November. Profit rose by a less impressive 2.9 per cent. The 7-Eleven parent said its overseas convenience store business achieved an impressive 15.7 per…
Fast Retailing Group has reported a decline in revenues for Uniqlo Japan against broader successes internationally in its first quarter. A sharp profit decline on sluggish sales of seasonal ranges during a warm winter in Japan has given rise to disappointing…
Lee Min-joo, a 43-year-old cram school teacher, made it a point to be at the Starbucks outlet near her house last Thursday at 6 a.m. She wasn’t there for the coffee – she was waiting to buy a limited edition “Lucky Bag.” Lee said she has bought Starbucks…
Rimowa Japan has opened its first standalone store in Tokyo. The luxury luggage brand’s new 900sqm outlet in Ginza features a minimalist decor focused on a spiral staircase backed by a backdrop of basketweave, recalling a traditional Japanese craft design…
Italian luxury house Brunello Cucinelli reported a leap in revenues for the 2018 fiscal year, with all geographic regions recording sales growth, particularly Greater China and Japan. For the year ending December 31, 2018, Brunello Cucinelli said total…
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