Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Apple Japan is about to open its ninth retail store. The new Apple Kyoto shop will commence trading at 10am on August 25, according to a video in Japanese on the company’s Youtube account. It will be the first in Kyoto city, which is on Honshu Island.…
Healthcare is becoming a staple category for Japanese convenience store chains as they seek to counter the encroachment of pharmacies on their traditional product ranges. According reports, while Japanese drugstores are increasingly offering snacks and quick…
Global lifestyle brand Sanrio has teamed up with artist, entrepreneur and Megology brand founder Megan Bomgaars to create Sanrio x Megology, a new capsule collection of fashion graphic t-shirts. Megan Bomgaars is a self-advocate with Down syndrome who shares…
Cafe24 and Shibuya109 have joined together to promote Korean fashion products in Japan and Japanese products on the global online marketplace. The South Korean online retail platform Cafe24 has found an ideal partner in iconic Japanese fashion mall Shibuya109…
Japanese pancake-restaurant chain Chibo is expanding to new locations in Asia to attract previous visitors to Japan who may be familiar with their brand. Chibo serves an Osakan specialty pancake called okonomiyaki, a seasoned dish that contains vegetables,…
Luxury down jacket brand Moncler reported strong double-digit sales growth in the first half of 2018, on the back of solid revenue gains in China and Japan. The Milan, Italy-based brand said consolidated revenues reached 493.5 million euros for the six months…
Japanese retailer Uniqlo has launched a mobile assistant using Google voice recognition technology to personalise recommendations for customers. The Uniqlo mobile assistant has already undergone significant testing with development partners in Japan, and is…
Bluebell officially announces the joint venture with the Japanese Eyewear retail concept OWNDAYS, expanding its activities in the lifestyle segment to attract millennials. Bluebell and Owndays are joining forces to execute an aggressive roll-out plan with…
Japanese retail sales increased by 1.8 per cent in June thanks to strong food sales and rising petrol prices. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japanese retail sales reached ¥11.8 trillion (US$106.25 billion) during the month. It was…
Japanese beauty brand Utena has launched in Singapore. The 91-year-old heritage brand, which is currently distributed throughout Greater China and Thailand, is now available at selected Watsons stores, Yue Hwa, Welcia-BHG, Tokyu Hands, Don Don Donki, Metro…
The government will use a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to build integrated marine and fishery centers on islands in Indonesia’s six outermost regions to boost exports. The agency, known as JICA, granted total funding of 2.5 billion…
Japan’s largest factory outlet operator is considering opening a similar park in Thailand. The firm, Mitsui Fudosan Retail Management, is the developer of Mitsui Outlet Park, which attracts increasing numbers of Thai visitors each year. 120,000 Thai nationals…
Nike and Top Dawg Entertainment are hosting a pop-up shop in Tokyo this weekend ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s Fuji Rock Festival performance. To mark the occasion, Japanese clothing brand Undercover has partnered with rapper “DNA” for the release of an exclusive…
Japanese fast-fashion eyewear retailer Owndays is to launch in Hong Kong with local partner Bluebell. The first two Owndays Hong Kong stores will open at the end of this month in East Point City in Tseung Kwan O, and Tuen Mun Town Plaza in the Northwest New…
Japan-based e-commerce platform Inagora is teaming with Thailand’s CP (Charoen Pokphand) Group to boost its China business. The joint venture is also researching expansion into Southeast Asia. Inagora targets Chinese shoppers seeking Japanese goods. It boasts…
Japanese beauty product mail order service Beauty Garage has opened e-commerce sites and showrooms in Singapore and Malaysia. Beauty Garage Online Shop Singapore, the company’s first overseas base, opened mid July as an e-commerce platform and a showroom…
Weekly Briefing
Tuesday, Thursday and a Saturday Weekly Wrap: the retail stories, numbers and moves that mattered across Asia. Nothing else, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Read by retail operators, investors and brand teams across Asia.