Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Japan’s planned introduction of a “departure tax” on international travelers has received a mixed response, with many questions yet to be answered about how the revenues will be spent. Hopes are high that the recent tourism boom will continue beyond the 2020…
Chinese discount retailer Miniso is playing a major assault in Canada with 100 stores targeted by year end and 500 within three years. Miniso is growing so fast it is difficult to keep an accurate count of its global network, but co-founder/chief designer…
Japanese’s famous multi-brand ‘Atmos’ opened its first store in Korea. Atmos is a fashion multi-brand store currently running 30 outlets in Japan. Seoul is its second overseas store after New York. Atmos is Tokyo’s iconic street boutique established in 2000.…
Korean company Odd Concepts is using artificial intelligence to help consumers broaden their search for fashion items to match their tastes – even if the clothes are hanging in a store. Used by fashion e-commerce sites, its cloud-based image-search program…
W Tokyo is partnering with Manila online shopping company Hallohallo to open a Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC) store in the Philippines. Set to launch in May, the boutique will be at the Vertis North complex in Quezon City, Manila. In the mall’s Japan Town…
Japan’s 7-Eleven stores have started labelling their prepared foods in English as well as Japanese. Seven-Eleven Japan president Kazuki Furuya says the measure is in response to requests from foreign tourists, whose numbers have been soaring and are expected…
Following a limited-edition French macaron release last month, McDonald’s Japan is continuing to draw attention to its McCafe by Barista branches with a more unusual menu twist: popcorn drinks. Available at Japan’s 90 McCafe by Barista outlets from Friday,…
Japanese and Korean banks are to run pilot trials of real-time cross-border funds transfers over the Ripple network. The Japan Bank Consortium — a coalition of 61 banks in Japan, organised by SBI Ripple Asia — has announced the launch of a new Ripple pilot…
Several years ago, fans of Thai and Japanese goods had only several choices – either buying the products carried across border gates, or going to a few select shops. But now, they can freely choose products at many specialized stores. Specialized shops are…
The end of Japan’s four decades of rice-market control could be good news for noodle lovers. That’s because rice farmers may plant alternative crops like wheat once government control ends by March 31 and look to tap into rising demand for ramen. Fukuoka, on…
Japanese patisserie Chateraise, which is known for having its main factory in the middle of a forest, plans to open 200 shops in Thailand and boost overseas sales to 50 per cent of its total revenue in the next 10 years. With more than 500 outlets mainly in…
Japanese e-commerce site Rakuten and consumer electronics retailer Bic Camera are considering a JV that will marry virtual and real stores. They expect to sign a basic agreement soon with a view to setting up their partnership early next year to work toward…
Several popular Japanese kidult toy brands catering to adult consumers are set to open their first stores in South Korea. According to Hyundai I-Park Mall, the renovated kidult select shop Toys & Hobby at its Yongsan location will reopen tomorrow with some of…
Major Japanese retailer Aeon Group plans to invest ¥500 billion (US$4.4 billion) in online retail over the next three years. Representing a 150 per cent spike in its online investments, the plan has been revealed in a new midterm business plan. Openings of…
In partnership with the US National Basketball Association (NBA), sports merchandise e-commerce company Fanatics has launched official NBA online stores across Asia Pacific. Fanatics already runs the flagship NBA Store in New York City, the league’s global…
Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto is this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded last Friday at the Design for Asia gala dinner in Hong Kong. The 74-year-old design giant — known for his avant-garde tailoring featuring Japanese…
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.