Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Tokyo is getting the first ever permanent Pokemon Cafe. The Pokemon Company International announced that a new Pokemon Center “DX” retail store was opening up in the Takashimaya Nihombashi, an upscale department store in Japan. One of the main draws for the…
As Cath Kidston China scales back because of diluted profits, the British handmade accessory chain is rolling out an expansion in other parts of Asia. It’s prime focus is Japan, where it plans to nearly double its presence over the next three years. South…
Subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Materials have falsified product data, the company said Thursday, becoming the latest major Japanese firm to admit problems with quality control. Affected products included rubber sealing materials used for packing and gaskets,…
Burberry Japan will shutter its entire beauty retail network by 2018, comprised of Burberry Beauty and Burberry Beauty Box stores. Following the closing of the Yokohama store in October 2017, Burberry Beauty before December 31 will have finalised mass store…
Japanese bakery chain Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory is about to take a bow in Thailand with a store at Siam Paragon in Bangkok. Famed for its soft milk cheesecake made from French cream cheese and Hokkaido cream, the brand also offers cheese and milk mousses…
Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing has applied to open stores in India. The Japanese fast-fashion giant has filed an application with India’s Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion to do business in the country under the Uniqlo brand. “India is a market with…
Itochu and two partners are investing roughly 7.6 billion yen ($67.6 million) in an e-commerce venture selling Japanese goods to the Chinese market in hope to enhance its own forays into China’s internet sector. The Japanese trading house is investing around…
The region is expected to enjoy a CAGR of 6.6%. Asia is expected to dominate the global grocery retail market as it is projected to add $1.2t in sales which is more than Africa, Europe and Latin America combined, according to Institute of Grocery Distribution…
Kit Kat and Tokyo Banana have released a limited-edition chocolate wafer only at Tokyo Okashi Land, Tokyo Station. The products combine milk chocolate and banana cream, recreating the flavour of Tokyo Banana. Chocolate boxes are also stamped with the…
Honda Motor Co said on Saturday that it was recalling about 900,000 minivans because second-row seats may tip forward if not properly latched after being adjusted. The Japanese automaker said the recall covered 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey minivans, all but 2,000…
Bicycle hubs are being rolled out at 7-Eleven Japan outlets in a partnership with the Hello Cycling bike-sharing business. The convenience store parent Seven & I Holdings has partnered with Hello Cycling, launched last year by tech company SoftBank Group and…
China was among the fastest-growing markets for cosmetics and wellbeing products group L’Occitane International for the six months to September 30. Along with Japan and Hong Kong, it was among the key contributing countries to overall growth. China’s net…
After hitting 17 cities across North America, Kendrick Lamar‘s DAMN. pop-up tour heads to Asia. First stop: Tokyo, Japan, at monkey time‘s flagship store in Harajuku. Monkey time’s clean neutral interior was filled with vibrantly-hued DAMN. merch pieces such…
Japan’s FamilyMart is going to great heights for promotion – in fact, as far as space. The Japanese convenience store franchise is joining airline JAL as a sponsor for an artificial “shooting star” project that involves a satellite dropping pellets that will…
Owndays Philippines has opened its largest optical shop yet, at SM Megamall in Manila. With 1500 frames to choose from, the Japanese eyewear retailer can provide prescription glasses in 20 minutes. Its 280sqm flagship has a children’s department featuring the…
Academy Award-nominated English actress Felicity Jones has been appointed the new face of the Shiseido Group’s luxury skincare and cosmetics brand Cle de Peau Beaute. Her debut will be in a campaign to launch in January shot by British photographer David…
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