Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
SoftBank Corp. has unveiled a groundbreaking DGX SuperPOD featuring DGX B200 systems, powered by over 4,000 NVIDIA Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs). This formidable setup solidifies SoftBank’s position as the owner of the largest NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD…
NTT SmartConnect Corporation, operating from Osaka, is poised to enhance Japan’s digital landscape with its latest venture. Under the leadership of President and CEO Kento Miyaoku, the company has announced a strategic partnership with Megaport Japan K.K., a…
Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian retail giant, has found itself at the center of a heated dispute with Seven & i, the Japanese company that operates the iconic 7-Eleven convenience store chain. In a recent statement, Seven & i pointed out that…
In a noteworthy shift that underscores the evolving landscape of retail, major luxury brands are retreating from department stores in Japan’s less urban areas, leaving store managers grappling with the challenge of maintaining customer interest. This trend…
Acne Studios, a renowned fashion brand from Sweden, has unveiled its flagship store in the Aoyama district of Tokyo. Designing the Flagship Store The store occupies three levels and was crafted in association with Hallerod, an architecture firm based in…
Japanese footwear label Onitsuka Tiger has unveiled its plans to make a comeback in the North American market by 2027, signifying a critical phase in the company’s international growth strategy. Onitsuka Tiger, which is managed by sports apparel titan Asics,…
Singapore’s well-known coffee brand, Alchemist, has successfully launched in Japan, marking its first venture outside its home country. The company inaugurated its two international outlets in Tokyo, thereby cementing its global footprint. New Store Locations…
Rakuten Group, Inc. has recently been selected to participate in the third term of the Generative AI Accelerator Challenge (GENIAC), an initiative backed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology…
In a significant move poised to reshape cross-border retail, Rakuten Group, Inc. has opened the doors of its Rakuten Ichiba platform to Singaporean businesses, allowing them to sell directly to Japanese consumers. This expansion, which removes previous…
Tokyo Lifestyle, a retailer listed in the US but with its roots in Japan, has seen a boost in sales over the past fiscal year due to its steady growth in all markets. The company reported a revenue increase of 7.4 per cent during the year that ended on March…
Lojel, a Japanese luggage manufacturer, has recently opened the doors to its latest concept store at K11 Musea. This new venture marks the seventh store that Lojel operates in Hong Kong. Embracing Local Artistry The K11 Musea outlet is unique due to its…
Fast Retailing, the parent company of the popular Uniqlo brand, has unveiled one of its largest automated warehouses globally, strategically located in the Netherlands. This ambitious move aims to streamline distribution across Europe, a market the retailer…
TOKYO – Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, has reported a modest uptick in operating profit growth, which edged up by 1.4% for the three months ending in May. This figure, while positive, reflects a slowdown in growth that is making analysts sit up…
Onitsuka Tiger, a prominent Japanese fashion and footwear label, has recently inaugurated its latest global flagship store located in Paris. This unveiling is a major milestone in the brand’s continued international growth. A New Flagship Store on the…
SoftBank Corp. is making a significant move in the race towards 6G by teaming up with Nokia for an outdoor trial scheduled for June 2025 that will explore the potential of the 7 GHz band—a centimeter-wave frequency gaining traction in discussions about…
Guess Jeans makes its debut in Japan with a flagship store American clothing brand Guess Jeans has launched its first retail store in Tokyo, Japan’s Jingūmae district, marking its latest step in its global expansion strategy. The four-level establishment…
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.