Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Four major convenience store chains in Japan are teaming up with a government-related body to work on expanding their businesses overseas. FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop and 7-Eleven Japan have formed a council with the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro)…
Ford Motor will close down all operations by the end of this year in Japan and Indonesia, where the United States carmaker says it has no path to boost sales or earn profits. The step is being taken “after pursuing every possible option”, Ms Karen Hampton,…
Japanese travel retailer Jalux has launched its first airport outlets outside Japan, with three stores at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam. Located in Terminal 2, the stores are trading as Jalux Duty Free Vietnam, with two in the Departures area…
If Tiffany was hoping for some holiday respite following a year of negative numbers it will be sorely disappointed by its latest results. Indeed, the pace of decline has actually accelerated since the third quarter, which covered the three months up until the…
Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia (CLSA) is maintaining its long-standing forecast of 200m Chinese overseas trips by 2020. However, it warns that mainland Chinese travel to Hong Kong and Macau is likely to average only 3% growth in future, while Chinese trips…
Luxury travel goods retailer Tumi has bought out its local Tumi Japan partner to gain full control of its retail and wholesale activities in what is one of the world’s largest luxury markets. Tumi Japan runs a network of 13 stores and an eCommerce website, as…
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., Japan’s biggest bank, is buying a 20 percent stake in the Philippines’ Security Bank Corp. in a deal expected to expand both institutions’ market reach. Security Bank Corp. said the deal would infuse an additional P36.9…
Uniqlo, Asia’s largest apparel retailer, has delivered a disappointing set of results for the quarter to November 30. While revenue rose 8.5 per cent year on year to ¥520.3 billion (US$4.44 billion), profit fell 16.9 per cent to ¥75.9 billion ($647.1…
The Japanese department store Shibuya109 has opened its first outlet outside its home market – in Market City in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Owned by Tokyu Hands, Shibuya109’s first Hong Kong store is described as a ‘mini-mall’ offering just a curated collection of…
Max Brenner “the baldy man” has opened its first stores in Japan and Korea as it expands its Asian footprint. The first Korean store (pictured) was opened quietly in Seoul in late November. In Japan, the brand made its debut in Tokyo’s upmarket Omotesando…
The fisheries cooperative of the Bengkulu city has started exporting Layur fish (Trichiurus Lepturus) to many countries, such as Japan, Taiwan, China and South Korea. Layur fish export was started as the fishing season began in November 2015, the Management…
Japanese confectionery company Confectionery West (Ginza West) has opened its first overseas store in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s international platform to expand its business outside its home market. Ginza West Hong Kong is located at Lee Tung Avenue, a…
Japanese tire maker Bridgestone Corp said it would not counter Carl Icahn’s raised offer to buy Pep Boys – Manny Moe & Jack, ending a bidding war for the U.S. auto parts retailer. Icahn sweetened his offer for Pep Boys for the second time to $18.50 per share…
The new Muji Shanghai flagship just opened marks the Japanese department store brand’s largest shop in China. Muji says it built the massive store so consumers in China “can experience the Muji lifestyle concept”. The new store is located at 755 Huaihai Rd,…
Rakuten, Japan’s largest eCommerce company, is to open an online flagship on Chinese cross-border eCommerce platform JD.com. The Japanese company says it aims to take “the best Japanese products to Chinese consumers”. It launched a beta version of the new…
Honestbee, the fast-growing on-demand grocery concierge and delivery service company founded in Singapore just last July, has launched its service in Japan. The first Japan stop of many to come, visiting tourists can now enjoy the convenience of grocery…
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