Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
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…
German Bundesliga football team FC Schalke 04 has taken the next step in its long term process of internationalisation, opening three online stores for fans in Asia. The Royal Blues (as the team is nicknamed) has launched online shops to sell fans club…
Japanese fast fashion brand Miniso has opened new flagship stores in Singapore and Dubai as it works on a global rollout. Miniso, founded by designer Miyake Jyunya and partner Ye Guofu, advocates the philosophy of ‘simple, natural and quality life and brand…
Rakuten’s Q3 growth from China jumps 101%. The Tokyo-based company plans to open a store soon on Chinese marketplace JD.com. The falling value of the Japanese yen and China’s relaxed cross-border e-commerce policies have helped Rakuten Inc., Japan’s dominant…
The partnership which pioneered Heattech and Airism garments have forged a new expanded relationship they say will create “a new industry for the future”. Fast Retailing’s flagship Uniqlo and Toray Industries first joined hands 10 years ago aimed at…
Lotte Confectionery Co., a unit of South Korean retail giant Lotte Group, said Wednesday that Lotte’s Japan operation will increase its stake in the affiliate, a move seen as part of efforts to cement the incumbent group chairman’s grip in the conglomerate…
Japanese convenience store operators are shrinking the size of their outlets in Indonesia amid growing competition from local rivals. But the strategy of pursuing profitability over scale runs the risk of downsizing the companies out of the market. In…
Japanese retail initiative Animate Co will open a store in Bangkok’s MBK shopping centre in the second quarter of next year, part of a program to help spread anime and manga culture throughout Southeast Asia. According to Japanese news media, the store will…
Uniqlo parent, Japanese giant Fast Retailing, says its total sales dropped 8.1 per cent in November. “Same-store sales dipped year on year in November after unusually hot weather in mid-month stifled sales of winter clothing necessities,” the company said in…
Uniqlo has announced a collaboration with high end UK department store Liberty London to create an exclusive range of apparel. Liberty London for Uniqlo will launch with a Spring/Summer 2016 collection, in stores from Spring. The collaboration brings together…
An iconic Japanese restaurant chain Kushikatsu Daruma has opened its first outlet outside its home market – and announced plans to enter three more Asian countries. Kushikatsu Daruma opened its first restaurant in 1929 at the foot of Tsutenkaku, the famous…
Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing has committed US$10 million in cash and some 150,000 items of Heattech clothing to help keep newly arrived refugees warm in Europe. Fast Retailing will supply the support through the UNHCR, the UNited Nation’s refugee agency. As…
The Japan Kit Kat store Chocolatory is selling the ultimate indulgence this Christmas: chocolate bars wrapped in real gold. And yes – they’re safe to eat… which essentially means consumers will quite literally end up flushing gold down the toilet. Nestle’s…
Convenience store operator Lawson Japan is considering a foray into banking. The company says that with more than 12,000 convenience stores operating across Japan it has the physical branch network in place to accept deposits from customers. It also has the…
McDonald’s Japan has lost 29.2 billion yen in the first nine months of this year, roughly US$236.8 million. However, the beleaguered fast food business, which launched a Business Revitalisation Plan involving closing 131 stores in April, says it has arrested…
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