Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

Mitsubishi has finally given up its hope of convincing Aeon to merge <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/1043" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1043:1">Ministop (9946 JP)</a> with Lawson and is selling its stake in the largest retail group.
There will be no change to the extensive supply relationship between the two companies and Mitsubishi's food wholesale arm, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/19778" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19778:1">Mitsubishi Shokuhin (7451 JP)</a>.
While Aeon seems to have spurned Mitsubishi for now, it is hard to see how Aeon will progress in the convenience store sector without Mitsubishi’s help. In the short-term Ministop looks like a poor investment but Aeon may have to sell to Mitsubishi eventually and will want a good price for it.

Mitsubishi has finally given up its hope of convincing Aeon to merge Ministop (9946 JP) with Lawson and is selling its stake in the largest retail group.
There will be no change to the extensive supply relationship between the two companies and Mitsubishi's food wholesale arm, Mitsubishi Shokuhin (7451 JP).
While Aeon seems to have spurned Mitsubishi for now, it is hard to see how Aeon will progress in the convenience store sector without Mitsubishi’s help. In the short-term Ministop looks like a poor investment but Aeon may have to sell to Mitsubishi eventually and will want a good price for it.

Mitsubishi Selling off Stake in Aeon, Ministop in Limbo

The supermarket sector is the most fragmented and uncompetitive of all retail sectors, a situation encouraged by major suppliers and not ideal for consumers.
Despite some effort from the likes of Aeon, consolidation has failed to materialise beyond a few in-group mergers.
Yet pressure on supermarkets to consolidate has been building due to depopulation in the regions, competitive pressures from other food retailers such as convenience stores and drugstore chains, as well as the emerging online food services.
Change is now coming. The biggest industry consolidation yet was announced last month, a precedent-setting alliance between three major supermarkets, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/7580" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7580:1">Arcs Co Ltd (9948 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2256" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2256:1">Valor Holdings (9956 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/7435" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7435:1">Retail Partners (8167 JP)</a>, carving up a large chunk of the country into three regional fiefdoms.

The supermarket sector is the most fragmented and uncompetitive of all retail sectors, a situation encouraged by major suppliers and not ideal for consumers.
Despite some effort from the likes of Aeon, consolidation has failed to materialise beyond a few in-group mergers.
Yet pressure on supermarkets to consolidate has been building due to depopulation in the regions, competitive pressures from other food retailers such as convenience stores and drugstore chains, as well as the emerging online food services.
Change is now coming. The biggest industry consolidation yet was announced last month, a precedent-setting alliance between three major supermarkets, Arcs Co Ltd (9948 JP), Valor Holdings (9956 JP) and Retail Partners (8167 JP), carving up a large chunk of the country into three regional fiefdoms.

Arcs, Valor and Retail Partners Form First Nationwide Supermarket Alliance

Facing stagnation, the three big convenience store chains continue to dream up more new ideas designed to drive footfall, including new hybrid formats, encroaching on drugstore and supermarket territory, and even bookstores.
In Familymart’s case, the shift is being driven by parent Itochu as it strengthens its control of the CVS chain, and integrates it with its huge food wholesale interests.
The growing integration between Itochu's wholesale and retail operations is providing positive net results in sales and profit for Familymart Uny, Nippon Access, and Itochu Shokuhin.

Facing stagnation, the three big convenience store chains continue to dream up more new ideas designed to drive footfall, including new hybrid formats, encroaching on drugstore and supermarket territory, and even bookstores.
In Familymart’s case, the shift is being driven by parent Itochu as it strengthens its control of the CVS chain, and integrates it with its huge food wholesale interests.
The growing integration between Itochu's wholesale and retail operations is providing positive net results in sales and profit for Familymart Uny, Nippon Access, and Itochu Shokuhin. 

Familymart Leads Break Out from Conbini Market

Fintech, Real-time Big-Data Analytics Provider, Nowcast, Inc.

Ryota Hayashi

Fintech, Real-time Big-Data Analytics Provider

Nowcast, Inc.

We at Nowcast develop "Big-Data Economic Analytics Platforms".  We aim to revolutionize the financial markets by providing "accurate" and "real-time" analytics based on economic indicators and corporate activity data procured worldwide. 

Our Main Services

(1) Real-time Analytics
With our Nikkei CPI Now Index at our core, we provide real time analytics of global economic indicators such as POS Data. By utilizing Big-Data technology, we also provide real-time analytics of micro level data such as corporate earnings. 

(2) Big-Data Application Consulting
We too provide business consultation and conduct joint research on initiatives that strive to use data, such as from the operation capacity of construction machinery to number of passengers on railroad trains, as economic indicators. We provide continuous support to Data Scientists specialized in economics in their proposal stage, product development and up till its business development. 

(3) Monetary Policy Insights
With the proactive involvement of and support from from academicians in macroeconomics & key figures in the financial industry, we produce reports, conduct seminars and meetings that discuss about the forecast of financial markets, provide intellectual suggestions on asset allocation, etc. 

Macroeconomics

<ul class="ember-tether-target ember-tether-element-attached-top ember-tether-element-attached-left ember-tether-target-attached-top ember-tether-target-attached-right"><li>"Nikkei CPINow" is a statistical database produced by Nowcast Inc. that provides real-time economic statistics using so-called “big data” gathered on a real-time basis; making it possible to “nowcast” economic developments, that is, to gauge them almost in real time.</li><li>Nikkei CPINow was launched in January 2016, disseminating the new “CPINow” price indeces, which succeeds and improves upon the Nikkei UTokyo Daily Price Index.</li><li>This December 2016 Review looks into analyzing the current developments in Japan's economy based on The Nikkei CPINow S index &amp; T index.</li></ul>

"Nikkei CPINow" is a statistical database produced by Nowcast Inc. that provides real-time economic statistics using so-called “big data” gathered on a real-time basis; making it possible to “nowcast” economic developments, that is, to gauge them almost in real time.Nikkei CPINow was launched in January 2016, disseminating the new “CPINow” price indeces, which succeeds and improves upon the Nikkei UTokyo Daily Price Index.This December 2016 Review looks into analyzing the current developments in Japan's economy based on The Nikkei CPINow S index &amp; T index.

December 2016 Review of Current Developments in Japan's Economy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

Two weeks ago, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/20668" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20668:1">MitCorp (8058 JP)</a><a href="http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/pr/archive/2016/files/0000031079_file1.pdf" target="_blank">announced</a> its intention to up its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/1040" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1">Lawson (2651 JP)</a> from 33.4% to just over 50% through a Tender Offer. For those looking at the situation, Winnie the Pooh has wise words.<blockquote>When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.      ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh</blockquote>Mitsubishi Corp has put on its Big Boots. An Adventure of Sorts lies ahead. The trade also has some really interesting risk characteristics. Below…

Two weeks ago, MitCorp (8058 JP)announced its intention to up its stake in Lawson (2651 JP) from 33.4% to just over 50% through a Tender Offer. For those looking at the situation, Winnie the Pooh has wise words.When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.      ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-PoohMitsubishi Corp has put on its Big Boots. An Adventure of Sorts lies ahead. The trade also has some really interesting risk characteristics. Below…

Lawson Tender Offer - Winnie the Pooh Has the Best Words!

Japan

Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co.,Ltd. is a wholesaler of processed food. The Company sells a varietyof groceries including canned products, dried food, frozen food, pet food, beverages, and liquors.

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Mitsubishi Shokuhin (7451 JP)

Mitsubishi Selling off Stake in Aeon, Ministop in Limbo

Mitsubishi has finally given up its hope of convincing Aeon to merge Ministop (9946 JP) with Lawson and is selling its stake in the largest retail...

Michael Causton

Arcs, Valor and Retail Partners Form First Nationwide Supermarket Alliance

The supermarket sector is the most fragmented and uncompetitive of all retail sectors, a situation encouraged by major suppliers and not ideal for...

Michael Causton

Familymart Leads Break Out from Conbini Market

Facing stagnation, the three big convenience store chains continue to dream up more new ideas designed to drive footfall, including new hybrid...

Michael Causton

December 2016 Review of Current Developments in Japan's Economy

"Nikkei CPINow" is a statistical database produced by Nowcast Inc. that provides real-time economic statistics using so-called “big data”...

Nowcast, Inc.

Lawson Tender Offer - Winnie the Pooh Has the Best Words!

Two weeks ago, MitCorp (8058 JP)announced its intention to up its stake in Lawson (2651 JP) from 33.4% to just over 50% through a Tender Offer. For...

Travis Lundy

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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