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

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a>' merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE Corp (3938 JP)</a> will create a business with 300 million domestic users and 15 million corporate accounts with vast potential to synergise data across browsing, media, chat, shopping, banking and mobile.The combined business has huge reach: in news alone, the usage rate of the Yahoo and LINE news services reaches 60% to 75% of those who use news distribution services in Japan.The first step is a new gift and group shopping experience for LINE users but Z Holdings has Rakuten in its sights, with plans to go after Rakuten's strengths, particularly loyalty points and e-commerce.

Z Holdings (4689 JP)' merger with LINE Corp (3938 JP) will create a business with 300 million domestic users and 15 million corporate accounts with vast potential to synergise data across browsing, media, chat, shopping, banking and mobile.The combined business has huge reach: in news alone, the usage rate of the Yahoo and LINE news services reaches 60% to 75% of those who use news distribution services in Japan.The first step is a new gift and group shopping experience for LINE users but Z Holdings has Rakuten in its sights, with plans to go after Rakuten's strengths, particularly loyalty points and e-commerce.

The war between <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> and Rakuten for leadership in digital ecosystems has seen Z Holdings acquire new partners and subsidiaries, and take leadership in cashless payments and then messaging through its merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE Corp (3938 JP)</a>.Now <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> is fighting back with a truly game changing deal with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> that could provide the reach and finance to develop new synergies in e-commerce, logistics, cashless payments and points, banking, insurance and mobile.This is a major reset in the rivalry in digital commerce, making Rakuten almost like a state-backed enterprise – with all the benefits that implies. Z Holdings should be worried.

The war between Softbank Corp (9434 JP)/Z Holdings (4689 JP) and Rakuten for leadership in digital ecosystems has seen Z Holdings acquire new partners and subsidiaries, and take leadership in cashless payments and then messaging through its merger with LINE Corp (3938 JP).Now Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) is fighting back with a truly game changing deal with Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) that could provide the reach and finance to develop new synergies in e-commerce, logistics, cashless payments and points, banking, insurance and mobile.This is a major reset in the rivalry in digital commerce, making Rakuten almost like a state-backed enterprise – with all the benefits that implies. Z Holdings should be worried.

Gamechanger: Rakuten’s Win-Win Alliance with Japan Post

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> is in the process of expanding its digital footprint. The company has long relied on tenant rents as a big part of its revenues and this is unlikely to change, and has also been slower than most to expand e-commerce and other digital systems. The pandemic has forced it to accelerate some plans and introduce some new ideas, many of which it has already trialled over in China.

Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) is in the process of expanding its digital footprint. The company has long relied on tenant rents as a big part of its revenues and this is unlikely to change, and has also been slower than most to expand e-commerce and other digital systems. The pandemic has forced it to accelerate some plans and introduce some new ideas, many of which it has already trialled over in China.

Thanks to Covid-19 and the more long-term shift to digital shopping, the big three e-commerce platforms, Amazon, Rakuten and Z Holdings, plundered the physical retail sector last year, grabbing a significantly increased share of consumption, but the wider battle for digital dominance isn’t over yet.Z Holdings is just closing on its deal with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/line-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22772:1" rel="noopener">LINE Corp (3938 JP)</a> and following that up with a proposed ¥500 billion investment programme which includes a focus on e-commerce. But <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> has already responded this week with its breakthrough deal with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP), </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walmart-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11134:1" rel="noopener">Walmart (WMT US).</a>Meanwhile, despite these efforts by the two domestics giants, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amazon-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:409:1" rel="noopener">Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US)</a> remained Japan's largest e-commerce operator in 2020 (by Gross Transaction Values) and doesn't look like giving up its poll position anytime soon.ZHD has a lot of advantages and strengths on the customer capture and marketing side. It has one of the biggest and more alluring datasets of Japanese consumers out there, which is not just social media handles and click data but names and addresses and – adding in Zozo data – body and foot size and, as of last month, skin type.ZHD needs to work hard to integrate all this and if it does so, will have a shot at leadership in digital ecosystems, but to win in e-commerce it must do something about fulfilment where it remains worryingly weak.

Thanks to Covid-19 and the more long-term shift to digital shopping, the big three e-commerce platforms, Amazon, Rakuten and Z Holdings, plundered the physical retail sector last year, grabbing a significantly increased share of consumption, but the wider battle for digital dominance isn’t over yet.Z Holdings is just closing on its deal with LINE Corp (3938 JP) and following that up with a proposed ¥500 billion investment programme which includes a focus on e-commerce. But Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) has already responded this week with its breakthrough deal with Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP), Tencent Holdings (700 HK) and Walmart (WMT US).Meanwhile, despite these efforts by the two domestics giants, Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US) remained Japan's largest e-commerce operator in 2020 (by Gross Transaction Values) and doesn't look like giving up its poll position anytime soon.ZHD has a lot of advantages and strengths on the customer capture and marketing side. It has one of the biggest and more alluring datasets of Japanese consumers out there, which is not just social media handles and click data but names and addresses and – adding in Zozo data – body and foot size and, as of last month, skin type.ZHD needs to work hard to integrate all this and if it does so, will have a shot at leadership in digital ecosystems, but to win in e-commerce it must do something about fulfilment where it remains worryingly weak.

E-Commerce Wars in Japan: How Z Holdings Is Facing off Against Rakuten and Amazon

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

Rakuten’s announcement of a ¥242bn investment from Japan Post, Tencent and Wal-Mart is truly a game changer. The proceeds should get it through peak investment for mobile and enhance the value of its fulfilment expansion. It also gives Rakuten, which has looked outmatched in its competitive fight against larger rivals like Softbank/Z Holdings, a trip of powerful allies in eCommerce and fintech. The Tencent participation is particularly interesting as that company expands its own competitive fight with Alibaba. The challenge for Rakuten has not diminished but for the first time since it announced its mobile ambitions in 2017, we feel it has the resources it needs.

Rakuten’s announcement of a ¥242bn investment from Japan Post, Tencent and Wal-Mart is truly a game changer. The proceeds should get it through peak investment for mobile and enhance the value of its fulfilment expansion. It also gives Rakuten, which has looked outmatched in its competitive fight against larger rivals like Softbank/Z Holdings, a trip of powerful allies in eCommerce and fintech. The Tencent participation is particularly interesting as that company expands its own competitive fight with Alibaba. The challenge for Rakuten has not diminished but for the first time since it announced its mobile ambitions in 2017, we feel it has the resources it needs.

Rakuten - Strategic Investments Raise Needed Cash and Level the Playing Field

Japan

Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. operates post stations, banks, and insurance business. The Company offers letters and goods transportation services, stamp sales, deposits, loans, and insurance products.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)

Z Holdings Begins LINE Leverage

Z Holding's is beginning to lay out its plans for exploiting LINE's potential. ZHD/LINE has massive reach which will help it tackle previous weak...

Michael Causton

Gamechanger: Rakuten’s Win-Win Alliance with Japan Post

Japan Post's investment in Rakuten is a genuinely seismic shift in the balance of power in digital ecosystems in Japan, bolstering Rakuten where it...

Michael Causton

Aeon Expands Digital Footprint

Aeon has lagged some competitors in expanding online options for its customers and still only expects its new Ocado system to launch in 2023. In...

Michael Causton

E-Commerce Wars in Japan: How Z Holdings Is Facing off Against Rakuten and Amazon

2020 boosted the fortunes of the big 3 e-commerce platforms in Japan but Z Holdings remains far behind Amazon Japan and Rakuten in sales volume and...

Michael Causton

Rakuten - Strategic Investments Raise Needed Cash and Level the Playing Field

The investments in Rakuten solve near-term cash concerns but it is the presence of powerful allies that make this a milestone

Kirk Boodry

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)