Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Michael is co-founder and partner at 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 and seminars on retail sectors and consumer trends, as well as telephone consulting/meetings with investors. 

All of JapanConsuming's team are bilingual and bi-cultural, and the company's research sources are:

Direct meetings with retailers, wholesalers, distributors, trade body staff, govt., marketing firms, academics etc.
Govt. data
Trade association data
Trade Press across all consumer sectors
Unique Network of buyers/managers/marketing staff at retail, as well as wholesalers and trading firms.
Editors/Journalists at publishing houses and PR/Ad firms.


JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Michael Causton set up and ran a consumer distribution business in Tokyo for 10 years and developed this into a business responsible for annual imports to Japan of several billion Yen, at the same time building up an inside knowledge of how Japanese distribution works and developing a network of contacts across the industry. Seeing the lack of quality market intelligence on Japanese markets, he co-founded JapanConsuming in 2000. He divides his time between Japan and Europe/US consulting for companies, governments and investors, including providing talks, seminars, and webinars as well as writing reports and books.

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

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Adastria Falters in Normally Strong 1Q; Turnaround Efforts Continue with Closure of Overseas Stores

After Covid: The Future for Japanese Retail: Winners & Losers

Japan's Department Stores: The Most to Lose but Also the Hardest Hit

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

One of the few population segments to grow in Japan in the next decade will be women in their 50s and 60s, yet there are few fashion retailers with nationwide coverage targeting them.
Adastria launched a chain for women in their 50s last year and has just unveiled another for those in their 60s. It hopes the growth of these chains will offset tough trading for its core brands targeting the young.
The apparel retailer has also begun signing franchises with overseas retailers.
After several years consolidating and doing the tough work of rebuilding supply chains, Adastria can now focus on market expansion again. There are plenty of headwinds in Japan's apparel market but Adastria will emerge as one of a shrinking number of leaders.

One of the few population segments to grow in Japan in the next decade will be women in their 50s and 60s, yet there are few fashion retailers with nationwide coverage targeting them.
Adastria launched a chain for women in their 50s last year and has just unveiled another for those in their 60s. It hopes the growth of these chains will offset tough trading for its core brands targeting the young.
The apparel retailer has also begun signing franchises with overseas retailers.
After several years consolidating and doing the tough work of rebuilding supply chains, Adastria can now focus on market expansion again. There are plenty of headwinds in Japan's apparel market but Adastria will emerge as one of a shrinking number of leaders.

Adastria Looks for Growth with Older Women

Adastria Co Ltd

Adastria Looks for Growth with Older Women