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

Japanese Retailing: The Big Disruption – and Opportunity – in the Next 5 Years

American Eagle Outfitters Enters Buyout Talks with Aoyama Shoji

Japan Retail Review and Ranking 2018-19: Profit Growth Slowing as Competition Increases

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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Japan Consumer discretionary / Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Japanese wages and salaries finally began to rise in 2017, and consumption expenditure picked up in 2018 but, at the same time, consumer confidence began to dip as households became increasingly wary about the appearance of long threatened price inflation.When prices did begin to rise in mid- to late-2018, and with a second consumption tax hike due in later 2019, households at all income levels began to put their newly increased incomes into savings rather than into retailer’s cash registers.As a result, Japanese households have plenty of money to spend when the enticement is right, especially when retailers offer originality, variety and value, providing plenty of support for the best of the consumer sector going forward. Luxury brands in Japan are having some of their best years ever and retailers offering real value – at all price points – are also being rewarded.

Japanese wages and salaries finally began to rise in 2017, and consumption expenditure picked up in 2018 but, at the same time, consumer confidence began to dip as households became increasingly wary about the appearance of long threatened price inflation.When prices did begin to rise in mid- to late-2018, and with a second consumption tax hike due in later 2019, households at all income levels began to put their newly increased incomes into savings rather than into retailer’s cash registers.As a result, Japanese households have plenty of money to spend when the enticement is right, especially when retailers offer originality, variety and value, providing plenty of support for the best of the consumer sector going forward. Luxury brands in Japan are having some of their best years ever and retailers offering real value – at all price points – are also being rewarded.

Pan Pacific International Holdings (7532 JP)

Japan Consumption Trends: Lots of Savings for Good Brands and Retailers to Tap Into