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

H2O Retailing and OK Super: Which Is the Better Owner of Kansai Supermarket?

Kansai Super (9919) Still Not Super as Shareholders Agree H2O Deal

Shocking Shenanigans at the Kansai Super EGM and OK Says Chotto Mattaaaa!!!

Kobe Bussan: The Booming ‘Pro Supermarket’ Discounter Beloved by Japanese Consumers

Palette: Aeon’s New Hope for the Fast-Growing Discount Sector

Kobe Bussan Plans Diversification Beyond Supermarkets

Aeon 2020: A Year of Ups and Downs but a More Profitable Future

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

There are few discount supermarkets in Japan and the largest by far is Kobe Bussan’s Gyomu Super franchise chain.
Despite its no frills presentation and reliance on frozen foods, over the past 12 months, prices that are up to half that charged at mainstream chains have drawn in more customers and across a wider age range.
The company is now expecting yet another record performance this year.
When we first recommend Kobe Bussan in October 2018, the share price stood at around ¥780 and has risen to ¥4,080 since. This isn't cheap but given the five year growth potential, we remain bullish about the fundamentals long-term.

There are few discount supermarkets in Japan and the largest by far is Kobe Bussan’s Gyomu Super franchise chain.
Despite its no frills presentation and reliance on frozen foods, over the past 12 months, prices that are up to half that charged at mainstream chains have drawn in more customers and across a wider age range.
The company is now expecting yet another record performance this year.
When we first recommend Kobe Bussan in October 2018, the share price stood at around ¥780 and has risen to ¥4,080 since. This isn't cheap but given the five year growth potential, we remain bullish about the fundamentals long-term.

Kobe Bussan

Kobe Bussan: Achieving New Records