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

Rakuten Group (Neutral) - Credit Downgrade, Network Delays as Company Enters Toughest Stretch

Shrinking, Ageing Japan but a Growing Solo Market

Rakuten (Neutral) - Long-Promised Debut as Mobile Network SI Has Finally Dropped

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

Rakuten Ramps up Logistics to Increase Lead in E-Commerce

Rakuten Group: Q1 21 Results - Profit Beat on One-Time Gains/Mobile Investment Accelerates

Japan Telecom Sector: FY21 Will Be Tougher and More Competitive but Returns Can Still Rise

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

<p>In 2002, Seiyu was saved by the foreign might of Walmart. Today it is about 25% smaller but over the same 20 years, it has gone from a ¥90 billion loss to an estimated ¥40 billion operating profit last year. Now, with the backing of its new majority owners, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>, Seiyu has announced ambitious plans to become Japan’s largest online supermarket by 2025. This is increasingly likely thanks to Rakuten's new reach through its new joint venture 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> </p><p>Right now, online food retailing is a two horse race between Amazon and Rakuten, with Z Holdings nowhere in sight.</p>

In 2002, Seiyu was saved by the foreign might of Walmart. Today it is about 25% smaller but over the same 20 years, it has gone from a ¥90 billion loss to an estimated ¥40 billion operating profit last year. Now, with the backing of its new majority owners, KKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US) and Rakuten Inc (4755 JP), Seiyu has announced ambitious plans to become Japan’s largest online supermarket by 2025. This is increasingly likely thanks to Rakuten's new reach through its new joint venture with Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP). Right now, online food retailing is a two horse race between Amazon and Rakuten, with Z Holdings nowhere in sight.

Seiyu: Back in the Mainstream Thanks to Rakuten