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

Baroque: ¥100 Billion in Sales in 5 Years…maybe

Japan Fashion Market Review 2019 Part I: A Stable Market but Tougher Trading All Round

Adastria: Japan's “Apparel Market to Shrink by 30% in Next 6 Years”

Japan Department Stores 2018: Some Growth Again and Even Real Profits – Part II

Zozo: A ¥700 Billion Business in Three Years. Really?

Fashion: Still the Biggest Japanese E-Commerce Category – and Still Growing Fast

Start Today (3092 JP): Calling the Bluff on Forecasted Growth

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)

Fashion retailers had a much better year in 2017-18 as the apparel and accessories market expanded 2.2% after two years of market contraction.
Recent growth has mostly benefited the speciality store and online sectors, but last year department stores also improved, and even the odd GMS chain enjoyed the balmier climate.
As a result, department store market share among the top 100 apparel retailers – which account for 70% of the market – rose for the first time in 15 years.
The market share of the top 100 fell due to better sales at small retailers and independents.
Trading is still tough, however, and retailers are cautious about consumer sentiment going forward.
The winners though are clear to see, with companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/2765" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/23991" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23991:1">Tokyo Base (3415 JP)</a>, Mash Holdings and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/18379" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a> pushing well ahead of the sector year after year.
The following is a comprehensive review of the Japanese apparel/fashion market in FY2017, and the winners within it.

Fashion retailers had a much better year in 2017-18 as the apparel and accessories market expanded 2.2% after two years of market contraction.
Recent growth has mostly benefited the speciality store and online sectors, but last year department stores also improved, and even the odd GMS chain enjoyed the balmier climate.
As a result, department store market share among the top 100 apparel retailers – which account for 70% of the market – rose for the first time in 15 years.
The market share of the top 100 fell due to better sales at small retailers and independents.
Trading is still tough, however, and retailers are cautious about consumer sentiment going forward.
The winners though are clear to see, with companies like Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP), Tokyo Base (3415 JP), Mash Holdings and ZOZO Inc (3092 JP) pushing well ahead of the sector year after year.
The following is a comprehensive review of the Japanese apparel/fashion market in FY2017, and the winners within it.

The Winners in Japanese Fashion Retailing