Japan

Store cards are often referred to as “Gaisho cards” in Japan. Gaisho is a department most often found in department stores, positioned somewhat like direct selling. Gaisho are elite staff members with high levels of skill and experience, and these…

While the global luxury goods market contracted notably, Asia showed signs of recovery as early as Q2 2020, minimising the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This report analyses the background to the quick recovery of personal luxury…

Street stalls/kiosks continued to see an increase in current value sales in 2023, thanks to the rising popularity of food trucks. Even during the pandemic, food trucks were less negatively impacted thanks to their mobility, which allowed them to…

The briefing explores structural drivers of inflation and their impact on the global economy and business environment. Factors such as demographics changes, globalisation reset, decarbonisation, AI revolution and higher debt levels would add to the…

Total demand for sugar and sweeteners in Japan remains stable in 2023 compared to the previous year, with foodservice volume sales partially offsetting the decline in retail volume sales. Foodservice volume sales had suffered throughout 2020 and…

Sugar confectionery in Japan is set to see low growth in retail volume terms and more dynamic growth in current value terms in 2024. There is an abundance of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) in sugar confectionery, with new products and concepts…

Sun care saw dynamic current value growth in Japan in 2023. At the top level, it was the category with the best growth rate in beauty and personal care. There were several factors which supported growth. One was the increased opportunities for going…

Sunglasses in Japan is set to see double-digit volume and current value growth in 2024. Sunglasses used to have a scary image in Japan, as they were historically commonly associated with the Japanese mafia (yakuza), or villains portrayed in films.…

In 2023, price rises were seen across various industries in Japan, impacting the cost of living. During COVID-19, consumers’ eating habits shifted more towards cooking and eating at home. Despite the country gradually returning to the pre-COVID-19…

Increased economic uncertainty, digitisation of business activities, the need to improve operational efficiency, and stricter regulations encourage companies to review their supply networks and fortify them against the potential risks in the future.…

Most categories within surface care saw declines in both retail volume and current value terms in 2023. The explanation for the drop in volume terms is simple – people began to spend more time outside the home. In May 2023, the Japanese government…

The majority of Japanese consumers reduce food waste and plastics, making Zero Waste claims and Sustainable Packaging well-received. Climate concerns are rising in the country, making locally sourced goods appealing while meat avoidance is…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in Japan is set to see both retail volume and current value growth in 2024. In the midst of rising prices for various products, sweet biscuits is expected to emerge as a standout category in 2024, showing…

Sweet spreads is set to see slight growth in retail current value terms in Japan in 2023. However, this growth is mainly due to price increases for sweet spreads, and retail volume sales are expected to see another year of decline, primarily due to…

Total sweet spreads packaging saw growth in Japan in 2023. Although it saw a minor decline in packaging volumes in 2023, glass jars remained by far the most popular pack type within sweet spreads, accounting for nearly half of total packaging…