Financial
Financial Cards

Financial Cards in Japan

Japan

Euromonitor International's Financial Cards in Japan report establishes the size and structure of the market for ATMs, credit cards, debit cards, store cards and smart cards. It looks at key players in the market (issuers and operators), number of cards in circulation, numbers transactions and value of transactions. It offers strategic analysis of sector forecasts and trends to watch.

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Tables: 100  |  Publication date: Apr 2008
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Product coverage

Financial cards in circulation; Transactions

Executive summary

Reform of Money Lending Business Law

The reform of the Money Lending Business Law was passed by the Upper House in December 2006. This abolished the so-called "Grey Zone" in interest rates in consumer finance of between 20% and 29.2%. Following the passing of the law, consumer finance companies, including credit card companies and consumer credit companies, lowered their interest rates to an average of 18%. The loss from the reduced interest rates created significant turmoil in the industry in 2007.

Credit Card to Pay Utility Bills, Tax and Medical Expenses

Public utility bill payment through credit cards has been widely accepted by consumers since its introduction in 2006. Credit card payment has been extended to tax, other public funds and medical expenses, with credit card companies aiming to accelerate institutional acceptance. The rapid growth in transaction value has benefited not only credit companies but also consumers, since they enjoy the reward points accumulated when they spend.

Smart Cards and M-commerce Growing Steadily

The rapid increase in transportation and pre-paid smart cards means that many consumers are now accustomed to cashless payment. M-commerce is also growing rapidly. As of October 2007, there were six pre-paid transaction schemes and four post-paid transaction schemes using both plastic smart cards and m-commerce. Pre-paid schemes which are not linked to a smart card or a mobile phone user's credit card account require top-up via top-up machines, whereas the post-pay function requires the user to have a credit card account, which is debited when a payment is made using a post-paid card. The infrastructure for both types of scheme is well established, and there is considerable scope for greater usage by consumers.

Infrastructure for Small Transactions Improves

Transactions of small amounts – less than ¥3,000 – on financial cards are estimated to amount to ¥2,700 billion. The credit card companies, banks and mobile phone operators have developed the infrastructure, especially in encouraging use of prepaid smart cards in the expectation of rapid growth over the forecast period.

Significant Trend Towards Cashless Payment

In addition to cashless payment being promoted for public utility bills and other expense payments, along with growth in smart cards and m-commerce, there have also been increases in Internet shopping and a number of launches of pre-paid cards, such as Edy, Suica and Pasmo. All these developments drove growth in cashless payment in Japan in the latter part of the review period, and are expected to continue to do so during the forecast period.

Table of contents

FINANCIAL CARDS IN JAPAN : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Reform of Money Lending Business Law

Credit Card to Pay Utility Bills, Tax and Medical Expenses

Smart Cards and M-commerce Growing Steadily

Infrastructure for Small Transactions Improves

Significant Trend Towards Cashless Payment

KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

More ATMs at Convenience Stores

"Points War" Heats Up

Manufacturers and Retailers Enter the Banking Business

Pre-paid Electronic Money Preferred in Japan

Small Transactions Drive Pre-paid Cards/E-wallet and M-commerce

Platinum Cards Losing Their Exclusivity?

Public Utility Payment Via Credit Card Grows Rapidly

Wealthy Class in Japan Growing

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Consumer Credit and Lending

Issuer Fraud

Acquirer Fraud

E-commerce

M-commerce

ATM and POS Terminals

Cash Withdrawal vs Card Purchase

Governmental Regulation and Legislation

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 1 Number of POS Terminals 2004-2007

Table 2 Number of ATMs 2004-2007

Table 3 Disposable Income 2002-2007

Table 4 Consumer Credit 2002-2007

Table 5 Value Lost to Fraud 2002-2007

MARKET DATA

Table 6 Financial Cards: Transactions 2002-2007

Table 7 Financial Cards: Value 2002-2007

Table 8 Financial Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2002-2007

Table 9 Financial Cards: Number of Accounts 2002-2007

Table 10 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2007

Table 11 Card Expenditure by Sector 2007

Table 12 Card Expenditure by Location 2007

Table 13 Financial Cards: Number of Internet Transactions 2002-2007

Table 14 Financial Cards: Internet Transaction Value 2002-2007

Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 17 Financial Cards: Point of Sale Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 18 Financial Cards Forecast: Transactions 2007-2012

Table 19 Financial Cards Forecast: Value 2007-2012

Table 20 Financial Cards Forecast: Number of Cards in Circulation 2007-2012

Table 21 Financial Cards: Forecast Number of Accounts 2007-2012

Table 22 Financial Cards Forecast: Number of Internet Transactions 2007-2012

Table 23 Financial Cards Forecast: Internet Transaction Value 2007-2012

DEFINITIONS

Cards by Type

Cardholder Behaviour

Card Expenditure by Sector

Value Lost to Card Fraud

Consumer Credit

Market Background

Sources

Summary 1 Research Sources

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - JAPAN

AEON CREDIT SERVICE CO LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - JAPAN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 2 Aeon Credit Service Co Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 3 Aeon Credit Service Co Ltd: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

CREDIT SAISON CO LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - JAPAN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 4 Credit Saison Co Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 5 Credit Saison Co Ltd: Operational Indicators 2006-2007

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

JCB CO LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - JAPAN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 JCB Co Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 7 JCB Co Ltd: Operational Indicators 2004-2005

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SUMITOMO MITSUI CARD CO LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - JAPAN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 8 Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 9 Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co Ltd: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

UFJ NICOS CO LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - JAPAN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 10 UFJ Nicos Co Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 11 UFJ Nicos Co Ltd: Operational Indicators 2005-2007

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SMART CARDS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 24 Smart Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 25 Smart Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 26 Smart Cards: Memory vs Microprocessor 2004-2007

Table 27 Smart Cards: Contact vs Contactless 2004-2007

Table 28 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 29 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

ATM TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 30 ATM Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 31 ATM Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 32 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 33 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

DEBIT TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 34 Debit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 35 Debit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 36 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 37 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 38 Debit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 39 Debit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 40 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 41 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 42 Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 43 Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 44 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 45 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 46 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 47 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 48 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 49 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 50 Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 51 Personal Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 52 Corporate Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 53 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 54 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 55 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 56 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 57 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 58 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

CHARGE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 59 Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 60 Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 61 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 62 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 63 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 64 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 65 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 66 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 67 Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 68 Personal Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 69 Corporate Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 70 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 71 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 72 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 73 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 74 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 75 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

PRE-PAID CARD TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 76 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 77 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 78 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 79 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 80 Pre-paid Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 81 Pre-paid Cards by Type 2004-2007

Table 82 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 83 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

STORE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN JAPAN

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 84 Store Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 85 Store Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 86 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 87 Store Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 88 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 89 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

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