Japan

With an ageing population, manufacturers in Japan continue to look to produce packaging which meets the needs and demands of older consumers. For example, packaging which can be more easily opened, which is lighter, and which comes in smaller ...

In spite of the small number of consumers, the high net worth market globally is highly profitable for brands and businesses. But it is not an easy market to crack, with brands that have identified HNWIs as a growth opportunity often facing a similar...

As world trade and investment deals become more interconnected in the context of globalisation, no economy is immune to fluctuations in the global economy. Insights into the best growth opportunities and “what if” scenarios are crucial to ...

Cigarettes recorded double digit volume and current value declines in 2017, the first double-digit declines since the imposition of higher tobacco tax and resultant price increases drove down volumes in 2011. The steep declines at the end of the ...

Price fighter cigarillos saw dynamic growth in 2017, with Intercontinental Corp’s Forte brand making a significant contribution to the category’s expansion. Initially launched in 2016, Forte saw the addition of a menthol version to its portfolio in ...

The Japanese tobacco market witnessed ongoing contraction in 2017. However, heated tobacco proved to be a bright spot in terms of growth, maintaining its dynamic expansion as it benefited from smokers migrating from cigarettes to a category that it ...

2017 was another year of strong growth in heated tobacco as the category continued to welcome smokers migrating from cigarettes. Growing numbers of smokers are being attracted by perceptions that, being smoke-free, heated tobacco is less harmful than...

The Japanese economy will weaken somewhat in 2018. Strong gains in exports and tourism provide crucial support. Activities related to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be another driver. However, the weakness of private consumption is a disappointment. ...

Asia Pacific became the largest information and communications industry in the world in 2017 with a turnover of USD2.2 trillion. The Asian industry is fuelled by rapid adoption of technologies and countries’ overall modernisation, which will further ...

Japan’s limited natural resources mean it has to rely largely on imports to meet the country’s food, energy and raw material demand. Nevertheless, innovation and cutting-edge technology have helped the country to achieve high energy efficiency levels...

Regional and local brands increasingly fuel global beauty industry growth. The top 10 emerging markets in terms of absolute value growth are projected to contribute 57% of the global absolute market gains through to 2022. Local brands in each of ...

Eyewear in Japan continued to record growth in 2018, which was despite the maturity of the market and a population decline. The performance was supported by healthy growth of contact lenses, especially for daily disposable lenses, which are preferred...

As the population in Japan is decreasing, the category of spectacles recorded a stagnant performance in 2018, with very few possibilities of significant growth. Despite the situation, manufacturers continued to introduce value-added spectacles that ...

With turnover of USD1.3 trillion, Asia Pacific is the largest and fastest-expanding education market in the world. While India and Indonesia are set to witness record CAGRs, China is to remain the regional leader in terms of absolute revenue growth. ...

The Japanese alcoholic drinks market stagnated in volume terms in 2017. While economic conditions improved during the year, consumers continued to prefer ienomi (drinking at home), a cocooning trend, rather than drinking at restaurants and bars. In ...

Whilst bags and luggage suffered sales declines in 2016 following the Chinese government’s implementation of a new tax policy affecting products bought overseas to be brought back to China, the category recovered quickly due to the increasing number ...

As the Japanese population decreases and the category approaches maturity, jewellery in Japan struggles to grow volume sales, especially sales of costume jewellery. However, as Japan’s economy is improving and the overall consumer confidence level is...

After showing a sharp decline 2016, personal accessories in Japan showed positive current value growth in 2017 and 2018, supported by the optimistic economy with consumer expenditure increasing and also from continued purchasing from inbound ...

Overall watch sales remained flat in 2018. Even as the decreasing population and category maturity continue to be factors accounting for the stagnant sales, competition with wearable electronics such as activity watches and smart wearables such as ...

In the review period, writing instruments became a form of self-expression, with consumers choosing products that fit their personality. This trend has been more frequently seen in work environments, where people would prefer purchasing and using ...