Japan

Sales of bottled water are set to record continued growth in off-trade current value and volume terms in 2022. Although lingering caution about COVID-19 has continued in 2022, consumers have started to spend more time outside the home compared with…

Sweet spreads is set to see declines in both retail volume and current value terms in 2022, after its sales soared in 2020 due to panic-buying at the beginning of COVID-19, and interest in the health benefits of honey and peanut butter. With the…

In 2022, other dairy in Japan, which includes chilled dairy desserts, cream, coffee whiteners, condensed milk and plain fromage frais and quark, is set to maintain almost the same level of sales as the previous year in current value terms, with…

There was huge demand for televisions from 2009 to 2011, when two drivers pushed up sales enormously. One was the shift of broadcasting from analogue to digital in July 2011. The other was the Eco-Point programme that was run by the Japanese…

Although lives are starting to return to normal in Japan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended in the country. For example, the chaos in terms of semiconductor supplies was primarily driven by the pandemic, and is still leading…

Poor fiscal health is negatively affecting Japan’s ranking for economic freedom. Nevertheless, the country enjoys robust rule of law and corruption is not a problem. The economy is expected to continue to recover in the short term, but foreign…

In 2022, following a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, as well as the relaxation of various restrictions, eyewear is set to continue to show recovery from its pandemic-related decline in 2020. For spectacles and contact lenses, most physical…

Facial tissues, comprising boxed facial tissues and pocket handkerchiefs, witnessed a significant drop in demand in 2020, due to home seclusion as a result of the pandemic. Usage of facial tissues was therefore limited, as the population was less…

Gel air fresheners saw significant double-digit current value growth in 2020. The spike was caused by COVID-19, and mainly by a single product, Cleverin. Cleverin is a brand from Taiko Pharmaceutical. It has several types of product, but the main one…

In 2021, the impacts of COVID-19 continued, with many consumers continuing to avoid unnecessary outings and remaining secluded at home for much of the time. Mainstream consumer foodservice foodservice players showed dynamic growth in the review…

There was a time when functions meant value in appliances. Microwaves were first released around 1960 in Japan, beginning with business use and expanding to consumer use. At the time these were considered super premium products and were not…

While vending retail value sales declined in 2021, vending machines gained attention in Japan in the review period, especially during COVID-19. Vending machines were considered a type of unmanned store, where consumers were able to purchase products…

With the continued impact of COVID-19, social contact remained suppressed in 2021, with consumers continuing to work and study from home and limit socialising. This continued to limit sales of womenswear in 2021, as opportunities to wear new clothes…

In 2022, pulses in Japan is finally set to see a slight recovery in total volume sales, after its significant drop in 2020, driven by the pandemic. The slight recovery will mainly be driven by the recovery of foodservice after the lifting of the…

Nuts is finally set to see an increase in total volume sales in 2022, after witnessing a particularly strong decline in 2020, and a slower decline in 2021. The strong decline in 2020 was due to the emergence of COVID-19. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the…

Meat in Japan is set to continue to see a marginal increase in total volume sales in 2022, after experiencing a significant decline in 2020 after COVID-19 hit the country. The marginal increase in total volume sales will mainly be driven by the…

Contactless payment, or touch-on payment, has become increasingly common for purchases, due to its benefits in terms of smoother and speedier payment, and promotion by credit card companies. In addition, its growth was accelerated by COVID-19, as…

Energy drinks is set to record growth in off-trade current value and volume terms in 2022. The continuous increase in the product variety available is expected to support growth. However, the pace of volume growth is expected to slow down compared…

In 2022, both liquid concentrates and powder concentrates are set to see increases in off-trade volume and current value sales. These products saw polarised results in the past two years, due to the impact of COVID-19. Liquid concentrates saw a…

In 2022, total volume sales of carbonates are set to increase compared with 2021, thanks to a rebound for the on-trade channel. Since the lifting of the quasi-state of emergency in March, although lingering caution about the COVID-19 virus has…