Convenience Stores in Japan: Ubiquitous and Under Reform

23 January 202022 July 2020

By Melissa Francis

Convenience Stores in Japan — Source: Shutterstock

As was once the case with Starbucks in New York, Japan’s convenience stores (or konbini ) can be found on practically every street corner in both towns and cities alike. Stocking everything from daily essentials to hot or cold lunchtime snacks, photocopying and printing services, and so much more, convenience stores remain a true staple of everyday Japanese life. But with new challenges on the horizon, in this post we take a look at how the major chains (Lawson, Family Mart, 7-Eleven) have been responding.

Interviews

Japan’s 3D Printed Food Market: Opportunities for Foreign Companies

15 January 202023 July 2020

By Melissa Francis

In this post, we discuss the growing importance of Japan’s 3D printed food market, and interview Emilio Sepulveda, CEO & Founder of Natural Machines.

Japan's 3D Printed Food Market Sushi — Source: My Modern Met

Industries

The Unique Japan Vegan Food Sector: Trends in Veganism in Japan

9 January 202013 September 2020

By Melissa Francis

With ‘Veganuary’ in full swing, let’s take a look at what’s happening in the Japan vegan food sector.

Consumer Insights

Promoting Christmas in Japan 2019

17 December 201911 June 2020

By Melissa Francis

Because Christmas is an imported festivity, Christmas in Japan carries very different meanings compared with how we might tend to celebrate in the west. For starters, there is no Christmas national holiday or company shutdown period. Businesses remain open until the New Year. Japanese consumers treat this event as an opportunity to make memories with their partners or friends. A 2017 Rakuten survey found that around 45% of people wanted to spend Christmas with their partner, compared with just 25% who said they would enjoy it with their children. In terms of spending, on average Japanese men are tending to fork out around $90 on gifts versus $71 among women.

Consumer Insights

The Benefits of Subscription Services in Japan

12 December 201913 September 2020

By Melissa Francis

Subscription-based offerings are everywhere these days. From shaving kits to medical testing and underwear to meal boxes, brands are realising how important it is to offer something regular and personalised for their customers.

Subscription services in Japan are equally growing in popularity, but not necessarily in the same way as in places like the UK where more than 58 million consumers spend around £2 billion on them. Yes, Netflix, Amazon Prime and other strong contenders are also performing well in the market, but there are many Japan-only offerings catching the eyes of consumers. As a result, subscription services in Japan rank second behind the US in terms of most prominent market, with a forecast to reach a value of $7 billion USD by 2021.

Consumer Insights

The Smart Speakers Market in Japan

27 November 201911 June 2020

By Melissa Francis

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and other leading smart speakers have become a convenient addition to many households around the world. But what’s the smart speakers market in Japan like right now?

Smart Speakers Market in Japan Google Mini — Source: Shutterstock

Tokyoesque News

Tokyoesque’s 2019 expansion to Amsterdam!

26 November 20197 June 2020

Tokyoesque is excited to announce that we now have a branch in Amsterdam as well as our main office in London. Our expansion to Amsterdam means we can influence your expansion, whether to or from Japan, by utilising our on-the-ground presence in Europe.

Consumer Insights

Queer Eye Japan: Intriguing Insights in Netflix’s 2019 ‘Queer Eye: We’re In Japan’

21 November 201911 June 2020

By Melissa Francis

Cast from Queer Eye Japan — From left: Karamo Brown, Kiko Mizuhara, Antoni Porowski, Naomi Watanabe, Bobby Berk, Tan France, and Jonathan Van Ness — Source: Time Out

Being familiar with the usual format, I felt there was an extra layer to the Queer Eye Japan series that was worth exploring. Understandably, there have been mixed reactions to this, and in particular, Steven Wakabayashi makes a strong critique in his recent article here on Medium, in which he outlines some key points about how the show was approached. I highly recommend giving it a read for an alternative take on the issues presented.

Culture

Halloween in Japan 2019: A Frightening Success?

24 October 201921 October 2020

By Ryoko Ward

Halloween in Japan 2019 — Source: Shutterstock

This week, we take a look at some examples of campaigns for Halloween in Japan and how the event fits culturally into the local context.

Marketing

Consumer tax hike in Japan: how has it impacted consumer behaviour?

10 October 201911 June 2020

By Ryoko Ward

From 1st October, the VAT rate in Japan was increased from 8% up to 10%, marking the first change since April 2014, when it was raised from 5% to 8%. There was significant interest among Japanese consumers in stocking up on items right before the higher tax rate officially came into effect.

Tax Hike in Japan Mercari — Source: Mercari

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Our team are familiar with both the European and Japanese markets. We bring clients on-the-ground in their target markets to truly understand the culture, trends and innovations that will have an impact on their success in the market.

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Tokyoesque Insights

Convenience Stores in Japan: Ubiquitous and Under Reform

By Melissa Francis

Japan’s 3D Printed Food Market: Opportunities for Foreign Companies

By Melissa Francis

The Unique Japan Vegan Food Sector: Trends in Veganism in Japan

By Melissa Francis

Promoting Christmas in Japan 2019

By Melissa Francis

The Benefits of Subscription Services in Japan

By Melissa Francis

The Smart Speakers Market in Japan

By Melissa Francis

Tokyoesque’s 2019 expansion to Amsterdam!

Queer Eye Japan: Intriguing Insights in Netflix’s 2019 ‘Queer Eye: We’re In Japan’

By Melissa Francis

Halloween in Japan 2019: A Frightening Success?

By Ryoko Ward

Consumer tax hike in Japan: how has it impacted consumer behaviour?

By Ryoko Ward

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