Outdated Otsuka Kagu business model is at the root of family feud
Retailers know that image maintenance is important for their bottom lines, as proven by Otsuka Kagu Ltd.’s 37.8 percent drop in sales last month compared to March 2014. Otsuka is one of Japan’s...
View ArticleCash shortfall among the elderly could push Japan over the edge
If retirees all dip into their savings at the same time to supplement their pensions, it could spell disaster for Japan's bond-driven economy. The post Cash shortfall among the elderly could push Japan...
View ArticleStores struggle to adjust in a shrinking Japan
From McDonald's to izakayas and konbinis, food outlets are learning the hard way that as Japan's population drops, so will consumption. The post Stores struggle to adjust in a shrinking Japan appeared...
View ArticlePhone users in Japan still paying for plenty of stuff they don’t need
Despite efforts to shake up competition in the cellphone market, consumers are paying more than ever for mobile services. The post Phone users in Japan still paying for plenty of stuff they don’t need...
View ArticleSuntory gains ground in battle of the machines
Suntory Beverage is buying a bigger piece of a shrinking but lucrative pie with its purchase of the Japan Tobacco's vending machine subsidiary. The post Suntory gains ground in battle of the machines...
View ArticleHome electronics market loses its spark
On May 25, Yamada Denki Co., the largest home electronics retailer in Japan, announced that it would be closing 46 outlets. Given that the stores had been losing money for at least a year and Yamada...
View ArticleConsumers slow to embrace generic drugs
In May, the health ministry announced that it would set a new target for the use of generic pharmaceuticals. In 2013, 46.9 percent of the prescription drugs dispensed in Japan were generics, and at...
View ArticleAmerica still rules the world of Japan’s theme parks
The success of Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan has a lot to do with their business models and the way they've exploited their appeal to certain demographics in Japan. The post America...
View ArticleJapan’s elderly boomers squeezed to pay more as care facilities struggle
The elderly nursing care industry is facing a perfect storm of problems as the ranks of elderly swell and subsidies from local authorities and central government shrink. The post Japan’s elderly...
View ArticleChinese shoppers keep Japan’s tills ringing
The lower yen, fewer visa restrictions, cheap flights and trust in Japanese products are all helping fuel the boom in Chinese tourism to Japan. The post Chinese shoppers keep Japan’s tills ringing...
View ArticleJapan’s treasury hopes flat-rate beer tax will drive drinkers to maltier fare...
Who will benefit from plans to levy the same tax rate on all three categories of beers? The post Japan’s treasury hopes flat-rate beer tax will drive drinkers to maltier fare and pad coffers appeared...
View ArticleInevitable looming consumption tax hike keeps the LDP awake at night
The LDP is in a tough spot between an public wary of consumption tax hikes and a Finance Ministry unwilling to budge on the promised move to a 10-percent levy. The post Inevitable looming consumption...
View ArticleJapan’s rich: acutely aware of their wealth and not flashy with it
It's often said that in Japan you may live right next door to a millionaire and not know it, because his house looks just like yours. The post Japan’s rich: acutely aware of their wealth and not flashy...
View ArticleWater, water everywhere in Japan, but fewer people to pay for it
Water is relatively abundant in Japan, but there are less people around to pay for the infrastructure that processes it and delivers it to homes. The post Water, water everywhere in Japan, but fewer...
View ArticleNo relief in sight for Japan’s poor single-parent families
How can Japan's single mothers have both the highest poverty and employment rate among the OECD group of developed nations? The post No relief in sight for Japan’s poor single-parent families appeared...
View ArticleWithout tackling Japan’s labor mismatch, Abe’s GDP target is just a pipe dream
The government urgently needs to address the mismatch between the jobs available and the people who are looking for employment. The post Without tackling Japan’s labor mismatch, Abe’s GDP target is...
View ArticleInvestors see big returns as Airbnb takes off in Japan
While many see Airbnb as a possible fix for two seious problems in Japan — the shortage of hotel rooms and a steady increase in vacant buildings — others see an investment opportunity. The post...
View ArticleRipped-off bar hostesses in Japan stand up for their rights
With an increase in nonregular employment driving more women into the night entertainment business, some are turning to labor unions to deal with clubs that try to con them. The post Ripped-off bar...
View ArticleLow wages at the heart of foreign labor shortage woes
There has been a lot of discussion recently about allowing more foreign workers into Japan to make up for severe labor shortages in some fields. As of the end of 2014, the labor ministry estimated...
View ArticleMounting student debt may cost society dearly
The education ministry conducted a survey in 2014 of institutes of higher learning and found that the average yearly tuition for private universities was ¥864,384. In addition, the average “entry fee”...
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