Retail

An Aigan eyewear store in Japan. The chain opened up shop in China in 1994. (Photo by Shoichi Obuchi)
Retail

China's COVID restrictions push Japanese eyewear chain to exit

Struggling Aigan cuts losses, seeing no path to profitability

29 November 2022
Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo told investors that they should not expect its high profitability to continue.
China tech

Pinduoduo warns soaring profits won't continue, cites investments

Chinese e-commerce giant expects U.S. site Temu will be 'full of challenges'

29 November 2022
South Korean e-commerce titan Coupang expanded into Japan in June 2021. It operates in six Tokyo wards, including Meguro and Setagaya. (Photo by Tokuyuki Matsubuchi)
Retail

Coupang's Q-commerce aims for quick growth in Japan

South Korean online retailer teams up with Takashimaya, Daiso for expansion

22 November 2022
Federal Land Chair Alfred Ty, right, stands beside the Mitsukoshi Lion statue with other VIPs during a  Nov. 17 unveiling event at the newly-built Mitsukoshi BGC mall in Manila. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Retail

Japan's Mitsukoshi sheds high-end frills with new Manila mall

Department store applies lessons learned from setbacks in Southeast Asia

20 November 2022
Guests will also receive free Miki House merchandise, such as T-shirts and pajamas, worth about $200. (Photo courtesy of Miki Shoko)
Retail

Kids brand Miki House offers Japan travel perks with China's Trip.com

Hotel deals, shopping discounts and free pajamas to welcome tourists

19 November 2022
JD.com's headquarters in Beijing. The company logged net income of 6 billion yuan in the third quarter.
Retail

JD.com warns of uncertainties as China tweaks zero-COVID

Reopening in 2023 expected to be 'slow, painful and bumpy,' says economist

19 November 2022
Bain Capital will acquire Japanese apparel maker Mash Holdings, which owns the Gelato Pique brand, for about 200 billion yen. (Source photos by Yuki Kohara and courtesy of Mash Holdings)
Business deals

Gelato Pique parent rides COVID success to $1.4bn sale to Bain

Japan's Mash Holdings sets sights on overseas growth and a future IPO

15 November 2022
A Lazada pop-up store in Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district in December 2021.
Consumer

ASEAN shopping presents Singles Day challenges, Lazada says

Alibaba e-commerce unit says local habits require different approach from China

11 November 2022
A promotion for Alibaba's Singles Day sales event. The e-commerce giant pioneered the annual shopping fiesta in China. (Photo courtesy of Alibaba)
Consumer

Alibaba-led Singles Day bonanza hit by business caution and COVID

Subdued approach to annual consumer retail fiesta as Beijing targets influencers

10 November 2022
7-Eleven operator Seven & i Holdings is selling off its Sogo & Seibu department store chains to U.S.-based investment fund Fortress Investment Group.
Business deals

7-Eleven parent to sell Sogo & Seibu for $1.38bn to U.S. fund

Fortress to buy department stores in which partner Yodobashi hopes to open units

9 November 2022
Named after Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, the department store will house luxury brands and Austrian clothing brands. (Rendering courtesy of Central Group)
Retail

Thailand's Central to open luxury department store in Vienna

Retailer bets on recovery in European tourism with plans for Austrian debut

9 November 2022
Li-Ning's flagship store under construction in downtown Hong Kong. (Photo by Takeshi Kihara)
Retail

China's Li-Ning to open flagship shop in Hong Kong as rents fall

Domestic and foreign brands expect fresh demand after border reopens

8 November 2022
Around 70% of the items Tops Club sells are imports. (Photo courtesy of Central Retail)
Retail

Thai retailer opens Tops Club, a membership-only supermarket

Around 70% of items on sale are imports, for which members can get a discount

6 November 2022
Yasuhito Hirota, president and CEO of ASICS, believes the growing popularity of running in Southeast Asia and South America will give the shoemaker a lift. (Photo by Toyofumi Amano) 
Consumer

Asics expanding production in Indonesia and Cambodia: CEO

Japan's shoemaker aims to cash in on jogging boom in emerging markets

5 November 2022
Furniture retailer Nitori is expanding in Beijing and other Chinese cities. (Photo by Tsukasa Hadano)
Companies

Japan furniture seller Nitori makes long-planned Beijing debut

Chain eyes larger China presence as part of push into Asian markets

5 November 2022
About 70% of the customers at the first CoCo Ichibanya restaurant in India are Indians, say the Japanese partners who operate the business. (Photo courtesy of Ichibanya)
Food & Beverage

Japanese-style curry chain ups ante in India

Mitsui & Co., Ichibanya launch second restaurant, new menu items

3 November 2022
Inbound shoppers are starting to return to Japan's department stores. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Retail

Japan's reopening lifts department stores, but Chinese shoppers still wanted

Duty-free sales start on road to recovery, helped by weak yen

2 November 2022
Amazon recruits hundreds of merchants in Ho Chi Minh City. Its growth in Vietnam runs counter to its overall international segment, which reported a loss last quarter. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Retail

Amazon Vietnam growth, buoyed by China, defies global tech slowdown

But 'everybody's struggling' from interest rates, drop in COVID-fueled e-commerce

31 October 2022
Seijo Ishii will test the global waters with a two-week pop-up shop in Singapore. (Rendering courtesy of Seijo Ishii)
Retail

Japan upscale retailer Seijo Ishii heads to Singapore for pop-up debut

Supermarket operator to test products and bolster brand in first overseas foray

31 October 2022
The weak yen will not last forever, but in the meantime even small Japanese companies have started or are considering e-commerce sales to consumers abroad. (Nikkei montage) 
Datawatch

Japan's cross-border e-commerce booms on cheaper yen

Sales up 80% in 2 years as IT facilitates market entry for smaller companies

27 October 2022
Cariuma offers direct-to-consumer sneakers made from natural materials. (Source photo from Cariuma Facebook page)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore-based sneaker brand Cariuma steps up funding

Direct-to-consumer shoe retailer raises about $16.5m

21 October 2022
Japanese government data shows real wages falling and consumers cutting back on spending.
Inflation

Japan's food inflation soars to 31-year high, cutting consumption

Prices rise for 90% of products amid wave of hikes by producers: Nikkei data

21 October 2022
Mitsukoshi department store will be located just north of Bonifacio Global City, a new business district in Metro Manila. (Image courtesy of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings)
Retail

Japan's Mitsukoshi set to open in Manila this year

Philippines' 1st Japanese department store aims to win over young middle class

16 October 2022
A Uniqlo store in Tokyo's Ginza district. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Retail

Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing hits highest-ever annual profit

Sales expected to rise further this year despite inflation headwinds

13 October 2022
Aeon malls in Vietnam attract shoppers even on holidays. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Retail

Japan's Aeon to step up Vietnam expansion, triple number of malls

Fresh baked bread seen as part of recipe for retailer's success

9 October 2022