Japan

Video games in Japan saw slow current value growth in 2023, with growth driven by video games hardware. Thanks to PlayStation 5 finally seeing a significant boost to its sales, this category saw a double-digit current value increase in 2023. Sony…

Traditional toys and games in Japan maintained dynamic current value growth in 2023. There were several trends that shaped this category; amongst them, purchases by adults continued to be a major growth driver and had a wide-ranging impact. These…

Toys and games in Japan saw low current value growth in 2023, with increases for both traditional toys and games and video games. In traditional toys and games, games and puzzles continued to be the largest category. It accounted for less than a…

This briefing assesses global B2B market trends in 2024 and beyond. It is geared towards consumer goods companies that are selling into the B2B market, and provides insights into how B2B markets are developing, which countries and channels to target,…

Within pet products in Japan, hygiene-related items such as cat litter and toilet sheets continue to drive sales growth, although the impact from inflation is also driving up price increases and the category’s value. In Japan, dogs tend to be kept…

Further price increases across pet care in Japan are evident, helping to drive up retail value sales in 2024. On the other hand, overall demand for some pet care products continues to decline, in line with an overall fall in the pet population.…

Owning fish as pets has been popular for many years in Japan, but as with trends seen in dogs, the popularity is shifting to smaller breeds. Large-sized fish such as carp, usually kept in ponds in the garden, are falling out of favour, with fewer…

Dog food in Japan incorporating functionality claims is performing well in 2024. For example, high protein remains an important health claim within dog food for local consumers. It is a characteristic of the Japanese market that there is a wide array…

The rise in the average unit price of cat food in Japan was notably higher in 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2024, resulting in stronger volume decline, while value sales have benefited. Some of the demand in economy dry cat food has been…

Many key beverage companies in Japan are promoting label-free packaging for their core brands, especially for e-commerce sales, as a strategy to reduce plastic use and enhance sustainability. This approach involves eliminating plastic film and paper…

Even though fresh ground coffee has been recording declining sales in the last two years, folding cartons have been growing in popularity as a pack type in this category, registering increasing packaging unit volumes and gaining share. Folding…

Sun care saw dynamic current value growth in Japan in 2023. At the top level, it was the category with the best growth rate in beauty and personal care. There were several factors which supported growth. One was the increased opportunities for going…

In 2023, skin care continued to see current value growth in Japan due to the ongoing increase in awareness of self-care. In addition, from April 2023, all travellers entering Japan on direct flights from China were no longer required to present a…

Premium beauty and personal care continued to grow in current value terms in Japan in 2023, partly due to increased opportunities for going out, and a return to department stores. Particularly strong growth was seen by premium lip products, premium…

Apart from seeing a minor decline in 2020, oral care in Japan has been growing in current value terms for the last decade, thanks to the functionality trend and increasing awareness of hygiene pushing up unit prices; this trend continued in 2023.…

Men’s grooming continued to see current value growth in Japan in 2023, thanks to rising awareness of beauty and personal care amongst men, and the associated increase of brands and products in the space, which activated sales. Increasing awareness of…

Mass beauty and personal care maintained current value growth in Japan in 2023. However, while most categories in mass beauty and personal care in Japan increased in value terms as a result of the end of the pandemic, mass bath and shower continued…

Hair care maintained slow current value growth in Japan in 2023. One of the reasons for continued growth was the self-care trend. The main categories within hair care are shampoos, and conditioners and treatments. Self-care at home became a trend…

Fragrances registered double-digit current value growth in Japan in 2023. Strong growth was also seen for colour cosmetics, but this was underpinned by the rebound from the pandemic, and it still had a lower level of sales compared with pre-pandemic…

Although in 2021 and 2022 depilatories in Japan showed a minor rebound from the pandemic-induced current value decline in 2020, sales did not go back to the 2019 (pre-pandemic) level, and a return to decline was seen in 2023. Depilatories has been…