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Tag: Japan

  • Air Asia flies to Okinawa

    Air Asia flies to Okinawa

    AirAsia announced, Wednesday, a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha, strengthening its position as the Malaysian carrier with the most connections and capacity in Japan.

    The four times weekly service via Taipei commences 22 January 2020 (subject to regulatory approvals), and will be AirAsia’s sixth international destination in Japan, after Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Nagoya (via Bangkok).

    AirAsia X Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail said: “Our rapid expansion into Japan continues following the launch of services to Fukuoka and Tokyo Narita earlier this year. Okinawa is an island paradise that offers a different Japanese experience for leisure travellers, including white sandy beaches with clear blue waters, some of the world’s most famous diving spots and unique Ryukyuan cuisine.

    “Like Fukuoka, we are building the foundation for more AirAsia flights to serve Okinawa in the near future, strengthening our regional network and allowing more travellers to discover the unique cultural heritage of this amazing destination.”

    Members-only fares from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha start from RM239* one-way on standard seats and MYR899* one-way on the award-winning Premium Flatbeds, available on airasia.com from today 31 Octoberat 1200 (GMT+8) until 2 November 2019 for travel between 22 January 2020 and 27 March 2020.

    Guests from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha are not required to obtain a visa during their one hour fifteen minutes stopover in Taipei and may return to their seats after clearing a quick security check of their carry-on bags and inflight belongings.

    Okinawa is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures comprising 160 islands in the East China Sea. With its unique cultural heritage and local cuisine, Okinawa has long been a holiday destination for the Japanese, while its subtropical climate, coral-fringed waters and relaxed way of life attract throngs of international tourists looking for an alternative to the hustle-bustle of major cities in mainland Japan.

  • Desigual Japan expands as locals embrace edgy label

    Desigual Japan expands as locals embrace edgy label

    Desigual Japan has opened its third store as it targets further growth in the country.

    The Spanish fashion brand’s 300sqm store, its largest yet, is located in Nagoya´s Sakae Street, adding to its existing stores in Fukuoka and Tokyo.

    The fashion brand, known for its fun and bright designs, identified Japan as its strongest market outside Europe. In the last year, it says its Japan revenue has increased to €25.2 million from €4.6 million in 2011. It is also bullish this year, having recorded 11 percent revenue growth in the first half.

    Country manager Balazs Krizsanyik said another store is planned for Ginza next year.

    Japan is the only Asian country, where it runs a business across all sales channels, the company says. Besides its own e-commerce site, Desigual also sells through local online e-commerce websites including Zozotown, Rakuten and Amazon.

    Elsewhere in Asia, the brand plans to strengthen business in China and expand its presence in Singapore, India and Malaysia.

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  • Japan and South Korea battle for Vietnamese retail market

    Japan and South Korea battle for Vietnamese retail market

    South Korean companies are engaged in a fierce battle with Japanese rivals in the Vietnam retail market, which has emerged as a “post-China.”

    According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Vietnam retail market has been growing rapidly, with an annual average growth rate of 10.9 percent between 2013 and 2018.

    Currently, South Korea and Japan lead the market in all areas, including convenience stores, department stores and online shopping.

    Lotte Group has had a presence in the Vietnam retail market since 2008 and has invested US$390 million so far.

    Currently, the company has 14 shopping malls, one department store, and two duty-free shops operating across the country.

    Japanese rival Aeon entered Vietnam in 2011 with a capital of $190 million. Since then, it has built and operated shopping malls in three centers: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Binh Dương.

    Besides Aeon, Japanese companies such as 7-Eleven, Fuji Mart are also operating in Vietnam.

    The channels that are growing rapidly in the local market are convenience stores and e-commerce.

    In particular, the growth of the convenience-store market is steep due to rapid urbanization, rising income levels and the expansion of the young consumer population.

    IGD Research ranked Vietnam as the top country among the fastest-growing convenience store markets in Asia by 2021.

    The South Korean convenience store chain GS25 entered Vietnam in January last year when it opened a store in Ho Chi Minh through a joint venture with SonKim Group, a Korean company that has emerged in the region.

    It currently operates about 50 stores but plans to expand to 70 by next year and to 2000 over the next decade.

    South Korea’s BGF Retail, which operates the convenience store chain CU, also recently signed a master franchise contract with Vietnam’s CUVN to start making inroads into the Vietnamese market.

    Japan’s 7-Eleven entered Vietnam in 2017 and is currently operating 24 stores. It aims to build 1000 new stores, mostly focused for now on Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It followed Circle K and FamilyMart which have gained considerable traction in Ho Chi Minh City.

    South Korean conglomerates such as Lo

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  • Japanese retail chain Usupso opens store in Ghy

    Japanese retail chain Usupso opens store in Ghy

    Japanese fashion retail chain Usupso is opening three new stores at once in India.

    The chain opened its first location in Guwahati city on October 14, and will launch in Kohima and Dimapur later this week under local franchise partner GM Retails. The firm plans to open more outlets in other parts of the northeast region.

    The first more than 1050sqft store offers in excess of 2500 products under eight categories from homeware to toys at lower-than-average prices.

    The brand operates more than 1000 stores globally.

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  • Japanese gluten-free cafe Kobeya opens in the UAE

    Japanese gluten-free cafe Kobeya opens in the UAE

    The first Japanese and Far Eastern gluten-free cafe Kobeya has opened its doors at the Wasl Vita Mall, Dubai.

    The cafe concept is inspired by the founder’s difficulties in finding gluten-free options in restaurants for her gluten-intolerant son.

    “Kobeya is my inspiration to create that option in the UAE. Our focus is on promoting healthy eating habits by serving only an all ingredient gluten-free menu with more than 50 vegetarian, vegan, non-vegetarian and lactose-free varieties that include salads, burgers, healthy meals and desserts,” said Leiko H, a founding member of Kobeya.

    The Kobeya menu features a selection of gluten-free food including exclusive Japanese Kobe beef burger and Vietnamese spring rolls. The cafe also offers cooking classes on creating gluten-free lunch boxes for kids with products from Japan, Thailand, the Far East, and Europe.

    Leiko said: “My experiences in many Asian countries have given me the vision to offer unique gluten-free dishes created by an expert team of nutritionists at Kobeya. We get to know our suppliers by visiting farms and talking with farmers. We show our dedication to our customers by choosing carefully only high-quality five-star products and ingredients”.

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  • Coffee Day enters Joint Venture with Japanese retailer

    Coffee Day enters Joint Venture with Japanese retailer

    Indian cafe chain Coffee Day has partnered with Japanese sales-floor support-service business Impact HD to grow its retail network in India.

    The joint venture plans to rapidly build market share in the region’s neighborhood retailing sector, launching a minimum of 450 Coffee Day Essentials branded stores in quick succession.

    Coffee Day Group holds a 51 percent controlling share in the joint venture.

    “With about three times the population of Japan in the same standard of living as the Japanese, the multi-retail market environment in which food and daily necessities are purchased on a daily basis remains unexplored,” read a statement released by Impact HD. “In India, kirana stores account for 98 percent of the total, and the remaining 2 percent are hypermarkets and supermarkets that incorporate foreign capital and know-how.”

    The joint venture will convert lagging Cafe Coffee Day cafes into Coffee Day Essentials neighborhood convenience stores.

    The Impact HD JV was among the last major decisions made by Coffee Day Group founder and chairman VG Siddhartha before he took his own life in July.

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  • Croquant Chou Zakuzaku opens in Singapore

    Croquant Chou Zakuzaku opens in Singapore

    Japanese bakery brand Croquant Chou Zakuzaku will open its first store in Singapore next month.

    The Croquant Chou Zakuzaku Singapore flagship store will take over its sister brand’s outlet Bake Cheese Tart at Ion Orchard.

    The new Japanese store will offer its first Croquant Chou, a crunchy stick-shaped cream puff filled with fresh cream, and its soft-serve ice cream made with Hokkaido milk and coated with croquant chunks, Zakuzaku Soft.

    “We are honoured to be able to open a flagship store in Singapore. We have been eyeing to open the store for a long time in a trendy location, and have finally been able to do so in Ion Orchard,” said Hajime Kikuchi, director at Croquant Chou Zakuzaku. “We hope that Croquant Chou Zakuzaku can become a brand that is loved by Singaporeans who are interested in high quality sweets and dessert items.”

    Since opening its doors in Lumine Est Shinjuku in 2014 , Croquant Chou Zakuzaku has expanded to more than 30 outlets in five countries, with its tagline “All the good stuff in one hand”.

     

  • Apple Japan opens its largest store today

    Apple Japan opens its largest store today

    Apple Japan has opened its largest flagship store this month in Marunouchi, Tokyo.

    The new stores was designed by Foster + Partners, one of several architecture practices commissioned to build the tech giant’s retail stores around the world. Foster + Partners also recently completed the revamp of the Fifth Avenue ‘cube store’ in New York City.

    A Foster + Partners spokesperson said the company wanted the Apple Japan store to embody “an honesty of materiality”.

    Located adjacent to the busy Tokyo Station, Apple’s fifth store in Tokyo features a facade featuring two-storey glass display windows framed with aluminium and with 3-dimensional, rounded corners.

    Inside, locally sourced bamboo was planted to create a vibrant greenery atmosphere.

    “The opening of Apple Marunouchi marks a significant moment in Apple’s long relationship with Japan,” said Deirdre O’Brien, senior VP of retail and people at Apple.

    “We wanted to create a restrained presence amid the bustle of Tokyo,” said Stefan Behling, head of studio at Foster + Partners. “The beautifully crafted aluminium vitrines (display windows) define the boundary of the store and Apple’s presence, offering everyone walking by a glimpse into the store. The structural grid gives the entire volume a certain rhythm, while the calm interior is enhanced by the bamboo that lines the perimeter.”

    Later this month Apple Japan will also relocate its Apple Fukuoka to a new and expanded location and complete the remodelling of Apple Omotesando.

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  • Afternoon Tea Tearoom opens first Hong Kong store

    Afternoon Tea Tearoom opens first Hong Kong store

    Japanese tearoom chain Afternoon Tea Tearoom will open its first branch in Hong Kong this Saturday to offer a Japanese-style casual afternoon tea experience in a tourist hotspot.

    The tearoom is located in K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui and offers sweets and a variety of foods such as sandwiches and pasta, plus selected teas and drinks.

    The firm is offering a training program in Japan for the Hong Kong staff of its partner Tearoom (HK) Limited to learn the company’s concept, menu and way to serve customers.

    “Hong Kong is a culturally diverse society and people here are familiar with afternoon tea culture,” said Ivy Company, Sazaby League company president Ryuhei Tsukada.

    “We are grateful to have an opportunity to offer our quality sweets and foods in the city. Our Hong Kong team and Japan team will work together closely to provide the best services to customers, providing them with a rich but casual and relaxing afternoon tea experience.”

    “We are happy to see a popular Japanese brand join our dynamic food and beverage market,” said Investment Promotion associate director-general Dr Jimmy Chiang. “Hong Kong people love Japanese food culture, and I am confident Afternoon Tea Tearoom will draw a good following among food lovers who look for nothing but the best.”

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  • Eslite Bookstore to open outlet in Tokyo

    Eslite Bookstore to open outlet in Tokyo

    Taiwan’s Eslite bookstore chain is set to launch its first outlet in Tokyo this week.

    The store opening marks Eslite Spectrum Corp’s 30th anniversary as well as the first time for the firm to start-up business in a territory where Chinese is not spoken. The 50th Eslite location, it will trade in books and other merchandise sourced from Taiwan and Japan.

    The late Robert C.Y. Wu, who founded the bookstore, is on record as hoping the store would become a “warm venue for people to meet and connect”.

    Eslite has stores in Hong Kong.

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  • Goldwin opens first overseas store in San Francisco

    Goldwin opens first overseas store in San Francisco

    Japanese outdoor apparel brand Goldwin plans to launch its first international outlet in San Francisco, California this November.

    “American outdoor enthusiasts expect the highest quality technical apparel and we are confident that Goldwin will deliver a head-to-toe range that will raise the bar for skiers, hikers, climbers and other athletes who test themselves in the outdoors,” said Gen Arai, GM at Godwin.

    “Most American outdoor enthusiasts are just learning about Goldwin so with the new store location we are looking to provide a unique retail experience that connects urban city life with nature and adventure.”

    The Japanese brand will also launch the latest Fall 2019 collection with signature garments on its website and through selected retail channels in North America next month.

    Founded in 1951 as a manufacturer of knit fabric, Goldwin now specialises in lifestyle products and premium sportswear, including ski apparel.

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  • Starbucks Japan lets customers pay with a pen

    Starbucks Japan lets customers pay with a pen

    Starbucks Japan has launched a new pen-shaped digital wallet called “Starbucks Touch The Pen” allowing customers to buy their coffee without taking out their wallets.

    The pen’s design resembles a drip coffee machine and comes in three colours – black, silver, and white. The new cashless-payment device is run by NFC (near-field communications) technology through FeliCa chip and contains “coffee brown” gel ink, meaning it works as a digital wallet and has the same function as a normal pen.

    Starbucks’ Touch The Pen will cost ¥4000 (US$37) including ¥1000 preloaded credit when it is available to purchase online next week.

    Before The Pen, the cafe chain had three other digital payment models including The Drip (a key fob), The Cup (a phone case) and The Hug (a keyring handbag).

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  • Osaka’s Micasadeco & Cafe opens outlet outside Japan

    Osaka’s Micasadeco & Cafe opens outlet outside Japan

    Japanese fluffy-pancake franchise Micasadeco & Cafe is launching its first flagship outside of Japan at Langham Place in Mong Kok.

    Opening on September 20 in an airy basement, Micasadeco & Cafe will be serving diners breakfast till dinner Monday through Sunday. Limited-edition tote bags will be presented to early diners in celebration of the Hong Kong opening.

    The new venture presents the brand’s signature Ricotta Cheese Pancake, which received the highest ranking of three stars at the Sarah Japan Menu Award last year, alongside an extensive menu mixing sweet and savoury items.

    For the sake of authenticity, four chefs stationed in Hong Kong were invited to to Micasadeco & Cafe’s original branch in Osaka to learn how to make perfect pancake towers and other delicacies.

  • Toyota Invests $391 Million In Its Texas Truck Assembly Plant

    Toyota Invests $391 Million In Its Texas Truck Assembly Plant

    Toyota Motor Corp said on Tuesday it was investing $391 million in its pickup truck assembly plant in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the Japanese automaker’s plan to invest $13 billion in its U.S. operations over five years through 2021. The company said the investment will be used to introduce advanced manufacturing technologies at the plant and also to help with the development and education of the local workforce. Christopher Reynolds, Toyota Motor North America’s chief administrative officer, told Reuters the investment could allow the company to eventually boost the plant’s capacity but no decision has been made. Reynolds added that the company was “bullish” on the future of its U.S truck sales, which are up 4% this year. Toyota’s San Antonio truck plant assembles full-size Tundra and mid-size Tacoma pickup trucks and employs more than 7,200 workers.

    The announcement comes a day after U.S President Donald Trump said Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports. Trump’s announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts.

    Avoiding the “Section 232” tariffs of up to 25% was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade.Over much of the past year, the scope of talks has narrowed to exclude the automotive sector, the source of most of the $67 billion U.S trade deficit with Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August announced an agreement in principle on a deal that covered reductions in tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, but not autos.

    Abe has repeatedly emphasized the significant U.S investments of Japanese automakers and parts manufacturers to Trump

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  • Kyoto Ichinoden has opened a high-end Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong

    Kyoto Ichinoden has opened a high-end Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong

    The new venue, Tominokoji Yamagishi, is part of the 90-year-old firm’s expansion plan in the local dining industry. Located in the prime Ocean Centre in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, it provides 15 seats for booking and serves fine Kyoto cuisine.

    “Kyoto Ichinoden was founded in 1927,” noted Kyoto Ichinoden HK president Jumpei Tanaka. “Our first Kyoto Ichinoden restaurant in Hong Kong was opened in May this year and we have been successful. To sustain the growth momentum, we wanted to open an even more high-end Japanese restaurant in the city to promote high-quality Kyoto cuisine in Hong Kong. As we have a very close relationship with the founder and chef of Tominokoji Yamagishi, who actually was our head chef for more than 10 years, we decided to bring his brand to the city.

    “Hong Kong people have a strong passion for Japanese food and always look for high-quality food and dining experiences,” he added. “It gives us a good reason to bring a Michelin-starred restaurant brand here. The city is also very strong in terms of logistics and transportation, ensuring efficient supplies of high-quality ingredients for our restaurants.”

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