Japan Business News with Yuzuha Oka

66-year-old Mr Yasushi Ishibashi has a track record of launching popular cosmetic brands in Japan: RMK, SUQQU and THREE. They have strong presence in Japanese department stores, where large, traditional brands from Japan and abroad play strong. I interviewed him on his tactics on building a brand from scratch in such a competitive landscape.

Ginza Six, a new shopping complex opened in Ginza, Tokyo in late April aims not to be a traditional department store.

The facility not only has flagship stores of high-end brands like Dior but also includes Noh Theatre and artworks by Kusama Yayoi.

Japan's retail business is struggling due to the shrinking and aging population. Department store sales in 2016 was below 6 trillion yen for the first time in 36 years.

President of J Front Retailing, which runs Ginza Six, says they need to get out of the traditional department store or it will not fit consumers' lifestyle.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/business_tokushu/2017_0501.html?utm_int=news_contents_tokushu_004

Photo by ITA-ATU

Japan's leading door-to-door delivery service firm Yamato has introduced pickup lockers in 30 convenience stores around Tokyo.

This is one of the solutions to the increasing cost of re-delivery due to the rise of online shopping. Japanese couriers offer free re-delivery service and consumers can designate date and 2-hour time slot to receive the parcel.

However, this convenient service is adding costs up to the couriers and employees, as the numbers are declining, are forced to work long hours and dash between each delivery.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20170331/k10010931461000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_006&nnw_opt=news-main_a

Primary school formerly associated with Japn PM's wife under scrutiny by Japan Business News with Yuzuha Oka

Airbnb regulation law to be discussed by the Japanese cabinet by Japan Business News with Yuzuha Oka

Sixteen Asian countries have gathered in Japan to negotiate a trade deal RCEP. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership entails a growing importance as a rival trade pact TPP is falling apart after the U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal.

However, countries are struggling to come into an agreed conclusion as the members including Japan, China, India and Australia have different preferences in the degree of market access, tariffs and trade rules.

The Japanese government starts a new initiative called Premium Friday, which encourages employees to leave companies early, around 3pm, on last Fridays of each month.

The government aims to boost consumption and eliminate the notoriously long working hours.

Yuzuha looks at the Twitter timeline around 3.30pm to see how it's working.

Today's episode features a story on a fast-fashion giant H&M's retail strategy. H&M don't develop a product specifically made for Japan, as global fashion trend doesn't change. Instead they cater to each market by tailoring the variety and volume of products they place in store. Would it be the best way to cater to Japanese consumers?

Today's pick - an article from Toyo Keizai Online

http://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/159448

Japanese universities are suffering from the lack of money and lecturers. Sometimes they turn to prep school to outsource entrance exam questions, according to an article from Nikkei Business Online.

Today's pick - an article from Nikkei Business Online

http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/report/16/021700112/022100003/?rt=nocnt

2/16　米金利上昇がストップし、利益確定の動きからドルが少し下落。

FRB利上げ加速への期待感は上昇

←イエレン議長のタカ派発言

←期待を上回り好調な米ＣＰＩ，小売売上高の値