Japan Business News with Yuzuha Oka 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.

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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.

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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.