Updated May 04, 2012
>> See also Retail Aftershocks of Japan's Earthquake on the U.S. Retail Industry >>
While Japan's retail economy seemed to sidestep the effects of the global recession better than most other countries, the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami disaster will undoubtedly prove to have an equally devastating effect on Japan's retail industry.
But looking at the 2011 World's Largest Retailers list, compiled by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine, the Japanese retail industry moved into new prominence and greater dominance on the global retailing stage while retailers in other countries were scrambling to survive. The 2001 Global Powers of Retailing rankings are based on FY 2009 revenues, and the upward ranking shifts of Japan's largest retail chains says a lot about Japanese consumer behaviors.
While American consumers were migrating to dollar and discount stores, Japanese consumers were buying electronics. Fast Retailing, K's Holdings, and Kojima all had double-digit global retail ranking improvements selling merchandise to gadget-hungry Japanese consumers. Joshin Denski experienced the most meteoric rise, gaining 30 spots on the 2011 Largest Retailers list.
Consumer electronics chains weren't the only Japanese retail industry winners in the global retail recession. Supermarket chains Life Corp., Valor, and Maruetsu had double-digit rank improvements. Double-digit ranking rises were seen by home improvement retailers Beisia and DCM Japan Holdings as well.
Three new Japanese retail companies joined the 2011 World's Largest Retailers list. Ketsu Department Stores, Sugi Holdings drug stores, and Fuji Hypermarkets were ranked at #235, #242, and #250 respectively. The Japanese retail industry was the envy of the global retailers in 2009. Retailing in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami is another story altogether
What follows is a complete list of the Japanese retail companies on the 2011 World's Largest Retailers list. The number in the left column is the global ranking number assigned to the company, based on its revenue figures, compared to the 250 largest retail companies worldwide.
Retail Companies Based in the Japan Ranked Among the 250 Largest Retailers In the World:
16 Seven & I Holdings Company, Ltd.
Convenience/Forecourt Store
18 Aeon Company, Ltd.
Hypermarket/Supermarket/Superstore
37 Yamada Denki Company, Ltd.
Electronics Speciality
62 Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
Department Store
77 UNY Company Ltd.
Convenience/Forecourt Store
83 The Dalei, Inc.
Hypermarket/Supercenter/Superstore
89 J. Front Retailing Company, Ltd.
Department Store
98 Takashimaya Company, Ltd.
Department Store
103 Beisia Group
Home Improvement
109 Edion Corp.
Electronics Specialty
120 Yodobashi Camera Company Ltd.
Electronics Specialty
124 Fast Retailing Company Ltd.
Apparel/Footwear Specialty
126 K's Holdings Corp.
Electronics Specialty
140 Bic Camera Inc.
Electronics Specialty
142 Tokyu Corp.
Department Store
156 Don Quijote Company Ltd.
Discount Store
161 Life Corp.
Supermarket
164 H2O Retailing Corp.
Discount Store
167 Kojima Company, Lrd.
Electronics Specialty
171 Shimamura Company, Ltd.
Apparel/Footwear Specialty
176 DCM Japan Holdings Company, Ltd.
Home Improvement
187 East Japan Railway Company
Convenience Store/Forecort Store
192 Joshin Denki Company, Ltd.
Electronics Specialty
195 MatsumotoKiyoshi Holdings Company, Ltd.
Drug Store/Pharmacy
199 Helwado Company, Ltd.
Hypermarket/Supercenter/Superstore
201 Izumiya Company Ltd.
Hypermarket/Supercenter/Superstore
209 Marui Group Company Ltd.
Department Store
216 Valor Company, Ltd.
Supermarket
217 The Maruetsu, Inc.
Supermarket
235 Kinetsu Department Store Co., Ltd.
Department Store
242 Sugi Holdings Co, Ltd.
Drug Store/Pharmacy
250 Fuji Co. Ltd.
Hypermarket/Supercenter/Superstore
More World's Largest Retailers:
- Retail Aftershocks of Japan's Earthquake on the U.S. Retail Industry
- Largest North American Retail Companies
- U.S. Largest Retail Companies
- Complete list of World's Largest Retailers
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