Yes, yes, and yes. Japan is still the 2nd biggest retail market in the world with 127 million sophisticated consumers that appreciate high quality and excellent service. China may have more factories these days, but how many people there can really afford western goods? When it comes to measure retail market size, Japan still accounts for more than 55% of the whole Asian market. Japan is also the nation with most demand of foods imports as it has the lowest self-sufficiency rate (41% only) among the G8 countries, needs to import almost 60% of all food (United Nations, 2008). A great opportunity for food brands with quality products from the west. And, according to JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation, 2007), Japan consumes nearly 40% of all luxury goods worldwide sold every year, i.e., 90% of Japanese females own one or more high-brand luxury handbag. Which other nation does have such a ratio? But not only luxury goods do well in Japan. Japanese people in general love western life-style, especially quality goods from Europe and the US are selling well in Japan.

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Tokyo - the largest urban area in the world with with 35.2 million people (United Nations, 2008) ...