ABSTRACT
There have been a number of studies of foreign retail entry into Japan but few that consider the moves of Japanese retailers to other Asian countries. Nonetheless expansion into Asia of Japanese retailers, notably since the early 1990s, has been considerable. Many have been attracted by the large size of several national markets. Large Japanese trading houses have played a significant direct and indirect role in the international moves of Japanese retailers. China has become the major place of investment for Japanese retailers with 21 retail companies established by Japanese firms. The history of the internationalisation of Japanese retailing shows three phases of development. A first phase is characterised by department stores, a second phase is a slowing of activity in the late 1990s and a third phase of rapid expansion is presently evident. The key to the current phase is the establishment and strength of non-retail supply firms in the same East Asian region into which retailers wish to expand.
