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FOCUS: Topshop suffers a setback in Japan 31 Mar 2015

Topshop's bid to be a global player has suffered a setback in Japan, where the retailer shuttered its five stores earlier this year. Here Magdalena Kondej, head of apparel and footwear research at Euromonitor International, looks at the possible reasons why, and asks what happens next?

Japan's Uniqlo in multi-pronged attack on US market 24 Mar 2014

Premium Supima cotton, musician Pharrell Williams and New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are spearheading the drive by Japan's Fast Retailing Co to expand its Uniqlo chain in the US market.

The Flanarant: China's competitiveness buoyed by Asia challenges 13 Nov 2013

Despite a decision eight years ago by Japanese brands and retailers to cut the amount of clothing sourced from China, garment imports from the country are on the rise. Mike Flanagan believes the reasons should resonate with buyers in the US and EU too.

Uniqlo means business with ambitious global plans 21 Sep 2011

Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, thinks big, talks big and has big ambitions - and analysts believe the company does indeed have what it takes to become the biggest clothing retailer in the world within the next decade.

ANALYSIS: Why the yen jump? 18 Mar 2011

After the devastation wrought by what is now officially known as the 'Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake', Japan's currency rose in value. It was the last thing the under-pressure economy needed, and seems a little counter-intuitive given the hit the Japanese economy will be taking. Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange duly tumbled. So what's going on with the currency, asks Dave Leggett.

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Asics accelerates on several sustainability goals 17 May 2019

Sportswear firm Asics Corporation made significant progress on its sustainability goals in 2018, including surpassing its CO2 emissions reduction targets two years earlier than initially planned. 

Fast Retailing discloses all garment supplier factories 13 May 2019

Japan's Fast Retailing has moved to increase its transparency efforts, disclosing all the garment factories supplying its Theory, PLST and other brand factories as well as Uniqlo and GU.

Asics seeks new start-ups for Tenkan-Ten accelerator 10 Apr 2019

Japanese sporting goods giant Asics is on the lookout for the second tranche of sports and well-being start-ups to join its growth catalyst programme.

Teijin Group backs climate change reporting development 12 Mar 2019

Japanese conglomerate Teijin Group has made public its support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and pledged to transparently disclose its information according to the organisation's recommendations.

Shima Seiki knitwear app gets augmented reality boost 6 Mar 2019

Shima Seiki, the Japanese company behind the world's most advanced computerised flat knitting machines, has released a major update to its smart device app VR-knit.com. 

Asics uses curved sole to develop "energy-saving" running shoe 28 Feb 2019

Japanese sportswear company Asics has deployed its new Guidesole3 technology to develop an "energy-saving" shoe, which it claims allows runners to achieve longer distances more easily.

Itochu takes stake in Shandong Ruyi's Lycra business 27 Feb 2019

Japanese conglomerate Itochu Group has announced an investment into Chinese textile firm Shandong Ruyi's newly acquired business The Lycra Company.

Asics launches used sportswear recycling initiative 13 Feb 2019

Japanese sportswear company Asics is collaborating with the charity I:Collect on a sports apparel recycling and reuse initiative in Europe.

Asics to recycle sportswear into Olympic uniforms 29 Jan 2019

In the run-up to next year’s Olympic Games games, Japanese sporting goods giant Asics Corp aims to collect about 30,000 items of used sportswear to recycle into new uniforms for the Tokyo 2020 Japan Olympic and Paralympic teams.

YKK launches personalised printed zipper 22 Jan 2019

Among the latest developments from Japanese fastener business YKK is a new printed and customisable zipper suitable for use in both footwear and apparel.