Core Insights - Wangfujing Global Purchase showcased over 100 international brands and health products at the 2025 China International Service Trade Fair, attracting significant attention from visitors [1] Group 1: Product Offerings - The company presented a diverse range of cross-border products, including luxury brands like Chanel and GUCCI, as well as well-known health products such as Luoshenlin and Jeonggwanjang [1] - Compared to last year, Wangfujing Global Purchase added general trade products like Morita Cosmetics and French Meipa to its offerings, allowing consumers to pay and pick up items directly without waiting for logistics [1] Group 2: Retail Model - The global purchase experience store utilizes a new retail model combining "bonded display + cross-border e-commerce" supported by cross-border exhibition policies [1] - In the experience store, sales staff guide consumers to place orders through the Wangfujing Global Purchase mini-program, with products shipped from the Beijing Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone directly to consumers [1]

Group 1 - Major Japanese cosmetics companies are facing significant challenges, with varying performance across different brands and markets [2][7][30] - Kao Corporation reported a remarkable increase in operating profit by nearly 108%, while other companies like Kose and I-ne experienced declines of 17.7% and 17.0% respectively [2][7] - Several brands under major Japanese cosmetics companies are struggling, with notable declines such as a 57% drop for the brand "Zui Xiang" and decreases for brands like Anessa, Shiseido, Decorte, and POLA [2][10] Group 2 - The Japanese cosmetics market is facing challenges, with a 3.4% decline in the overall market and specific brands like Kose's Sekkisei down by 0.5% [2][30] - The performance in the Chinese market is dragging down overall sales, with many companies planning to withdraw, liquidate, or close stores by 2025 [2][28] - Kao is the only company among the five major Japanese cosmetics groups to show growth across all markets, with increases of 2.4% in the Americas, 3.0% in Europe, and 2.3% overseas [2][30] Group 3 - Shiseido's operating profit turned positive, but net sales showed only a slight increase of 0.82%, indicating ongoing challenges [9][30] - Kose's net sales increased by 0.9%, but its operating profit fell by 17.7%, highlighting the difficulties faced by the company [9][30] - POLA ORBIS reported a decline in net sales by 1.4%, primarily due to reduced sales from its core POLA brand [21][23] Group 4 - I-ne's skincare segment saw a significant increase of 432%, while its hair care segment declined by 10.8% [27][28] - Kao's beauty-related sales for the first half of 2025 reached 211.5 billion yen (approximately 10.32 billion RMB) and 118.5 billion yen (approximately 5.78 billion RMB) for cosmetics, with both segments showing profit growth [13][15] - Kose's high-end brand sales showed mixed results, with Sekkisei growing by 11.4% while other core brands like Decorte faced declines [16][18] Group 5 - The overall performance of Japanese cosmetics companies indicates a need for strategic adjustments, especially in light of economic downturns and increased competition in the Chinese market [37][40] - Companies are exploring growth opportunities in Southeast Asia, but face challenges from numerous competitors in these emerging markets [47][28] - The Japanese domestic market also presents challenges, with brands like Zui Xiang ceasing operations and Kose's Sekkisei facing a slight decline [42][45]

Group 1 - Japanese cosmetics companies are experiencing collective anxiety in the Chinese market, with Shiseido's executives acknowledging a decline in brand equity [2] - The Japanese beauty industry has been a significant player in China for over 40 years, but recent years have seen challenges due to the rise of local brands and external pressures from Western competitors [2][3] - In the first half of 2025, major Japanese beauty companies reported declines in their Chinese operations, with Shiseido's sales dropping by 10%, Kosé's by 7.3%, and POLA's net profit plummeting by 38% [2][3] Group 2 - The performance of Japanese beauty companies reflects a broader restructuring of the beauty industry, highlighting the need for multinational companies to adapt to the changing market dynamics in China [3] - Despite global profit growth, the persistent weakness in the Chinese market is a common challenge for these companies, indicating a significant shift in the competitive landscape [3][16] Group 3 - Shiseido's overall sales in the first half of 2025 were 469.83 billion yen (approximately 22.86 billion RMB), a decrease of 7.6%, while core operating profit increased by 21.3% to 23.37 billion yen (approximately 1.14 billion RMB) [7][10] - The Chinese and travel retail segment for Shiseido saw sales of 173.94 billion yen (approximately 8.46 billion RMB), down 12.4%, but it contributed nearly 80% of the group's core profit [10] Group 4 - Kao Corporation reported a global sales increase of 2.7% to 809 billion yen (approximately 39.3 billion RMB) in the first half of 2025, with operating profit rising by 19.9% to 69.5 billion yen (approximately 3.3 billion RMB) [10][13] - Kosé's sales were 160.5 billion yen (approximately 7.8 billion RMB), a slight increase of 0.9%, but operating profit fell by 17.7% to 11.3 billion yen (approximately 0.55 billion RMB) [15] Group 5 - POLA ORBIS Group's total revenue was 832.53 billion yen (approximately 38.3 billion RMB), a slight decrease of 0.7%, with net profit dropping by 38.1% to 4.64 billion yen (approximately 0.23 billion RMB) [16] - The performance of these companies illustrates a clear divide between global profitability and challenges in the Chinese market, with POLA facing additional difficulties due to delayed strategic adjustments [16] Group 6 - Japanese beauty companies are optimistic about the long-term potential of the Chinese market and are accelerating transformations to navigate current challenges [17] - Strategies include focusing on high-end products, channel innovation, and localization to better respond to the evolving consumer landscape in China [17][19]

Core Viewpoint - Japanese cosmetics companies are facing significant challenges in the Chinese market, with declining sales and profits, prompting a need for strategic transformation to regain market share and adapt to local consumer demands [2][3][14]. Group 1: Market Performance - Shiseido's sales in China fell by 10% in the first half of 2025, while Kose's business declined by 7.3%, and POLA's net profit dropped by 38% due to market weakness [3][10][13]. - The overall sales of Japanese cosmetics in China have been adversely affected by the rise of local brands and external factors such as the nuclear wastewater incident [3][4]. - In the first half of 2025, Shiseido's global sales were 469.83 billion yen (approximately 22.86 billion RMB), down 7.6% year-on-year, but core operating profit increased by 21.3% to 23.37 billion yen (approximately 1.14 billion RMB) [7][8]. Group 2: Strategic Adjustments - Japanese companies are focusing on high-end markets and localizing their operations to better meet consumer needs in China [16][22]. - Shiseido plans to integrate its China and travel retail operations into an independent profit center to enhance brand synergy and respond to the trend of high-end market penetration [16][32]. - Kose is implementing a strategy of channel optimization and brand restructuring, emphasizing high-end and mass-market segments while enhancing local R&D and marketing efforts [24][31]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Despite current challenges, Japanese companies remain optimistic about the long-term growth potential in the Chinese market and are accelerating their transformation efforts [16][32]. - The focus on high-quality growth rather than short-term sales boosts is evident in Shiseido's strategy, which includes significant investments in core brands and new product launches [18][32]. - The ability to adapt to local consumer preferences and integrate local insights into product development will be crucial for Japanese brands to maintain competitiveness in the evolving Chinese beauty market [27][32].

Core Insights - The four major Japanese cosmetics companies, Shiseido, Kao, POLA, and Kose, have reported mixed results for the first half of the year, with Kao and Kose showing sales growth while Shiseido and POLA experienced declines [1][2] - The Japanese domestic market remains a crucial pillar for these companies, but they collectively face challenges in overseas markets, prompting a shift towards high-end strategies [1][3] Sales Performance - Kao's sales reached 809 billion yen, a 2.7% increase year-on-year; Kose's sales were 160.5 billion yen, up 0.9%; Shiseido's net sales fell to 469.831 billion yen, down 7.6%; POLA's sales decreased to 83.253 billion yen, down 0.7% [2] - In terms of operating profit, Kao reported 69.5 billion yen, a 19.9% increase; Shiseido's operating profit was 23.372 billion yen, up 21.3%; POLA's profit was 8.217 billion yen, a 12.3% increase; Kose's profit fell to 11.3 billion yen, down 17.7% [2] Domestic Market Focus - The Japanese market has been a stronghold for these companies, with Kose's sales in Japan growing by 6% year-on-year, and Kao attributing its growth to competitive product launches [3] - Shiseido's performance is also credited to structural reforms in the domestic market, which helped offset declines in other regions [3] Overseas Market Challenges - All four companies faced difficulties in overseas markets, with Kose's North American sales down 8.6% and Chinese sales down 3.4%; Kao noted weak growth in overseas markets [3] - POLA highlighted adverse impacts from certain Asian regions, particularly China, affecting overall overseas performance [3] Brand Perception and Competition - Japanese cosmetics brands have seen a decline in visibility among consumers, with no brands from these companies making it to the top 20 beauty brands on Douyin in recent years [4] - The rise of domestic brands has intensified competition, with local brands gaining significant market share [5] High-End Strategy - In response to stagnant domestic growth, these companies are focusing on expanding overseas markets, with high-end positioning as a key strategy [6] - Shiseido's sales from the Japanese market account for about 30%, while Kose and POLA exceed 50%, indicating limited growth potential in the domestic market [6] Future Plans - Companies are implementing strategies to enhance their overseas presence, with POLA's mid-term plan emphasizing overseas business development and Kose's "Milestone 2030" focusing on investment and structural reforms [6][7] - High-end branding is central to their strategies, with Kao planning to develop six major brands and Shiseido focusing on its "Core3" and "Next5" high-end brands [7] Innovation and R&D - The global beauty market is increasingly competitive, with a focus on high-end products requiring significant R&D investment [8] - Companies like Shiseido and Kao are investing in innovation to attract younger consumers and adapt to changing market dynamics [8]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights the mixed performance of Japan's four major cosmetics companies—Shiseido, Kao, POLA, and Kose—in their financial results for the first half of 2025, with varying sales growth and profitability trends [2][3][4] - Kao and Kose reported sales growth, with Kao's sales increasing by 2.7% to 809 billion yen and Kose's sales rising by 0.9% to 160.5 billion yen, while Shiseido and POLA experienced sales declines of 7.6% and 0.7%, respectively [3][4] - Kose was noted as the only company among the four to see a decline in operating profit, which fell by 17.7% to 113 billion yen, while Kao, Shiseido, and POLA reported increases in operating profit [3][4] Group 2 - The domestic Japanese market has been a crucial pillar for the performance of these companies, with Kose's sales in Japan growing by 6% and Kao attributing its growth to competitive product launches [4][6] - In contrast, the overseas markets have shown weakness, with Kose's North American sales declining by 8.6% and sales in China dropping by 3.4% [4][5] - The nuclear wastewater incident has been identified as a significant factor affecting the international market presence of Japanese cosmetics brands, leading to consumer resistance and declining sales [5][6] Group 3 - To address the challenges in overseas markets, the companies are focusing on high-end strategies, with plans to enhance their global presence and product offerings [6][7] - Shiseido's sales in Japan account for about 30% of its total sales, while Kose and POLA have over 50% of their sales from the domestic market, indicating limited growth potential in Japan [6][7] - The high-end market has become increasingly competitive, with global brands emphasizing their premium attributes, necessitating Japanese brands to invest in research and development to remain relevant [8][9]