Report
Joel Scheiman ...
  • Julie Boote
  • Pelham Smithers
  • Thao Nguyen
  • William Nestuk

The Must Read PSA Japan Research Round-Up (Week to Sept 28, 2018):

News on Sony this week gave Pelham Smithers cause to consider pausing his multi-year championing of the name. Heading off the PSA sales team’s clamour for a replacement, he presents ten candidates.
Underlyings
Capcom Company Limited

CyberAgent Inc.

CyberAgent is an information technology company. Media segment is engaged in the operation of internet TV station "AbemaTV," free live streaming programs without subscription "FRESH!," blog service "Ameba," matching services "Tapple" and music streaming service "AWA." Game segment offers a variety of games for smartphones such as "GRANBLUE FANTASY." Internet Advertisement segment is engaged in the provision of internet advertising agency services. Investment Development is engaged in the corporate venture capital business, as well as the establishment and operation of investment fund. Others segment is engaged in the operation of smartphone media.

DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD.

Daikin Industries is engaged in the manufacture and sale of air conditioning and refrigerating equipment. The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment segment offers housing equipment including split type air conditioners, air purifiers and air to water heat pump systems; commercial equipment including packaged air conditioners, multi-split type air conditioners, water cooled chillers, medium/low temperature refrigeration equipment, air handling units, rooftop systems and air filters; and marine air conditioning equipment. The Chemicals segment offers fluorocarbon gases, fluoroplastics, fluoroelastomers, fluoro coating agents, semiconductor-etching products and fluorinated oils.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp

FUJIFILM Holdings is a holding company engaged in the manufacture and sale of imaging information products. Co.'s principal businesses are divided into three segments: imagining solution, information solution and document solution. Co.'s principal products and services are color films, digital cameras "FinePix," photofinishing equipment, color paper, as well as chemicals and services for photofinishing; equipment and materials for medical systems and life sciences, equipment and materials for graphic arts, flat panel display materials, recording media and optical devices; office copy machines/MFPs, printers, as well as production systems and services.

Hino Motors Ltd.

Hino Motors is a manufacturer of large, medium-duty, and light-duty trucks, buses and passenger vehicles. Co. is engaged in the design, development, manufacture and sale as well as the provision of services of diesel trucks, buses, special-purpose vehicles, industrial and marine diesel engines and spare parts. Co.'s truck models include light-duty truck "HINO Dutro," light-duty/medium-duty truck "HINO Ranger" and heavy-duty truck "HINO Profia." Co's bus models include "Hino Rainbow"and "Hino Liesse." Co. also manufactures passenger vehicles, commissioned from Toyota Motor Corp., including the sport-utility vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Honda Motor is the parent company of a group mainly develop, manufacture and distribute motorcycles, automobiles, power products, and also provide financing for the sale of those products. Principal manufacturing facilities are located in Japan, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, and Brazil. Co.'s principal business segments are motorcycles, automobiles, financial services, and power products & other business. Co.'s principal automobile products include passenger cars such as "Legend," "Accord," "Inspire," "Civic," "Insight," "City," "Acura RL," "Acura TL," "Acura TSX," and "Acura CSX".

Isuzu Motors Limited

Isuzu Motors is engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobiles. Co. manufactures heavy/medium/light-duty trucks, buses, passenger vehicle engines and industrial-use diesel engines. Co.'s principal products include commercial vehicles including light, medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses; passenger cars including sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks under the name of "Isuzu D-MAX," "Isuzu mu-X" and "Panther;" diesel engines for construction machinery, freezer units and generators; diesel engines for passenger vehicles; and marine engines for commercial boats. In addition, Co.'s subsidiary provides commercial vehicle leasing and maintenance services.

Japan Display Inc.

Japan Display is engaged in the development, production and sale of small- and medium-sized display devices and related products. Co.'s display devices are mainly used for smartphone, tablet, in-vehicle equipment, medical equipment, game machine, and digital cameras, as well as wearable applications such as sports watches, healthcare equipment and action cameras. Co. provides flat panel displays including low temperature poly-silicon LCD for ultra-high resolution, IPS (In-Plane Switching) for wide viewing angle and high picture quality, WhiteMagic™ for power-saving, and Pixel Eyes™ for thin and light touch functionality.

Konica Minolta Inc.

Konica Minolta and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of information technologies related equipment, optical and sensing devices, and healthcare equipment. Co.'s principal products are multi-functional peripherals ("MFPs"), laser printers, filing devices, facsimile machines, and equipment for production printing systems and graphic arts, as well as related solution services; digital X-ray diagnostic image systems, digital mammography, and diagnostic ultrasound systems; and lens units, pickup lenses for optical disks, TAC films for LCD polarizer, and high-precision photo plates. In addition, Co. is engaged in the operation of planetariums.

Mazda Motor Corp.

Mazda Motor and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of passenger and commercial vehicles. Co. provides compact vehicles, sports cars, sedans, mini vans, light cars, commercial vehicles, welfare vehicles and customized vehicles, as well as car accessories. Co.'s principal products are four-wheeled vehicles, gasoline reciprocating engines, diesel engines, and automatic and manual transmissions for vehicles. Co.'s principal brand automobiles include Demio, Axela, Atenza, CX-3, CX-5, CX-8, Roadster, Carol, Flair, Flair Wagon, Scrum Wagon, Bongo, Titan, Familia Van, and Scrum Van/Truck.

Misumi Group Inc.

Misumi Group is a holding company. Co., through its subsidiaries, is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of factory automation parts, die components, electronics components, optical-related products and others. Co. operates in three business segments: factory automation, die components, and VONA. Co.'s principal products include linear shafts, shafts holders, pulleys, motors, aluminum frames, stages, punches and dies, guide posts, springs, ejector pins, core pins, guide pins, cables to connect FA equipment, harness cables, relay terminal blocks and connectors, computers and peripherals for the field of measurement and control, machine tools, and veterinary and medical supplies.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Mitsubishi Motors and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles including passenger cars as well as component parts. Co. is engaged in the development, design, manufacture, assembly, sale and purchase, import and other transactions relating to automobiles, component parts and replacement parts, agricultural machinery and industrial engines; the sale and purchase of used automobiles; the sale of measuring equipment; and acting as insurance agents in accordance with laws relating to property damage insurance and to automobile damage indemnity insurance. In addition, Co. is involved in the provision of automobile leasing and sales finance services.

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Murata Manufacturing is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic components and modules in Japan, North America and certain other Asian and European countries. Co.'s products are sold mainly to electronics companies for use as components in telecommunication, computer, audio, video, automotive electronics and other electronic products. Co. is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic parts and related products, including components for capacitors and piezoelectric products, as well as modules products; the provision of welfare services, personnel services, education and training services, as well as the leasing and management of real estate.

Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic offers a range of products, systems and components for consumer, business and industrial use based on electronics and precision technology, expanding to building materials and equipment, and housing business. Co. divides its businesses into five segments: Appliances, Eco Solutions, Connected Solutions, Automotive & Industrial Systems and Other. Co.'s principal products include home appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, washing machines and vacuum cleaners; lighting fixtures and electric lamps, video and audio equipment, electrical components, batteries, semiconductors and optical devices.

Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd.

Recruit Holdings is a holding company. Through its affiliates, Co. operates in four business segments: marketing media, HR media, staffing, and other. Marketing Media segment is engaged in the provision of information on housing, bridal, post-secondary education for high school students, automobiles, lodging accommodation, restaurants, and beauty salons. HR Media segment is engaged in the provision of services that offer employment information to job seekers both in Japan and overseas. Staffing segment is engaged in the provision of staffing services in Japan and overseas. Other segment is engaged in the planning, operation, outsourcing, and other of digital content services.

Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics is a semiconductor solution provider. Co.'s solutions include electronic products and systems for communications, computing and peripherals, consumer electronics, as well as automotive and industrial sectors. Along with its subsidiaries and associated company, Co. operates in four business segments: automotive, industrial, broad-based and other semiconductors. Co.'s principal products are microcontrollers, microprocessors, smart analogs, secure MCUs (Microcontroller Units), embedded systems platform, software, tools, IPDs (Intelligent Power Devices), power MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors), analog and mixed-signal ICs, and transistors.

SoftBank Group Corp.

SoftBank Group is a holding company. Domestic Telecommunications business provides mobile communication services, mobile devices, broadband services to retail customers, and telecom services to corporate customers in Japan. Sprint business provides mobile communication services and fixed-line telecommunication services in the U.S. Yahoo Japan business operates Internet-based advertising and e-commerce business. Distribution business distributes mobile devices overseas, and sells software and mobile device accessories in Japan. ARM business designs microprocessor intellectual property and related technology. SoftBank Vision Fund & Delta Fund business is engaged in the investment activities.

SUBARU CORP

SUBARU and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobiles and aerospace-related equipment. The Automobiles segment is engaged in the manufacture, sale and repair of passenger cars and their components under the name of "SUBARU." The Aerospace segment is engaged in the manufacture, sale and repair of commercial and defense aircrafts, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and their components. In addition, Co. is engaged in the manufacture, sale and repair of generators, engine-equipped machinery, agricultural machinery, construction machinery and their components; the leasing of real estate; and the manufacture and sale of temporary houses.

Suzuki Motor Corp.

Suzuki Motor is engaged in the manufacture and sale of automobiles and motorcycles in Japan and overseas. Co.'s business segments are automobiles, motorcycles, and marine. Automobiles segment manufactures and sells light automobiles, compact automobiles and general automobiles including "Swift," "Solio," "Jimny," "Spacia," and "Hustler." Motorcycles segment manufactures and sells compact two-wheel vehicles, light two-wheel vehicles, motorized bicycles and buggies such as "Hayabusa," "GSX-R1000R ABS," and "Skywave." Specialized Machinery segment manufactures and sells outboard motors, engines for snow vehicles, motorized wheelchairs, among others.

Teijin Limited

Teijin and its affiliates are mainly engaged in the fiber-related business. Co.'s operation is divided into two business segments: Materials Business and Healthcare Business. Materials Business focuses on high-performance fibers, such as aramid fibers and carbon fibers, as well as polycarbonate resin and polyester film. It also produces and sells Polyester and recycled polyester fabrics and textiles. Healthcare Business provides pharmaceuticals for bone and joint disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disease as wel as healthcare products. Co. also provides various IT services, along with internet services such as e-comics services.

Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota Motor is an automobile manufacturer. Co. is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of sedans, minivans, compact cars, sport-utility vehicles, trucks and related parts and accessories throughout the world. Co. provides financing, vehicle and equipment leasing and certain other financial services primarily to its dealers and their customers to support the sales of vehicles and other products manufactured by Co. Co.'s principal business segments are automotive operations, financial services operations and other operations. Co. sells its vehicles in approximately 190 countries and regions, and markets for its automobiles in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia.

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.

Yamaha Motor is a manufacturing company. Along with its affiliates, Co. operates in four business segments: motorcycles, marine products, power products, industrial machinery and robots. Co. is engaged in the manufacture and sale of motorcycles, knockdown parts for overseas production, outboard motors, personal watercraft, FRP pools, fishing boats, utility boats, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, golf cars, generators, small-sized snow throwers, multi-purpose engines, surface mounters, industrial robots, wheelchair electric power units, automobile engines, automobile components, electrically power assisted bicycles and industrial-use unmanned helicopters.

Provider
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

PSA produces both company and sector reports. The focus of PSA’s research is to identify winners and losers as new technologies impact the top and bottom lines of corporations. Critical to our research is the clear explanation of how these new technologies work and how they impact companies and industries. 

The founding partners have worked closely together for twenty years and the team has more than doubled in size since 2012. 

Analysts
Joel Scheiman

Julie Boote

Pelham Smithers

Thao Nguyen

William Nestuk

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