Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The Japanese apparel market was valued at approximately ¥9.2 trillion in 2023
Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, recorded revenue of ¥2.77 trillion in FY2022
Japan is the third-largest fashion market globally by revenue
E-commerce accounted for 13.9% of total apparel sales in Japan in 2022
Japan’s fashion accessories market was worth ¥1.22 trillion in 2022
In 2023, Japanese consumers spent an average of ¥35,720 annually on clothing per person
Secondhand clothing market in Japan reached ¥1.7 trillion in 2022
Online secondhand fashion retailer Mercari has over 20 million monthly active users in Japan
The number of fashion schools in Japan exceeds 200 institutions
As of 2022, Japan had approximately 300,000 fashion designers
The largest fashion trade show in Japan, Tokyo Fashion World, hosts over 700 exhibiting companies annually
Over 30,000 visitors attend Tokyo Fashion Week biannually
Tokyo Fashion Week features over 50 designer brands per season
Consumer Behavior & Trends
- In 2023, Japanese consumers spent an average of ¥35,720 annually on clothing per person
- Japan's average fashion item price in 2022 was ¥3,500
- Over 60% of Japanese consumers buy fashion items during seasonal sales
- 43% of Japanese consumers consider sustainability when purchasing fashion
- The average Japanese wardrobe includes 94 clothing items
- 56% of Japanese shoppers prefer domestic fashion brands
- The average lifespan of clothing in Japanese households is 3.3 years
- The average Japanese fashion customer is aged between 25 and 45
- Mobile purchases make up 70% of online fashion sales in Japan
- 68% of Japanese fashion shoppers prefer made-in-Japan labels
- Japan has the world's highest spending per capita on luxury fashion
- 71% of Japanese women shop for clothes at least once per month
- 59% of urban Japanese consumers follow fashion influencers online
- Functional fashion (e.g. UV-blocking, heat-retention) makes up 15% of market sales
- Used clothing accounts for 19% of apparel sales in Japan
- The loungewear market grew 8% in Japan during pandemic recovery
- Synthetic fabrics account for over 70% of textiles used in Japan’s apparel
- 47% of Japanese consumers purchase fashion based on social media trends
- 22% of Japanese people purchase clothes impulsively
- Apparel is the top product category for female consumers in Japan’s e-commerce
- Sneakers are the most sold footwear category in Japan
- Retailers report a 25% increase in eco-friendly clothing lines since 2020
Interpretation
In a nation where wardrobes average 94 items and style-savvy citizens spend over ¥35,000 a year—mostly on domestic, sale-snatched, and smartphone-scrolled fashion—Japan’s clothing culture balances high-tech threads, sustainable nods, and luxury tastes with the Zen-like precision of a perfectly hemmed seam.
E-commerce & Retail Channels
- E-commerce accounted for 13.9% of total apparel sales in Japan in 2022
- More than 1 million pieces are sold daily through online fashion platforms in Japan
- 75% of Japanese brands now offer online shopping platforms
- Japan’s average apparel store size is 58 square meters
Interpretation
In a land where brick-and-mortar boutiques average the size of a cozy studio apartment, Japan's fashion scene is strutting confidently into cyberspace, with over a million garments sold online daily and nearly every brand dressing up their digital storefronts.
Key Companies & Competitive Landscape
- Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, recorded revenue of ¥2.77 trillion in FY2022
- Online secondhand fashion retailer Mercari has over 20 million monthly active users in Japan
- Tokyo Fashion Week features over 50 designer brands per season
- Uniqlo has more than 800 stores in Japan as of 2023
- Japan ranked 3rd in the number of fashion startups launched in Asia
- Zara Japan had 86 stores in operation by 2023
- Department store Isetan has over 20% market share in luxury fashion
Interpretation
Japan’s fashion industry stitches together tradition and innovation with a ¥2.77 trillion thread from Uniqlo, 20 million secondhand-savvy Mercari users, and a runway of over 50 brands at Tokyo Fashion Week—proving style here isn’t just worn, it’s engineered.
Market Size & Economic Impact
- The Japanese apparel market was valued at approximately ¥9.2 trillion in 2023
- Japan is the third-largest fashion market globally by revenue
- Japan’s fashion accessories market was worth ¥1.22 trillion in 2022
- Secondhand clothing market in Japan reached ¥1.7 trillion in 2022
- As of 2022, Japan had approximately 300,000 fashion designers
- The largest fashion trade show in Japan, Tokyo Fashion World, hosts over 700 exhibiting companies annually
- Over 30,000 visitors attend Tokyo Fashion Week biannually
- Japan's sustainable fashion market was valued at ¥182 billion in 2022
- Japan exported $7.4 billion worth of textile and apparel products in 2022
- Japan imported $25.1 billion worth of clothing and textiles in 2022
- 85% of apparel sold in Japan is imported
- China is Japan’s largest apparel import partner
- The Japanese fashion rental market is valued at over ¥60 billion
- Japan has over 1,200 department stores, many of which sell fashion goods
- The Japanese menswear market was valued at ¥3.4 trillion in 2023
- Japanese women's apparel market was valued at ¥4.6 trillion in 2023
- Luxury fashion makes up 18% of the total fashion market in Japan
- Japan’s luxury fashion revenue reached US$10.6 billion in 2023
- Japan has over 100,000 fashion retail outlets
- Japan’s fashion retail sales dropped 2.9% YoY in 2022
- Tokyo is home to more than 3,000 fashion retail stores
- Japan hosts over 80 fashion-related events annually
- Japan’s workwear market was valued at ¥314 billion in 2021
- Japan's kids apparel market was worth ¥1.1 trillion in 2021
- In 2023, resale fashion platforms in Japan grew by 19% YoY
- Japan’s fashion export volume to the US rose 12% in 2022
- Japan's textile production dropped by 3.1% in 2022
- Japan’s high school uniform market is worth ¥90 billion annually
- Japan is the world’s second-largest market for streetwear after the US
- Japan’s fashion influencer industry was worth ¥12 billion in 2022
- Sales of traditional Japanese garments (kimono, yukata) make up less than 1% of the market
- Vintage fashion market in Japan is estimated to reach ¥200 billion by 2025
- Apparel prices in Japan increased by an average of 1.7% in 2022
- Footwear comprises 12% of total fashion sales in Japan
Interpretation
In a country where streetwear rivals tradition, imports eclipse exports, and secondhand thrives alongside luxury, Japan’s fashion industry proves that style here isn’t just cyclical—it’s a finely tailored fusion of commerce, culture, and conscious consumption.
Regulations & Infrastructure
- The number of fashion schools in Japan exceeds 200 institutions
- Japan recycles about 27% of its unwanted clothing
- Japan has over 650 textile and fashion R&D facilities
- The import tariff on clothing in Japan ranges from 5% to 10%
Interpretation
Japan’s fashion industry stitches together creativity and innovation with over 200 fashion schools and 650 R&D centers, but still faces a patchwork of sustainability challenges—recycling only 27% of unwanted clothing and navigating import tariffs that hem in global style at 5-10%.