🇯🇵 Foreign ownership of Japanese brands
3.6% of the 631 Japanese brands with a controlling owner (23) are owned by a company headquartered outside Japan, most often in the United States, Switzerland and China. That ranks 83 of 94 countries analysed.
Which countries own them
| Owner headquartered in | Brands | Share of foreign-owned | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 9 | 39.1% | |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 7 | 30.4% | |
| 🇨🇳 China | 2 | 8.7% | |
| 🇫🇷 France | 2 | 8.7% | |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 1 | 4.3% | |
| 🇮🇳 India | 1 | 4.3% | |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1 | 4.3% |
Largest foreign owners
| Owner | Headquarters | Japanese brands owned |
|---|---|---|
| Sunstar | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 7 |
| Coca-Cola | 🇺🇸 United States | 3 |
| Aflac | 🇺🇸 United States | 1 |
| Anta Sports | 🇨🇳 China | 1 |
| Coupang | 🇺🇸 United States | 1 |
| DICK'S Sporting Goods | 🇺🇸 United States | 1 |
| Gentex | 🇺🇸 United States | 1 |
| Haier | 🇨🇳 China | 1 |
| Kakao | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1 |
| L'Oréal | 🇫🇷 France | 1 |
Where foreign ownership is highest
Top-level categories with at least 5 Japanese brands that have a controlling owner.
| Category | Brands | Foreign-owned | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home, garden & DIY | 7 | 2 | 28.6% |
| Apparel, footwear & accessories | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
| Automotive | 8 | 1 | 12.5% |
| Home care | 32 | 3 | 9.4% |
| Retail | 11 | 1 | 9.1% |
| Personal care & beauty | 65 | 5 | 7.7% |
| Beverages | 39 | 3 | 7.7% |
| Internet & digital | 48 | 2 | 4.2% |
Examples
- AQUA owned by Haier
- Aflac Japan owned by Aflac
- Aquarius owned by Coca-Cola
- Ayataka owned by Coca-Cola
- Descente (China) owned by Anta Sports
- EQUITANCE owned by Sunstar
- GUM owned by Sunstar
- Georgia owned by Coca-Cola
- IQOS owned by Philip Morris International
- KENKODOJO owned by Sunstar
- Kansai International Airport owned by VINCI Airports
- MIYABI owned by ZWILLING
How this is computed
Of 644 Japanese brands recorded, 631 have a current controlling owner (outright or a stake of 50% or more, followed up to the ultimate parent). The other 13 are licensed, part-owned or lack a current owner and are left out. A brand is foreign-owned when that ultimate parent is headquartered in a different country from the brand's origin. Data as of . Method and ranking for all countries.
Coverage caveat. The brands tracked skew towards those held by large filing companies, so this overstates foreign ownership relative to every brand in the country. See also the Japan country page.