For decades, specialty suit retailer Aoyama Trading had firmly held the top position in the industry in Japan. But in the fiscal year that ended in March 2026, the company relinquished that title to rival Aoki Holdings in terms of consolidated sales for the first time.
The change reflects more than a shift in corporate rankings between Aoyama Trading, based in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Aoki Holdings, based in Yokohama. It illustrates how Â鶹´«Ã½ businesswear market is being reshaped by a shrinking workforce, changing office dress codes and the growing need for retailers to find new engines of growth beyond suits.
One of Aoki¡¯s biggest growth drivers is its Kaikatsu Club internet cafe chain. At an outlet opened in January in Tokyo¡¯s Higashi-Ginza district, rows of locked private booths line both sides of a quiet corridor. Behind each door is a compact, cushioned room of just 2 or 3 square meters, used for everything from remote work and studying to staying overnight for a reasonable accommodation.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.