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In fiscal year 2023, the sales value of do-it-yourself (DIY) retail stores in Japan amounted to just below *** Japanese yen. In the last decade, DIY retailers generated stable sales of around *** yen, with a peak recorded in 2020 as self-made items grew in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic.

DIY in the Japanese retail market

DIY retailers are commonly known as “home centers” in Japan, which are comparable to hardware stores overseas. Unlike traditional small-sized hardware stores that are commonly family-owned businesses, home improvement centers boast a larger product variety, serving as a one-stop solution for professional handymen and laypersons. Stores stock primarily non-food products, out of which tools and materials used in DIY-related crafts are the main sales segment. Other product segments for home improvement projects include household utensils, gardening products, and electric appliances.
DIY stores are categorized as specialty retailers in Japan and represent only a minor segment within the domestic retail sector. Nonetheless, they cater to other consumer demands outside of DIY activities as well, particularly as a major sales channel in the pet market.

Calming the heated competition

The first large-scale home improvement centers in Japan were opened in the post-war era and within the last decades, the size of the store network grew steadily as it reached a record high of close to *** stores in 2022. While many businesses limited their operation to a small number of stores within prefectural or regional borders, the leading DIY stores like Komeri, DCM Holdings, and Kohnan Shoji eyed a nationwide strategy. Through the acquisition of smaller competitors and new openings particularly around the borders of rural areas, the market leaders further varied their brand portfolio by specializing in certain product segments and varying store sizes to cater to different demands.