Subscription usage in Japan - statistics & facts
Subscriptions as a business model are not new to Japanese consumers, since the idea of paying a recurring fee for access is the basis of established services like telecommunication contracts and newspaper deliveries. However, the widespread adoption in other sectors is a comparatively young development, which was further accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic. Subscription services represent the most distinguished segment, owing to the prominence of video and music streaming services like Netflix and Apple Music. Within the consumer goods sector, regular deliveries of non-durables with a predictable usage period have been established in segments like health and functional foods. Over the last decade, the subscription sales model has gradually diversified due to the varied nature of how different products are consumed.
