Inside a Tokyo Shelf Report issue
A typical Starter issue runs 25 to 35 pages. A typical Pro issue runs 45 to 60 pages. Here's what you'll find in each, section by section.
Standard sections
Issue number, cover date, full table of contents with page numbers.
A brief summary of what was notable this month. No forecasts, no opinions on where the market is heading. Just a guided tour of the issue's contents.
Product photograph, Japanese name and English romanization, manufacturer, launch date, price including tax, volume / weight, key claims in English, key ingredients in English (with standard international nomenclature where applicable), and where each SKU was observed.
Photographs of three drugstore category shelves, with captions noting what changed compared to the previous month.
Tables showing top 20 entries in selected categories from @cosme, Amazon Japan, and Qoo10. Arrows indicate position changes from last month.
Brand name, announcement date, announcement type (new product, rebrand, campaign, etc.), English summary (2 to 4 sentences), and source link for each update.
All observed SKUs in a tabular format, ready for import into Excel, Google Sheets, or any database.
Translation glossary for Japanese-specific cosmetics terminology used in the issue.
Pro plan additional sections
Pro subscribers receive the following sections in addition to the standard content above.
Monthly rotating topic: skincare, base makeup, point makeup, haircare, body care, sun care, men's grooming, fragrance. Detailed observation within one category.
Every SKU mentioned in the issue with complete ingredient list in English.
Observations from variety shops (Loft, Plaza, Tokyu Hands) and department store beauty floors, in addition to drugstores.