Present Conditions of Japanese Shopping Centers

As of the end of 2010, there were 3,050 shopping centers in Japan.

Table1　Basic Statistics on Shopping Centers in Japan, 2010

Table2　Shopping Center Openings in Japan, 2001-2010

JCSC's New Standards for Shopping Centers

Shopping centers planned and developed by developers should observe the following requirements:

1. The retail space covered by retail businesses should not be less than 1,500sq m.
2. Shopping centers tenants should include, apart from anchor tenants, at least 10 tenants.
3. As for anchor tenants, their area should not exceed 80% of the shopping center area.
   However, this restriction does not apply if the retail space of the retail businesses among the other tenants occupies 1,500 sq m or more.
4. An association such as a Tenant Board (Store Association) or the like should be in place in order to conduct activities of common interest such as advertising and jointly held special events.

*Whereas the old standards required SC tenants to include at least 10 retail tenants, the new standards require SC tenants to include at least 10 tenants.

*According to the new standards, the number of SC amounts to 3,013 as of the end of 2009. The old standards put this number at 2,934 at the end of 2009.　Any increase over the total SC sales previously published arises from an increase in number of SC affected by changes in SC standards.

JCSC Definitions

Shopping center area:

Total area offered in a shopping center as selling space for the retailing of commodities, and for restaurant and service businesses, including the aisles for common use. It also includes the space provided within the same location for those various communal facilities available to shopping center customers. It does not, however, include hotels, parking lots or backyards.

Shopping center floor space:

Total area offered as selling space in a shopping center for the retailing of commodities and for restaurant and service businesses, excluding the aisles provided for common use.