growth in the market was notable, helped by colder weather, more effective marketing communication and a collaboration with JD.com that expanded customer reach. Beyond China, momentum was strongest across South Korea, Southeast Asia, India and Australia, where combined sales reached 187.1 billion yen, up 18.2 per cent year-on-year. These markets benefited from strong winter product demand and improved inventory planning, reinforcing Southeast Asia and India as increasingly meaningful earnings pillars rather than peripheral growth options. Western markets also continued to gain traction. North America accounted for 8.6 per cent of group revenue, with sales rising to 88.7 billion yen, while Europe represented 13.3 per cent of revenue at 137.0 billion yen. New store openings in cities such as Glasgow, Birmingham, Frankfurt and Munich boosted visibility and footfall, supporting Fast Retailing’s long-term ambition to establish Uniqlo as a global mass-premium essentials brand. Japan remains the anchor  Japan once again accounted for the largest share of revenue, generating 299.1 billion yen, or 29.1 per cent of total sales. Domestic revenue rose 12.2 per cent, supported by strong demand for seasonal essentials such as HeatTech innerwear, sweatpants and denim, as colder weather arrived in October. While higher procurement costs linked to yen weakness weighed slightly on gross margin, profitability improved as higher sales volumes diluted fixed costs. Uniqlo international pulls ahead  By business segment, the gap between Uniqlo and the rest of the portfolio continued to widen. Uniqlo International delivered 603.9 billion yen in revenue, up more than 20 per cent. Combined with Japan, the Uniqlo brand accounted for nearly 88 per cent of total group revenue in the quarter. GU, Fast Retailing’s lower-priced fashion chain, posted modest sales growth of 0.8 per cent to 91.4 billion yen. While revenue was constrained by a lack of standout fashion trends, improved inventory control and tighter discounting helped lift profitability, suggesting that margin discipline is increasingly being applied even in value-driven formats. The Global Brands division, however, remained the weak spot. Revenue declined 7.6 per cent to 33.1 billion yen, making it the only segment to contract. Weak demand at Theory in the US continued to weigh on performance. Guidance raised, confidence intact  Following the strong first quarter, Fast Retailing upgraded its full-year outlook. The company now expects fiscal 2026 revenue of 3.8 trillion yen, up 11.7 per cent, with net attributable profit projected to rise 3.9 per cent to 450 billion yen. While profit growth is expected to moderate in subsequent quarters, the upward revision signals confidence in the durability of current demand trends. Further reading: Uniqlo’s Joey Tong on the thinking behind the brand’s Orchard flagship refresh.