Australian tractor sales plummet to five-year low as drought, lack of confidence continues to bite
Australian tractor sales plummet to five-year low as drought, lack of confidence continues to bite
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Japan Today
10 minutes ago
- Japan Today
Japan's high-tech sunscreens tap into skincare craze
Sunscreen products displayed at a major drug store in Tokyo's Shibuya district. The sunscreen brand Biore UV is ranked 10th worldwide for sales, and second in Asia By Natsuko Fukue and Chayanit Itthipongmaetee When YouTuber Hannah Price set out to compare Japanese and Australian sunscreen, she wasn't expecting her deep dive into the subject to rack up over two million views. The huge number of people poring over Price's video shows the growing interest in skincare products from Japan, much like the K-beauty phenomenon from South Korea. It includes sun protection, increasingly recognized as a daily essential by influencers who want to shield their skin from aging and enthuse about the lightweight texture of Japanese brands. Companies that have perfected their secret formulas want to capitalize on booming demand, including by building factories overseas and selling to Japan's record influx of foreign tourists. Price, 32, fell into a "year-long rabbit hole" while making her video, learning about everything from SPF science to cultural attitudes to sun exposure. "I always loved Japanese sunscreen, since I first moved to Japan in 2012," she told AFP at her studio in Tokyo. "I remember trying it for the first time and thinking, 'this is so much better than anything I tried in Australia'," her home country where sun cream felt "thick, sticky, greasy". "I thought that the video would be popular... but I wasn't expecting it to reach as far" as it did, Price said. The habit of regular sunscreen use is spreading, especially among younger generations, said Takuya Wada, who works in marketing for Japanese chemical and cosmetics firm Kao. "There are no borders when it comes to obtaining information on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok," he said, adding that influencer posts have a "very large" impact on global sunscreen sales. The global skincare market was worth more than $115 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $194 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. A boom in celebrity skincare brands has contributed to the industry's growth -- with A-listers like Kylie Jenner using social media to share their beauty routines, including sun protection, with hundreds of millions of followers. When it comes to sunscreen, country-specific regulations mean no single company dominates the field, as the entry barriers to new markets are higher. Kao's main sunscreen brand Biore UV is ranked 10th worldwide for sales, and second in Asia -- competing with the likes of L'Oreal and Beiersdorf, and Japanese rivals such as Shiseido. The company wants sales from sun protection to reach 35 billion yen ($240 million) in 2027, up 1.6 times from 2023. It plans to boost overseas production by opening three new sunscreen factories, in Indonesia, Brazil and Germany. It is technically difficult to develop formulas that block the rays effectively with a smooth texture, as demanded by Japanese consumers, said Takashi Fukui, research and development director for Kao skincare products. But using scientific know-how to strike this tricky balance is what makes Kao "different from other European or American makers". In Japan, a cultural obsession with light skin dates back to the sixth century and using white powder imported from China later became a status symbol among nobility. Fair skin indicated a life away from outdoor labour and sun exposure, and an old Japanese proverb says "white skin covers the seven flaws". In the 1990s, people began using sunscreen or other cosmetics to avoid tanning -- a trend dubbed bihaku, or beautifully white. These days, Japanese women use sunscreen as everyday protection against sunspots and aging, caused when UV rays penetrate into the skin, said Fukui. Winter sun Tans have long been fashionable in Western countries, but awareness of skin cancer risks is rising, making sunscreen an important healthcare product there, Fukui said. One fan of Japanese brands is Thai skincare influencer Suari Tasanakulpan, who calls them "lightweight" compared to "heavy and uncomfortable" Western offerings. "There are always new technologies and innovative textures that are often ahead of other countries," the 40-year-old, who reviews sunscreens on YouTube, told AFP. At an outlet of drugstore chain MatsukiyoCocokara in Tokyo's Shibuya district, around 90 sunscreen products are lined up on the shelves. "Sales of sunscreen is improving year on year," said Takeshi Otsuki, deputy manager of the chain's cosmetic division. "More people are using sunscreen on a daily basis these days, so their needs are becoming more diverse," he said. The number of male customers is also increasing, and Japanese sunscreens are very popular with overseas tourists who buy them in multipacks, Otsuki said. While summer is high season, sunscreen is popular year-round, because Japan has a "relatively high number of sunny days in the winter, and the sunlight hours are long". YouTuber Price now uses both Japanese and Australian sunscreen, depending on the occasion. She sees the rise in education about sunscreens worldwide as a win-win situation. It "means you're going to be better protected in general, which is great for everyone", she said. © 2025 AFP
7NEWS
17 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Bernard Tomic ends four-year wait for ATP Tour win with comeback over fellow Aussie Rinky Hijikata at Mallorca Open
The party was over years ago, and his name remains the object of criticism, not to say some ridicule in many quarters, but veteran Australian bad-boy Bernard Tomic is plotting a quiet revival. It has been some time since he was making headlines, often for the wrong reasons, but he passed a modest professional milestone at the Mallorca Country Club on Tuesday. And brighter days could lie ahead for the 32-year-old, who has won four ATP titles and reached a high point of No.17 on the world rankings list in 2016 Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today His Mallorca Open first-round defeat of fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata was his first win on the main Tour since the 2021 Australian Open — but even that was by retirement. Tomic had not claimed a top-level victory by winning match point since July 2019. The wait almost continued when the world No.248, a qualifier at the Iberian tournament, was just one game away from a straight-sets defeat to Hijikata. But he fought back brilliantly to win 3-6 7-5 6-2. Tomic will now face home hope Roberto Bautista Agut. Having narrowly missed the cut-off for Wimbledon qualifying, Tomic decided not to hang around in the hope of a late withdrawal in London. Instead he packed his bags and headed to the Spanish island of Mallorca, home of 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, and what he hoped would be another step on the long road back. Over the weekend he defeated Jasper De Jong, a Dutchman ranked 93 who recently won a round at the French Open, and Aleksandar Kovacevic, an American who sits at 77, to qualify for an event where the winner pockets A$250,000. Far from the big stages of sport, Tomic has been slogging it out on the tour backwaters in lower level and Challenger events in an attempt to break back into the top 100. It is all a distance from his colourful — and troubled — life in the limelight. The talent was there, he was once heralded as one of Australia's most promising talents, but it was so often overshadowed by brushes with various branches of officialdom, bust-ups with spectators and accusations of tanking. He even made a much-derided and very short-lived appearance on the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here in 2018. On a darker side, there was the investigation for alleged match-fixing in 2022, though no charges were laid. Fast forward three years and perhaps a revival stirs. The Gold Coaster's defeat of Hijikata, who has already qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon, means he will jump to a spot just outside the top 200, which would put him in the frame to play in qualifying for the US Open in New York in late August.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hugh Jackman Fears Ex-Wife May Disclose Her Side of the Story, Says ‘Source'
Hugh Jackman and ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness shocked everyone when they announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage. Post-separation, Jackman now fears that his ex-wife might wash the dirty laundry in public. As per a source, Furness might 'disclose' personal things about her ex-husband in some way or the other. Due to their split and Furness's comments, Jackman is now stressed about the outcome. But despite the bitterness between them, the former couple is reportedly focusing on co-parenting their two children, Oscar and Ava. Hugh Jackman and ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness parted ways after almost three decades of marriage. The couple reportedly filed for divorce on May 23 in New York after announcing their separation in September 2023. At the time, the couple said it would be 'the sole statement either of us will make.' However, things took a drastic turn when the 69-year-old Australian actor filed for divorce in May 2025, speaking about the 'betrayal' she felt during their marriage. As per a source, Jackman is now 'seriously anxious about what she might disclose' to the world in the form of a memoir or tell-all TV chat. 'Deborra has remained silent and handled things privately, largely out of respect for the children and to preserve her own dignity and peace of mind,' the insider told RadarOnline. 'But now that everything is finalized, she's free to speak up if she chooses.' 'The Greatest Showman' actor's fear seems genuine since Furness knows all about his 'modest start and journey to stardom, to his dreams and vulnerabilities.' The insider further revealed that Furness is 'seriously considering sharing what their marriage with Hugh was really like' with the public. The actor 'had big-time offers from publishers, publicists and TV producers to give her side of the story.' Furness is reportedly considering telling all about Jackman's secrets after feeling betrayed by her ex-husband's budding new romance with Sutton Foster. Hearing the 'relatively gentle statement Debs made once the divorce was finalized,' Jackman is 'already stressed.' As per the insider, the actor 'didn't see it coming.' Moreover, he has 'been telling everyone they know how 'betrayed' he feels.' The post Hugh Jackman Fears Ex-Wife May Disclose Her Side of the Story, Says 'Source' appeared first on Reality Tea.
