Market Overview

The domestic sports apparel market size for 2024, based on the domestic shipment value at manufacturers, is projected to reach 625,590 million yen, 102.7% of the previous year.
As COVID-19 was reclassified as a Class 5 disease under the Infectious Disease Act in 2023, social activities returned to normal, stabilizing the demand for sports apparel in competitive sports. Additionally, demand remains strong for sportswear as lifestyle wear, replica uniforms for fans to support their favorite teams, and various products catering to inbound tourists visiting Japan. Given these conditions, the market is expected to experience positive growth.
However, the warmer-than-usual climate extending into autumn led to sluggish sales for fall/winter clothing. As indicated by the forecasted decline in training and golf wear, the market remains highly sensitive to seasonal factors. 

Noteworthy Topics

Outdoor Apparel Continue to Drive Entire Sports Apparel Market in 2024

Strong sales from the previous year continue for outdoor apparel. The outdoor apparel market in 2024 is projected to achieve 188,000 million yen, 110.6% of the preceding year.
By combining fashion and function, and with availability through various suppliers, major outdoor brands like The North Face (TNF) and Patagonia are performing exceptionally well, driving overall market growth.
Their core items are so popular that they often sell out each year. The cycle works like this: Consumers who missed out on purchases in the previous season tend to buy early during the pre-season period. As a result, this year’s stock often sells out before the season even begins.
Due to this cycle, outdoor apparel is less impacted by the 'warmer-than-usual climate extending into autumn,' which typically results in sluggish sales for fall/winter clothing. This is another factor contributing to the strong sales of outdoor apparel.

Future Outlook

The domestic sports apparel market in 2025 is projected to reach 647,090 million yen, 103.4% of the previous year’s market size. Generally, the market is expected to follow this growth trajectory, as there are no significant factors likely to disrupt the trend between 2024 and 2025.
Looking at the market by category, the outdoor apparel segment is expected to maintain strong growth, reaching 109.0% of the previous year’s performance. In fact, outdoor apparel is the only category projected to experience an annual growth rate higher than 5%.  
Other categories are expected to show slower growth. While demand for competitive sports remains robust, overall growth will depend heavily on other influencing factors.

Research Outline