Remember the iconic Sony televisions of childhood? Japan's consumer electronics giants are undergoing a profound business transformation. The nation's television manufacturing sector, which once led the global home appliance industry, is quietly changing its ownership structure. Data shows that over half of televisions sold in Japan are now produced by Chinese-controlled companies—not as speculation, but as established fact.
Sony Group has decided to transfer its TV operations to a Chinese-majority joint venture, with TCL holding a 51% stake. More strikingly, Toshiba's renowned "REGZA" brand now has 95% of its equity owned by China's Hisense Group, with Toshiba retaining just 5%. This means flagship Japanese TV brands like "REGZA" and "BRAVIA," while maintaining their original names, are effectively under Chinese operational control.
In Tokyo's major electronics retailers, TCL and Hisense products now occupy prominent display spaces. Chinese-controlled television brands are projected to capture 60% of Japan's market share. This shift not only reconfigures Japan's television landscape but reflects broader competitive dynamics in the global home appliance industry.