Introduction
In January 2026, Gaprise Inc., a Tokyo-based SaaS company specializing in digital business support, released a significant report on the speed rankings of Japanese e-commerce sites. This survey, focusing on the performance of the top online stores, offers crucial insights into ongoing improvements and fast-loading trends that enhance user experience.
Survey Overview
Survey Period
The data was collected in January 2026, reflecting the most current performance metrics.
Survey Organization
The survey was conducted by Gaprise, leveraging official datasets to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Survey Sample
The focus was on domestic e-commerce sites identified in the 83rd ranking of mail-order sales, with a monthly traffic of over 100,000 users.
Data Collection Method
Utilizing Google's Chrome User Experience Report data, the survey compared the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) values across each site, specifically on mobile devices under 4G connections. For more details, refer to Google's official documentation
here.
Understanding LCP
LCP, which stands for Largest Contentful Paint, measures the time it takes for the main content of a webpage to become visible to users after navigation begins. Google classifies LCP as one of its Core Web Vitals, a vital metric for determining user experience. An LCP score under 2.5 seconds is ideal, whereas a score exceeding four seconds indicates a poor experience. Notably, Renault's case study highlights improvements can be achieved with LCP under one second. For more information, click
here.
Rankings Overview
Key Findings
A remarkable finding from this survey is that every site in the top 10 achieved an astonishing LCP of 1.1 seconds or less. Particularly outstanding were sites like Murauchi.com, AmiAmi Online Shop, and LifeNet Super, which all broke the one-second mark, indicating an optimal display speed for users.
Overall Performance Insights
Among the 270 sites analyzed, approximately 73.3% (198 sites) recorded an LCP within 2.5 seconds, showcasing a collective awareness of the importance of speed enhancement within the online retail sector.
Furthermore, all top 23 sites in this ranking achieved an exceptional LCP score of 1.2 seconds or less. This shift indicates that what was once a challenging goal of 2.5 seconds is now the standard benchmark for established e-commerce sites.
Competitive Edge and Innovations
Leading e-commerce platforms are continuously refining their strategies by implementing measures such as image compression, utilizing edge computing technologies, and optimizing rendering processes on browsers. These practices have fostered a fiercely competitive environment aimed at attaining LCP values close to one second.
The Rise of New Metrics: INP
In addition to LCP, the report highlighted the INP (Interaction to Next Paint) metric to gauge user response times effectively. The top five companies, including Tamago Base and Elecom Direct Shop, maintained high-performance standards throughout the past year, further emphasizing their commitment to providing seamless shopping experiences.
By analyzing both LCP and INP metrics simultaneously, stakeholders can derive a well-rounded evaluation of site performance. Continuous improvements and technological adaptations are pivotal for retaining competitiveness in the evolving digital landscape.
Key Performance Improvement Initiatives
The accomplishments of these companies can be attributed to various strategies, including:
- - Optimization of JavaScript execution
- - Streamlining event handler processes
- - Enhancing rendering efficiencies
This underscores the necessity of ongoing enhancements aimed at both LCP and INP for sustaining excellence.
Resources for Further Insights
For more detailed insights on the complete spectrum of performance data among the 270 ranked sites and additional case studies, visitors can explore Gaprise's media outlet, MarTechLab.
About Gaprise
Gaprise is a dynamic player in the SaaS market, with a commitment to discovering innovative technologies that reshape digital business landscapes. Established in January 2005, Gaprise continues to push boundaries in online consulting services, offering clients comprehensive solutions for market analysis, user experience optimization, project management, and more. As of 2023, notable forecasts predict the enterprise IT spending in Japan to exceed 30 trillion yen by 2025, with the SaaS market predicted to broaden its share significantly. Gaprise is poised to leverage this growth potential by adapting to clients' ever-evolving needs.
For inquiries related to website speed improvements, visit
Gaprise's official website.