Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are making strategic moves to acquire the domestic home appliance division of Hitachi Manufacturing Co. in Japan, signaling a renewed push into the Japanese market.

For Samsung, it’s a notable return—18 years after exiting Japan’s home appliance space in 2007. For LG, the acquisition represents a key opportunity to strengthen its footprint in a mature market. Analysts see this development as a shift toward deeper Korea–Japan industrial cooperation, especially as both face growth hurdles and mounting pressure from aggressive Chinese competitors.

According to Japan’s investment banking sector, Hitachi Global Life Solutions (GLS)—the unit responsible for domestic appliances—is officially up for sale. Initial bids were submitted recently, with a preferred bidder expected to be named in October and a final decision slated for December.

Samsung and LG are among the top contenders, alongside seven to eight other firms including Turkey’s Arçelik and several Chinese manufacturers. Arçelik already acquired Hitachi’s overseas appliance business in 2020, adding another layer of complexity to the bidding dynamic