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A Japan partner for small brands with good products

Launch in Japan with a partner rooted in it.

We help small overseas companies with good products test, launch and grow in Japan. We start with a crowdfunding campaign on a Japanese site like Makuake, where people pre-order new products before they reach stores. When it works, we keep selling for you as your exclusive partner in Japan.

Book a free 30-min call → See how it works

Global reach. Hyper-local roots. Based in Gifu, central Japan.

26+years in Japanese marketing
800+local businesses supported
2,154%funded on Makuake (case study)
DXCertified by Japan's METI (2024)

The challenge

Japan is a huge market.
It just doesn't run on your playbook.

Great products succeed abroad and still stall in Japan. Not because Japanese customers don't want them — but because the way they discover, trust and buy is different.

01 — Language & trust

Translation isn't localization

Japanese buyers read every detail. Product pages, packaging and support need to sound native and feel reliable — not machine-translated.

02 — Channels

Different platforms, different rules

Crowdfunding sites like Makuake, Japanese Instagram and X, and a retail world built on relationships. Each works best with a local partner.

03 — Customer care

High expectations after the sale

Fast responses in Japanese, careful returns and warranty handling. Customer care is part of the product here.

How it works

Start small. Prove demand.
Then go all in — together.

You don't need to commit to Japan blindly. We start by testing your product with real Japanese customers, and grow the partnership as the results come in.

Stage 1

Launch Partner

Test the Japanese market with a pre-order launch, with minimal risk and no upfront inventory.

  • Japan market-fit review of your product
  • Native Japanese copy, product pages and visuals
  • Makuake / crowdfunding campaign planning and production
  • Japanese social media and creator outreach
  • Customer support in Japanese
Stage 2

Exclusive Japan Partner

Once demand is proven, we become your committed, exclusive partner for the Japanese market.

  • Exclusive distribution in Japan
  • Retail and B2B channel development
  • Pricing and positioning for the Japanese market
  • Ongoing marketing, PR and customer care
  • One accountable partner — no price wars between resellers
Discovery call30 minutes. Tell us about your product and goals.
Japan fit reviewWe assess market demand, competitors and price point.
Localize & launchPre-order campaign, social media and Japanese support.
Grow & go exclusiveRetail expansion with an exclusive agreement.

Why us

Global reach.
Hyper-local roots.

Most agencies see Japan from a Tokyo office. We've spent 26 years inside it — helping local makers, shops and manufacturers in Gifu, central Japan, sell to Japanese customers.

  • We know how Japanese customers buy — because we've built marketing for 800+ local businesses.
  • We know what it takes to sell in a market that isn't yours — we do it ourselves. Our e-commerce team sells products made in Japan in 13+ countries, about ¥150 million a year, and handles orders, shipping and customer support in-house.
  • We make the content ourselves — web pages, crowdfunding pages, social media and ads, all in-house.
  • We think beyond the campaign — our goal is lasting retail presence, not a one-time spike.
  • We move fast with AI — and every word is checked by native Japanese marketers.

Case study

Small makers, good products.
One campaign — then new business.

Three small Japanese makers we have worked with on Makuake, a Japanese crowdfunding site where people pre-order new products.

A cutter knife with a red padouk wood handle, held in a hand

F-STYLE Inc. · Gifu · Makuake, ended March 2025

Cutter knives made from fine woods

364%of goal
¥1.09Mraised
118backers
What we did
Research, the campaign page, photos and video, social media and ads, and customer support.
After the campaign
New business partners — who now carry the maker's other products too.
View the Makuake campaign →
Two faceted wooden pens, one in red burl wood and one in dark ebony

Luminio by Inter-Lab Inc. · Okayama · Makuake, Jan–Feb 2026

Handcrafted pens carved from rare woods

2,154%of goal
¥4.3Mraised
177backers
What we did
Research, the campaign page, photos and video, social media and ads, and customer support — for a pen that takes about 48 hours of handwork.
After the campaign
Store partners grew quickly, including an offer from a retailer with several stores in Japan. “The company changed.”
View the Makuake campaign →
A small wooden ladle resting beside a stone water basin at a Japanese shrine

Tomiya Honten · Gifu · Makuake, ended January 2021

A personal wooden ladle for shrine visits

1,786%of goal
¥3.57Mraised
445backers
What we did
A shrine carpenter since 1895, selling online for the first time and thinking of Amazon. We suggested Makuake and helped explain why the ladle matters: during COVID, many shrines stopped visitors sharing ladles at the water basin.
After the campaign
TV coverage, including NHK. With demand confirmed, they opened their own online store and ran a second campaign.
View the Makuake campaign →

To be clear: these are small Japanese makers, not overseas brands. But the path is the same — launch, prove demand, then grow into stores. Now we want to do it for small brands from abroad.

Is it a fit?

We're selective — so we can be fully committed.

A great fit

  • A good product that people love once they try it — even if few people know it yet
  • A clear, unique strength that shows in a 30-second video
  • Retail price around US$50 or more
  • Everyday tools with a story (stationery, kitchen tools, outdoor gear, leather goods, home goods…)
  • Small companies looking for a long-term partner in Japan

Probably not (yet)

  • Products requiring complex Japanese certification (medical, cosmetics, food, electrical and wireless devices)
  • Low-price commodity products
  • Brands looking only for a one-off translation job

This website was built with AI.

And it's updated in plain language. We use the same AI-powered workflow to localize your brand for Japan — quickly, consistently, and always reviewed by people who know the market.

FAQ

Questions we often hear

We're a small, unknown brand. Is that a problem?

No. That's who we want to work with. We're a small company too — in the 13+ countries where we sell, nobody knows our name. We'd rather give a few small brands our full attention than be one of many.

Do I need a Japanese company or office to start?

No. We act as your partner on the ground in Japan. The right structure for your product is something we'll discuss together on our first call.

Do I have to ship inventory to Japan upfront?

Usually not. We start with a pre-order campaign, so stock is ordered after real demand is confirmed.

Is exclusivity required from day one?

No. We begin as your launch partner. Once results are proven, we discuss an exclusive partnership that makes sense for both sides.

What does it cost?

It depends on your product and the scope of support. The first call is free, and we'll share a clear proposal afterwards.

Can we work in English?

Yes. We work in English by email and video call. On calls, we use AI translation to keep things clear, and we can bring in an interpreter for detailed discussions.

Let's talk

Thinking about Japan?
Let's see if your product fits.

Book a free 30-minute call. We'll give you an honest view of your product's potential in Japan — even if we're not the right partner.

Book a free 30-min call →
Email: global@chirashiya.co.jp LinkedIn: Connect with Kikuo Kawada