Want to buy something from Japan? Maybe I can help you!

[BitcoinCoffee.com]

OP where did ya go?

[Serenata]

maptor, I like your idea

Japan is one of my favourite countries, so most probably I might be interested in your service. Do you have any estimation about the cost of sending the items to Europe? How about your cut? Would it be a percentage if the item's price or a fixed price? I'd appreciate any info you could provide us.
Thanks

[maptor]

Yamazaki 25 Years Old (actually maybe not.. what its ?? xD)

Though some Japanese Whiskey would be nice if the price is reasonable.

Hi squid - 25 years old suntory - well, I did check for you, and yes if you have about 1200 dollars worth of bitcoin lying around...

In all seriousness though, I am thinking liquid-weight might be a bit of a difficult problem to overcome in terms of shipping.

I have made a chart here which details the costs of shipping by courier from Japan: (no other option for alcohol)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnJrxTNZFpu6dGc0UHNSNEJza1h4c0VCMjBYYXMzbnc

I made it import the BTC price from bitcoincharts JPY data, so those are today`s theoretical shipping rates.

With that in mind, might be cheaper for you to get it from a local distributor (who imports by the cargo-container!) Sorry!

[maptor]

Real Japanese ninja warrior anything. Takeda, nagano

Anything, huge fan of the real show from Japan. Not the junk here

I don't know how popular it is there though?

Let me know i would be interested

Hi jborkl. I did some searching around for you... this show is one of the many spinoffs from the kinnikubanzuke series (筋肉番付 - literally 'muscle ranking').

I have found many more products related to the muscle ranking series in general, but specific to the sasuke (ninja warrior) show though are these two things I found:

1) A playstation (1) game called "Road to Sasuke"
Youtube vid of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CliRFJ3ATZw

2) A game unit that plugged directly into your tv:
http://epoch.jp/gt/taikan/sasuke/item.html

Sorry they are so random. Have you ever heard of 'Muscle ranking'?

[maptor]

There are so many unique products available in Japan, I fully support this idea.
Japanese candy is awesome!! What about neruneruneru, or happy kitchen hamburger?? morinaga hi-chew fanta?
I think there would be an excellent market for food products you can only get in Japan, especially Candy and Drinks.
Plus they are consumable items, so your customers will keep ordering more!

Thanks for your support kwoody! I think sweets might become a real winner too!

I can get hold of any of the candy you mentioned - I will write something about them more definitively later for everyone else.


I also found a supplier for this crazy kit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-qewC-4gY

PM me anyone if you want to try it!

[maptor]

Absolutely a demand for this. Are you a native speaker? Would you mind telling us a little more about yourself?

Hello jwzguy - I have been working out here in Japan for 5 years now so, pretty established! Started as a teacher at schools, still teaching now too but, for corporate clients/adults mainly these days. I've been studying Japanese since the beginning - I'm not a scholar or anything but I can hold my own during conversations (easier) and reading through websites/magazines, etc isn't a problem anymore (unless it's on something particularly specialist - then I need my dictionary!).

Long history of selling online at auctions/forums (in UK, where I am from, and in Japan too) - can give you some of my feedback etc, no problem.

Let me know if there's something you would like in particular. I remember how hard it is to see what's out here from afar but, if there's anything at all you've seen or been interested in please just ask - I will do my best to explain/help.

Cheers!

[maptor]

OP where did ya go?

Doing my best I promise! Just juggling a lot of things (and a different timezone!) at the moment - also, I PM'd you - thanks!

[maptor]

maptor, I like your idea

Japan is one of my favourite countries, so most probably I might be interested in your service. Do you have any estimation about the cost of sending the items to Europe? How about your cut? Would it be a percentage if the item's price or a fixed price? I'd appreciate any info you could provide us.
Thanks

Hello Serenata - thanks for expressing your interest.

I am currently in the process of drawing up some charts to work out shipping costs worldwide - there are many considerations alongside just the weight (in some cases, certain shapes of packets can be shipped at cheaper rates, for example)

As a start I have made one for EMS COURIER rates (the fastest/easiest to insure) in google docs here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnJrxTNZFpu6dGc0UHNSNEJza1h4c0VCMjBYYXMzbnc

Like I say, I am working on some cheaper shipping rates at the moment but I have to translate the details from Japanese first. (shipping by sea is always the cheapest but, depends how patient you feel! I will get around to finding all rates though)

As to my cut, I am still gauging interest in this idea at the moment, so for the time-being I am just sourcing products for people based on the budget they allocate for an item (please find me x for budget y). If the transaction is successful, purchaser is happy etc - then I am thinking to basically add that item to a 'catalogue' so others can see it and buy one for themselves if they want. Anyway sorry it's so loose for now - this idea is still on the runway at the moment!

Hope it makes sense! (sorry it's 1am here now. ) Please PM me if you have any questions, etc

[jwzguy]

Hey maptor, that's very cool. There are many specialty car parts that are only available in Japan. Some of them are just not exported by the companies that make them, and some of them were produced decades ago for vehicles now considered "classic" and are hard to find outside of the Japanese yahoo auctions. A few years ago I made some deals through a guy who was paying a friend (who was stationed in Okinawa and was fluent) to do exactly what you're offering to do.

My car projects are on hold due to some major life changes I'm about to make, but when the dust settles I will very likely have some things to ask you to look for. I hope you stick around!

[Unuser]

Are there any comic/manga/collectible/videogame stores near you?

I'm interested in a few items:

1. "Persona" collectibles/figurines (Shinjiro or Akihiko)
2. "Akira" t-shirts

[jojo69]

how much for a 1KZTE ?

[jborkl]

Real Japanese ninja warrior anything. Takeda, nagano

Anything, huge fan of the real show from Japan. Not the junk here

I don't know how popular it is there though?

Let me know i would be interested

Hi jborkl. I did some searching around for you... this show is one of the many spinoffs from the kinnikubanzuke series (筋肉番付 - literally 'muscle ranking').

I have found many more products related to the muscle ranking series in general, but specific to the sasuke (ninja warrior) show though are these two things I found:

1) A playstation (1) game called "Road to Sasuke"
Youtube vid of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CliRFJ3ATZw

2) A game unit that plugged directly into your tv:
http://epoch.jp/gt/taikan/sasuke/item.html

Sorry they are so random. Have you ever heard of 'Muscle ranking'?

No, but Sasuke is correct. I am looking at the plug in system..  trying to translate it piece by piece lol

[maptor]

Are there any comic/manga/collectible/videogame stores near you?

I'm interested in a few items:

1. "Persona" collectibles/figurines (Shinjiro or Akihiko)
2. "Akira" t-shirts

Hello Unuser, thanks for your interest.

I did some research on what you were looking for. There are many stores within reach - I tend to search/capture online since it takes less time and expense!

As to your requests, I understand the Akihiko figurine that you are referencing - they come up about once a month or so at auction. (they have been getting increasingly expensive lately - the averaging around BTC5.34.

I can't find any references to a Shinjiro figurine yet though, sorry.

Due to the cult following of Akira, the T-shirts are sought after and are fetching relatively high prices. I think because the film was made in 1988, they are starting to creep into the 'vintage' category. Please PM me if you would like to know more.

[maptor]

how much for a 1KZTE ?

If you are talking about the engine-block, please PM me.

[Jello]

Hey maptor,

I was wondering if you've ever come across Riska corn potage or meiji Chelsea espresso mix. I've found them in the Kyoto region, if that helps.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2hic7wi.jpg and http://i46.tinypic.com/i4k58o.jpg

Thanks!

[aznjack31]

I'm very interested in those kitkats. what would you charge for shipping?

[maptor]

Hey maptor,

I was wondering if you've ever come across Riska corn potage or meiji Chelsea espresso mix. I've found them in the Kyoto region, if that helps.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2hic7wi.jpg and http://i46.tinypic.com/i4k58o.jpg

Thanks!

Hello Jello!

I think I can help you!

If you are interested in a big box of those chips (recommended), I could get you something like this:

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X9f%2Bm-XsL.jpg

It contains 33 x 20g packs. I can get it to you via economy shipping (~2 weeks) for $40.

If you are interested in smaller amounts, please let me know!


As to the chelsea espresso mix selection - my research suggests they were a one-off special edition released around August last year? All places I checked so far are out of stock just now, but I will keep trying to track some down!

Let me know how you would like to proceed! (via PM)

[maptor]

I'm very interested in those kitkats. what would you charge for shipping?

Completely happy to oblige aznjack - Please PM me with your desired quantities so I can work out shipping costs.