What Japan Rabbit does

Japan Rabbit operates a self-serve cross-border proxy-buying platform that allows international customers to source products from Japanese e-commerce sites, auction platforms, and physical retail stores that otherwise do not accept foreign payment methods or ship internationally. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, the service handles the full procurement chain on behalf of customers — ordering, domestic payment in yen (cash, furikomi, konibini, or credit card), pickup, consolidation, and international shipping via Japan Post, FedEx, or DHL. Customers interact through a web application at app.japanrabbit.com by submitting product URLs and receiving instant quotes. The business monetizes through transaction fees (purchase service fees, per-item Yahoo Auctions bidding fees of $1.25, $3.75 Yahoo-specific fee, photo request fees, storage overage fees after a 45-day free window, package-splitting and discreet-packing fees) alongside tiered priority add-ons (Priority Purchasing at $6.50 and warehouse Priority Processing).

The technology stack centers on an internally-developed automation system branded "Rabots" that shortens order-to-purchase latency, with deep integration into Mercari's API announced in January 2024 enabling purchases often within minutes. Payment processing is handled through Stripe, charged in USD to international cards. Platform features added through 2023 and 2024 — size and color specification, simplified three-step checkout, "WAITING" unreceived-items tab, transparent logistics tracking, and auction deposit handling — indicate iterative product investment around the self-serve funnel. A portfolio of sister brands operates alongside Japan Rabbit within the White Rabbit Japan group, including Blackship (package forwarding with a Japanese address), OMG Japan, and White Rabbit Press.

The customer base is global and long-tail: tens of thousands of consumers and small-business buyers across 140 countries have used the service to facilitate over 2 billion yen in purchases, with primary demand from international consumers blocked by language, payment, and shipping restrictions when buying from Japanese retailers, and secondary demand from anime/otaku collectors, fashion collectors, and individual importers. The company has been privately held and bootstrapped since founding, with no disclosed venture or growth-equity funding, no disclosed headcount, and no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Japan Rabbit

Legal name

Japan Rabbit

Website

https://japanrabbit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Japan Rabbit is a privately-held, Japan-based proxy-buying platform launched in 2005 that purchases, consolidates, and ships products from Japanese online stores, auctions, and physical retailers on behalf of international customers across 140 countries via a self-serve web app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Purchase Service Fees: Fixed and variable fees charged for every successful purchase made on behalf of customers. Includes per-item bidding fees for auctions ($1.25 per item) and reduced Yahoo Auctions fees ($3.75 per item)
2. Priority Processing: Customers can pay $6.50 for priority processing to jump ahead in the queue for faster service
3. Photo Requests: Fees charged for photo request services when customers want images of their items
4. International Shipping: Revenue generated from international shipping payments, including Japan Post (EMS, ePacket, SAL, Parcel Post), FedEx, and DHL options
5. Storage Fees: Storage fees for packages beyond the 45-day free storage period and consolidated packages
6. Additional Services: Fees for package splitting, discreet packing, and other ancillary services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Japan Rabbit is a proxy-buying service that purchases, pays for, picks up, and internationally ships products from Japanese e-commerce sites, auction platforms (Yahoo Auctions), and retail stores on behalf of international customers. Customers submit product URLs through a web application, receive instant quotes, and the company handles cross-border payment (including Japanese payment methods like furikomi and konibini pay), domestic pickup, package consolidation, and global shipping via Japan Post, FedEx, or DHL.

Product overview

Japan Rabbit operates as a proxy-buying service platform that enables international customers to purchase products from Japanese e-commerce websites, auction sites, and retail stores. The core offering is the Japan Rabbit Proxy-Buying Service and web application, where customers submit product URLs for purchasing, receive instant quotes, and manage shipments. Additional services include auction bidding on Yahoo Auctions, package consolidation for shipping optimization, 45-days free storage, Priority Purchasing ($6.50 for faster queue jumping), and Priority Processing for warehouse tasks. The company also offers package forwarding through sister brand Blackship. Shipping is available via Japan Post (EMS, ePacket, SAL, Parcel Post, Seamail), FedEx, and DHL. Payment processing is handled through Stripe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blackship: Package forwarding service providing customers with a Japanese address.
• OMG Japan
• White Rabbit Press

Products and services

• Japan Rabbit Proxy-Buying Service A full-service proxy-buying service that purchases, pays for, picks up, and internationally ships products from Japanese online stores, auction sites, and retail stores on behalf of international customers. Handles cross-border payment processing (including Japanese payment methods like furikomi and konibini pay), domestic pickup, and international shipping.
• Proxy-Buying Web Application Self-serve web application where customers submit product URLs from Japanese stores, receive instant quotes, track orders, manage shipments, and access support. Available globally via web browser to customers in 140 countries.
• Auction Bidding Service Service to bid on Yahoo Auctions Japan on behalf of customers, handling the bidding process, auction deposit (1% of bid price or $10 minimum, whichever is larger), and post-win purchase. A bidding fee of $1.25 per item applies whether the auction is won or lost, plus a $3.75 per-item fee for Yahoo Auctions.
• Package Consolidation Service Service that combines multiple packages from different Japanese stores into a single shipment to reduce international shipping costs. Includes options for package splitting and discreet packing.
• 45-Days Free Storage
• Priority Purchasing Optional paid add-on at checkout for $6.50 that jumps the customer's order ahead in the purchasing queue, enabling faster item acquisition from Japanese stores.
• Priority Processing Optional paid add-on for priority handling of service and shipping tasks at the Japan Rabbit warehouse for faster order fulfillment.
• International Shipping Service International shipping service from Japan to 140 countries using Japan Post (EMS, ePacket, SAL, Parcel Post, Seamail), FedEx International Priority, and DHL Global Express, with options for speed and cost trade-offs.
• Pre-Order Service Service to reserve and pre-order Japanese products months in advance of release, with the company handling payment timing, pickup, and shipping on release.
• Photo Request Service Paid service that provides customers with photographs of their items on request, useful for verifying condition of second-hand or auction purchases before international shipment.
• Blackship Package Forwarding Package forwarding service under sister brand Blackship that provides customers with a Japanese address for direct purchases and forwards packages internationally, complementary to Japan Rabbit's proxy-buying service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served customers in 140 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MercaricoreTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2024API partnership with Mercari enables supercharged purchasing for Mercari orders, with many items purchased within minutes from order to purchase. The integration maintains safety checks while accelerating the buying process.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe is used as the payment processor for Japan Rabbit, powering secure credit card transactions. The company integrates Stripe's payment infrastructure to accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover & Diners cards, all charged in US dollars.
• Japan PostcoreTechnology or IntegrationJapan Rabbit ships packages via Japan Post services including EMS (Express Mail Service), International ePacket, Small Packet Airmail, Parcel Post Airmail/SAL, and Seamail (Surface Mail).
• FedExcoreTechnology or IntegrationFedEx International Priority shipping option available for customers needing faster international delivery from Japan.
• DHL ExpresscoreTechnology or IntegrationDHL Global Express shipping option available for international package delivery from Japan.
• BlackshipcoreOthersBlackship is a package forwarding service and sister brand that provides Japanese addresses for customers who want to make purchases directly. Also serves as a backup option for digital content purchases.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/japanrabbitcom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Japan Rabbit