What NAX JAPAN does

NAX JAPAN株式会社 is a privately-held Japanese international freight forwarder founded in July 1998 (originally as Nakamura Air Express, rebranded in 2017) and headquartered in Higashi-ginza, Tokyo. The company delivers air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance, and bonded warehousing services with a specialization in time-critical and temperature-sensitive cargo — chiefly perishable food exports (fresh produce, seafood, wagyu, sake, organic products), aircraft-on-ground (AOG) parts for aviation customers, and pharmaceutical samples. Its underlying technology stack centers on regulatory and process certifications (IATA CEIV FRESH, AEO, FDA FSMA/PCQI, Organic JAS, DX-certified operator) rather than proprietary AI, supplemented by an internally developed dual-temperature zone Controlled Atmosphere (CA) container co-developed with Ocean Network Express (ONE).

The business operates an asset-heavy, integrated network of 8 domestic offices adjacent to Japan's primary air and sea gateways (Narita, Haneda, Heiwajima, Toyosu, Osaka, Izumisano) and 7 overseas subsidiaries/bureaus in Los Angeles, Valley Stream NY, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City. It is the sole Japanese member of the MiPharma global pharmaceutical logistics network and a member of ALN (Aviation Logistics Network). Customer segments span food importers/exporters (primary), aviation (JAL CARGO), pharmaceutical companies, and U.S. military installations in Japan. Notable named customers include PPIH (operator of DON DON DONKI), ONE, and JAL CARGO.

The revenue model is transaction-based across all four streams — air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and bonded warehousing — with pricing custom-quoted per shipment based on cargo type, volume, route, urgency, and handling complexity (no public pricing). Go-to-market is sales-led direct B2B, supplemented by participation in food logistics trade shows (FoodLogiX, ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, FOODEX) and overseas subsidiary referrals. As of March 31, 2026, the company reported 210 employees including directors and contract staff, with 39 licensed customs brokers (通関士), average tenure of 7 years, and an even gender split (63.9% male / 36.1% female).

Name

NAX JAPAN

Legal name

NAX JAPAN株式会社

Website

https://naxjapan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NAX JAPAN is a privately-held Japanese international freight forwarder providing air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance, and bonded cold-chain warehousing. It serves food exporters, airlines, and pharmaceutical companies across Japan, the United States, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Public / Multi-Client Frozen Storage (3PL Cold Storage) (TLALACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refrigerated Air Cargo Carriers & Charters (TLADAHAC)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Customs brokerage services
• Bonded warehousing
• Air cargo transportation
• Cold chain logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Air Cargo Forwarding: NAX JAPAN handles international air cargo transportation, serving time-critical shipments including perishables, pharmaceuticals, and aviation parts. Revenue is generated through freight fees charged per shipment, based on weight, volume, urgency, and handling complexity.
2. Ocean Freight Forwarding: International ocean freight forwarding for perishable goods, frozen foods, and general cargo. Revenue generated through ocean freight fees and related handling charges.
3. Customs Clearance Services: Customs brokerage services at major Japanese airports and ports (Narita, Haneda, Osaka/Kansai). Licensed customs broker services generating fees per clearance.
4. Warehousing and Bonded Storage: Operation of temperature-controlled bonded warehouses at Narita Market Center, Heiwajima Center, and Osaka Rinku Center. Revenue from storage fees and handling charges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NAX JAPAN provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs clearance brokerage, and temperature-controlled bonded warehousing services from Japan to global destinations. The company specializes in time-critical, technically complex cargo including perishable food, pharmaceutical products, aircraft parts (AOG), and regulated shipments, supported by an integrated network of 8 domestic offices, 7 overseas subsidiaries (USA, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam), and certifications including IATA CEIV FRESH, AEO, and Organic JAS.

Product overview

NAX JAPAN operates as a comprehensive international logistics provider offering a unified suite of services centered on air freight, ocean freight, bonded warehousing, and customs clearance. The core portfolio includes specialized fresh produce logistics (particularly for Japanese food exports), time-critical aerospace parts transportation, and pharmaceutical logistics. The company has pioneered innovative solutions such as the world's first two-temperature zone CA container for maritime transport. All services are supported by a network of temperature-controlled bonded warehouses in major Japanese logistics hubs (Narita, Haneda, Heiwajima, Osaka) and international offices across USA, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Air Freight Forwarding (国際航空貨物輸送)
• International Ocean Freight Forwarding (国際海上貨物輸送)
• Customs Clearance Services (通関サービス)
• Bonded Warehousing (保税蔵置場・倉庫)
• Two-Temperature Zone CA Container (二温度帯対応CAコンテナ)
• Fresh Produce Cold Chain Logistics (生鮮食品輸送)
• Hazmat & Special Cargo Transport (危険物・特殊貨物輸送)
• Organic JAS Sub-packaging Service (有機JAS小分け業者サービス)

Quantifiable outcome

• First freight forwarder in Japan to obtain IATA CEIV FRESH certification (April 2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• JAL CARGOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025JAL CARGO and NAX JAPAN co-hosted a forklift safety competition event for warehouse operations staff from both companies, promoting safety awareness and operational skill development.
• オーシャン ネットワーク エクスプレス (ONE) / Ocean Network ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024Joint development of the world's first dual-temperature zone CA container for maritime transport. ONE manufactured the container and conducts the maritime trials with NAX JAPAN managing logistics operations for PPIH's overseas stores.
• 株式会社パン・パシフィック・インターナショナルホールディングス (PPIH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024PPIH (operator of DON DON DONKI stores) partnered with NAX JAPAN and ONE for dual-temperature CA container maritime trials to ship Japanese fresh produce to 43 DON DON DONKI overseas stores in 6 Asian countries and regions.
• ALN (Aviation Logistics Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAX JAPAN is a member of ALN, a global network of aviation logistics specialists. The network enables coordinated handling of urgent and specialized air cargo worldwide, particularly for time-critical shipments and AOG (aircraft on ground) parts.
• MiPharma GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAX JAPAN is the sole Japanese member of MiPharma global, a pharmaceutical logistics network specializing in temperature-controlled and compliance-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo handling.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

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 NAX JAPAN