Guides
How this market works
How grading is scored, what drives price, how sizing converts and which brands never leave the country. These explain the market itself rather than how we work, and they change only when the market does. For what our buyers are seeing week to week, go to From Japan.
Authentication · 7 min read
How authentication works on a piece bought in Japan
What gets checked, who checks it, where software ends and a specialist begins, and what to insist on before you pay.
Authentication · 9 min read
Inside a Japanese authentication bench: how appraisers actually work
The order of inspection, the tools on the bench, what each category is examined for, and why Japanese appraisal is a trade rather than an opinion.
Pricing · 7 min read
What actually drives price in Japan’s resale market
Supply, condition, completeness and currency each move the number independently. Knowing which one is moving tells you whether a price is fair.
Buying · 6 min read
How to buy from Japan when the seller won’t ship abroad
Most Japanese marketplaces and shops are domestic-only. Here are the routes open to an overseas buyer, and what each one costs you.
Condition · 5 min read
Japanese condition grades explained: N, S, A, B and C
Japanese resale uses letter grades that carry far more information than “used, good.” Here is what each one describes in practice.
Sneakers · 4 min read
Why sold-out sneakers keep surfacing in Japan
Japan-exclusive allocations, a deep consignment culture and careful storage mean pairs that vanished elsewhere are still on shelves.
Watches · 5 min read
Buying a vintage watch from Japan
Unpolished cases, documented servicing and a mature dealer network, plus the specific questions worth asking before you commit.
Shipping · 4 min read
Shipping and customs when importing from Japan
Carrier options, timelines, insurance and how duty is assessed on goods leaving Japan.
Sizing · 6 min read
Japanese sizing, measurements and how to avoid getting it wrong
Japanese sizing runs on different systems by category, and conversion charts are unreliable. Here is what to measure and what to ask for.
Requests · 5 min read
How to write a request that finds the right piece
The difference between a match in minutes and a week of back and forth is usually four or five specific details. Here is what matters.
Brands · 8 min read
Japanese brands worth knowing, and why they stay domestic
A category map of the makers with no export distribution, and what distinguishes their domestic lines from anything sold abroad.