Guides to sourcing from Japan

Practical, checkable guides to finding, verifying, paying, and working with Japanese manufacturers and suppliers.

How to Contact Japanese Manufacturers (and Actually Get a Reply)

Why Japanese manufacturers do not reply to overseas inquiries, and how to contact them so you get an answer: the right first email, the language barrier, and what works.

How to Find a Manufacturer in Japan: A Practical Guide for Overseas Buyers

A step-by-step guide to finding a Japanese manufacturer that will actually take your order, verify as real, and reply to an overseas buyer. What works and what wastes time.

How to Pay Japanese Suppliers: T/T, L/C, and Safer Payment Terms

How to pay Japanese suppliers safely: bank transfer, letter of credit, and net terms explained, plus the payment red flags that signal fraud and how to earn better terms.

How to Verify a Japanese Company Before You Send Money

A practical checklist for confirming a Japanese supplier is real before you pay. Red flags, what to ask for, and the checks that catch fraud early.

Japanese Supplier MOQ and Lead Times: What Is Normal

What to expect from a Japanese supplier MOQ and lead time, why minimums are higher and less negotiable than in China, and how to ask for a pilot run politely.

Japanese Supplier Scams: Warning Signs and How to Avoid Them

How Japanese supplier and exporter scams work, the exact red flags, and the 20-minute checks that stop you wiring money to a fake company. Real cases inside.