Sourcing Service
Your sourcing team in Japan
We find Japanese manufacturers for your parts, materials and equipment, contact them in Japanese, collect quotations, and stay on as your contact with the supplier after you start buying — without you hiring Japanese-speaking staff or setting up in Japan.
Why buyers use a sourcing agent in Japan
Many of Japan’s best manufacturers are small specialists that sell almost entirely inside Japan. They rarely appear on global B2B marketplaces, and an English RFQ sent to a general inbox often goes unanswered — not because they don’t want the business, but because it never reaches someone who can act on it. Distribution adds a second layer: products often pass through several trading companies before they reach an overseas buyer, each adding a margin. We approach the manufacturer directly, in Japanese, and you buy from them directly.
What we do
Finding suppliers
- Sorting out your RFQ — drawings, specs, quantities and target price — so it can be quoted from the first read
- Researching and shortlisting candidate manufacturers in Japan
- Contacting them in Japanese, by email, form and phone, and following up
- Collecting quotations and confirming what’s included — tooling, packaging, lead time and Incoterm
Working with the supplier you chose
- Your contact window with the supplier — correspondence and translation in Japanese
- Samples, drawing revisions, schedules and repeat orders
- Factory visits and meetings in Japan on your behalf
- Regular check-ins so your orders stay a priority
What we source
Mainly industrial products: precision machined and stamped parts, motion and automation components, electronic and electrical components, specialty chemicals, resins and plastics, metals and advanced materials, tools, molds and machinery. We also handle consumer products with a meaningful unit value. If you’re not sure Japan is the right source for your item, see what to source from Japan.
How it works
- Call. We go through what you want to buy, your volumes, and your timeline, and tell you honestly if Japan looks like the wrong source.
- RFQ and shortlist. We prepare the RFQ in Japanese and agree the list of candidate suppliers with you.
- Outreach and follow-up. We contact suppliers in Japanese and follow up until each one quotes or declines.
- Quotes. You receive the quotations with what each one includes, and decide who to buy from. The purchase contract is between you and the supplier.
- After the first order. We stay on as your contact with the supplier for as long as you need it.
How pricing works
You choose a number of hours per month — Lite (10), Standard (20) or Advance (40) — and we spend them on whatever you need that month: finding new suppliers, working with the ones you already have, or translation and visits. Hours used and remaining are visible in your client portal at any time. We don’t resell the goods or add a margin to the supplier’s price. The hourly rate depends on the team member assigned, so we quote each case individually.
Questions buyers ask
Can you help with small or first-time orders?
Yes. Many Japanese suppliers are cautious with small or first-time orders, so we explain your plans in Japanese and look for suppliers open to your volume. Whether a supplier accepts is ultimately up to them.
Do you handle shipping, customs and payment?
Our role is basically finding suppliers, collecting quotations, and handling communication afterwards. Shipping, customs and payment are usually arranged between you and the supplier, but we can support them case by case.
Can you visit factories or check quality?
Yes, we can visit factories and join meetings on your behalf. Technical inspection is outside our scope, but we communicate with the supplier following your guidance and specifications.
Do you charge a commission on purchases?
Basically, our fee is time-based, charged for the hours we work. Depending on transaction volume, we also accept partly success-linked arrangements.
Do we need to set up a company or hire staff in Japan?
No. JPSG acts as your local presence in Japan — no entity, local bank account, or hires required to get started.
How does pricing work?
Pricing depends on the hourly rate of the team member assigned to your account, so we quote each case individually. Send us a quote request through the contact form.
Tell us what you want to buy from Japan, and we’ll come back with how we would approach it and a quote.
Request a quote