Why use a proxy bidding service to get items from Yahoo Auctions Japan?

Since eBay closed its Japanese website, Yahoo Auctions has become the first auction website in Japan. That's why most resellers of rare items and collectibles have migrated to Yahoo's site. So this is one of the most interesting options to buy used Japanese products at great prices. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to register on Yahoo Auctions Japan when you do not live in Japan. Indeed, a shipping address in Japan and a Japanese payment method are required to bid on the biggest auction site in Japan. Moreover, many resellers on Yahoo Auctions only speak Japanese, which is a problem if you have an issue with the product or a question to ask. The easiest solution for foreigners to get products from Yahoo Auctions Japan is to use a proxy-buying service, like Japan Rabbit. You'll just need to tell us about which products we need to place a bid on, and one of our proxy buyers will participate in the auction on your behalf. If your bid is the highest, the proxy buyer will receive the product, and we will ship it to your door. Now you can enjoy Yahoo Auction just as if you lived in Japan!

How to bid on Yahoo Auctions Japan: a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Go to auctions.yahoo.co.jp

First, go to auctions.yahoo.co.jp. The design of Yahoo Auctions Japan can be a bit confusing if you are not used to browsing Japanese websites. Also, the site is only available in Japanese, which does not facilitate navigation if you cannot understand this language. Fortunately, we are here to help you find your bearings.

Step 2: Search for items

You can search for items using two different ways: the search bar or the product categories menu.

A. Search Bar

If you already know what you are looking for, you can use the search bar under the yellow and black "Yafuoku" logo. Although the site is sometimes able to understand what you are looking for in the Latin alphabet, we recommend that you use the terms in Japanese to get more results. Don't hesitate to use Google Translate to get them.

The search section is divided into three categories:

• フリマ (Furima) allows you to search in the "flea market". They are not auctions since you can directly buy these products without bidding. The items sold here are not always second-hand products.
• オークション (Okushon) allows you to see all the auctions containing your keywords.
• すべて (Subete) gathers all the published ads of the flea market and the auction without distinction.

You can also select one of the categories to refine your search. When you are done, click on the magnifying glass icon to land on a new page listing auctions matching your criteria.

B. Products Categories Menu

If you do not have a clear idea of what you want to buy on Yahoo Auctions, you can select a product category using the left sidebar. When you override one of the categories, the site will show you its subcategories. It is recommended to have skills in Japanese to use this feature. If this is not your case, you can still use a third-party browser extension to automatically translate the page content.

Once you have selected a category or subcategory, you will land on a new page. On the left side of the page, you will see a list of subcategories that will allow you to be even more specific in your search. In the center of the page, you will find a list of popular auctions. You can click on the "もっと見る" link to see more auctions. This short auction list is followed by a selection of keywords that can refine your search (again). If you click on "もっと見る" you will land on a new page listing auctions matching your criteria.

Step 3: Choose your auction(s)

Several auction items are displayed on these pages. You will just have to choose the items you are interested in based on the item itself, but also on its current price and auction remaining time.

Here is some vocabulary that will help you understand what information is displayed in this list:

• 現在価格 (Genzai kakaku): Current price. It's the starting price or the highest bid.
• 即決価格 (Sokketsu kakaku): Prompt decision price. Some sellers are ready to immediately sell their item at a price they have set beforehand, this price is the prompt decision price. It's not a mandatory field, so most of the auction items don't have it.
• 入札 (Nyuusatsu): Bid. It's the number of bids since the beginning of the auction.
• 残り時間 (Nokori jikan): Remaining time.
• 出品者 (Shuppinsha): Seller. You can see their reviews by clicking on "評価".
• カテゴリ (Kategori): Product category. It is displayed as a breadcrumb. You can click on a subcategory to directly go to the related auctions category page.

Again, the left sidebar will help you refine your search with subcategories. Moreover, you will be able to select a price range, used or new items, and auction types and options. If you want to filter new and used products, you need to go to "商品の状態" and click on "新品" for new items and "中古" for second-hand items. "すべて" is selected by default, which means that you are not filtering products based on their condition. If you are interested in an auction product, you can click on it. Then you will land on a page where you will get more information about the auction rules, the seller, the product condition, and the bid history. If all these parameters seem OK for you, you can go to the next step.

Step 4: Copy and paste the links of your items on Japan Rabbit

Since it's impossible for people living outside of Japan to bid on auction items displayed on Yahoo Japan, you will have to use the Japan Rabbit app. First, you will have to copy all the auction page URLs you want to bid on. To get an auction link URL, open the auction page in a new browser tab. Place your mouse cursor into the browser address bar. Press Ctrl+A to select the entire address, then Ctrl+C to copy it. Now, go to the Japan Rabbit app and put your mouse cursor into the product link field. Press Ctrl+V to paste the product URL in this field. Then, click on the "Next" button. You will have to repeat that process for each auction you want to participate in.

Step 5: Consolidation and repacking

You will receive a message from us when we will receive your parcel at our office. If you have other packages in your mailbox, you will be able to consolidate them. Package consolidation is an interesting feature because you can save big on your international shipping fees with it. Our team can also repack your parcel if it is not suitable for international shipping or if it is too big for no reason.

Step 6: Choose your shipping method

The very last step of the process is to choose from our selection of international shipping methods:

• EMS & FedEx are more expensive, but you can get your product in a few days.
• International ePacket, Airmail, and SAL are standard shipping methods. Products are usually delivered in a few weeks.
• Seamail is very economic. Products sent with this shipping method usually take between one and three months to arrive. We don't recommend that method, even if it's the cheapest.

When you are done with this step, you will only have to wait for your parcel to be delivered to your address.

Which Japanese brands can I get from Yahoo Auctions?

Since Yahoo Auctions is one of the most visited websites in Japan, you can be sure to find what you are looking for on that auction site. Japanese sellers auction items from all types of brands, including makers who are still unknown to the general public.

Lolita clothing from Angelic Pretty

Angelic Pretty is a Japanese fashion brand specializing in lolita fashion. Even if they opened an official English website a few years ago, it's still interesting for online shoppers to have a look at Japanese auctions to get rare dresses. Because it was difficult for foreigners to get Angelic Pretty before 2008, several collections were only sold in Japan. Moreover, there are a dozen of Angelic Pretty physical stores in Japan. That makes it even more easier for Japanese lolitas to buy limited-edition Angelic Pretty itemsssYahoo Auctions is the first marketplace where gothic lolitas resell and buy their best outfits. Bid on Angelic Pretty items

Streetwear from Supreme

Although Supreme is not a Japanese brand, it is rooted in Japanese street culture. Indeed, there are more Supreme shops in Japan than in the rest of the world. You can find several thousands of Supreme articles for sale on Yahoo Auctions. It's the perfect website to get used clothes at a good price. Bid on Supreme items

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Yahoo Auctions Japan sellers ship to my country?

The vast majority of Yahoo Auctions Japan sellers do not ship their products overseas. This means that you will need to use a proxy-buying service like Japan Rabbit or a package forwarder like Blackship to have your products delivered to your country.

How to get an English translation of the website?

Yahoo Auctions Japan is only available in Japanese by default. But you can use third-party auto-translation services to get an English version of this website. At Japan Rabbit, we recommend the Google Translate Chrome extension. This browser plugin will allow you to auto-translate every page of Yahoo Auctions. Some translations will be wrong, but they can help you understand more about the auction items. If you have a doubt, don't hesitate to contact our customer support to get all the details about the auction item you want to bid on.

How to sell on Yahoo Auctions Japan?

It is almost impossible to sell products on Yahoo Auctions if you live abroad. You cannot use an address outside of Japan or a foreign credit card. If you are in Japan, you need to know that setting up a seller's account takes time. In order to sell products on Yahoo Auctions Japan, you will need to have an address in Japan as well as a Japanese bank account. This bank account cannot be a simple deposit account, as a Japan Post account. Mizuho and MUFJ accounts seem to work.

How to search for doujin?

Unless most of the proxy buyers are on the market, Japan Rabbit can buy mature content for you. That includes doujinshi. To search for doujinshi on Yahoo Auctions, you can directly go to the "手描きイラスト" (Hand-drawn illustration) category page.