If you are a fan of Nike footwear you may have noticed that Japan often gets exclusive versions and collaboration of shoes that don’t show up anywhere else in the world.

These collaborations can range from exclusive sportswear inspired by anime or manga, such as the Nike x “Slam Dunk” Air Jordan 6 trainers or unique color schemes for already popular existing Nike footwear.

ZenMarket has helped thousands of customers receive countless Japanese exclusive items to people living overseas as we understand how frustrating it can be to not have access to items because of where you live. 

Why Buy Nike Shoes From Japan?

Japan-Only!– As you probably already know, Japanese customers often get spoiled when it comes to the amount of “Japan only” exclusive clothing ranges that get released regularly here, and Nike trainers are no exception!

You can expect new Japanese only versions of Nike footwear yearly, if not seasonally, many of which are not normally available to international customers. 

Price– You might be surprised to know that you can often find versions of your favorite pair of Nike kicks being sold at a cheaper price. The footwear market in Japan is alive and well, meaning there is a lot of competition when it comes to brands in Japan – that’s part of the reason why brands fight to have the best exclusive collaborations here.

However, this competition also often results in lower prices for Japanese customers compared to what you may pay in your own country.

Do enough searching on a Japanese auction site and you are sure to find a great deal!

Bragging Rights– Sometimes there is nothing better than when you cop a new pair of kicks and your friends ask “where did you get those?” We all love to express ourselves in different ways and the trainers we wear are a part of that.

Although we wouldn’t recommend buying a pair of new shoes from Japan just for bragging rights, but it can certainly be a nice bonus!

Options, Options, Options– From Air Jordan to Pokémon, the number of collaboration options available to you is extensive. Although you may have to hunt around on Japan’s auction sites to find some of the limited-edition series of trainers that have already been released in Japan, it’s well worth it to get the perfect pair that complements your style.

While most Japanese exclusive releases don't offer international shipping, with ZenMarket, you will be able to shop and ship all of your favorite Nike shoes right to your doorstep!

Read on to find out how to buy Japanese Nike shoes from Japan with our easy to follow step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Translate To Japanese

If you don't have a specific pair of Nike shoes in mind, feel free to skip this step. However, if you know exactly what you are after, translation is the first step. 

To get the best price on the Japanese Nike trainers of your choice, you'll want to buy from a Japanese seller or vendor who will be selling it at Japanese prices. 

English is less common in Japan than people tend to think, so it is not surprising that most Japanese sellers will have their listings completely in Japanese. To find your potential perfect pair, it is best to search for what you are looking for in Japanese whenever possible.

Don't speak any Japanese?No problem! 
There are a few workarounds depending on what you are looking for. 

If the Nike shoes that you want are a newly released pair there is a good chance you will be able to find them on Nike's Japanese website.

Once you find the pair of shoes, or any Nike clothing appeal for that matter, just highlight and copy the Japanese name of the item and come back to the ZenMarket website. 

If you know of any other Japanese websites that sell Nike appeal that have their item names in Japanese, feel free to use those instead.

Although not completely necessary, having the Japanese name of the trainers you are looking for can make your life a lot easier and will produce more search results when you are looking for shoes for good deals. 

Step 2: Searching For Your Shoes

If you are not looking for a particular pair of Nike shoes from Japan or would just like to browse the items available to you, here is some vocabulary that you can copy and paste into our search bar to make your life a little easier. 

• ナイキ - Nike
• Nike - sometimes sellers will also list items using the English brand name. 
• エアジョーダンミッド - Air Jordan
• ダート - Dart
• エア マックス - Air Max
• ギャクソウ - GYAKUSOU
• ズシューズ - Shoes
• メンズシューズ - Men's shoes
• ウィメンズシューズ - Women's shoes

Now that you have a little bit of Japanese vocabulary to help search for what you are looking for, the rest is easy!

Just paste the Japanese name of some of the words above into the ZenMarket search bar and hit enter.

("ナイキ エアジョーダンミッド") - Nike Air Jordan

You can pick up brand new Nike shoes directly on our website by selecting "Amazon", "Rakuten" or "ZenPlus" in the search bar.

These options will normally only display results from vendors selling brand new items.

However, if you are looking for great value for money, we would recommend searching for shoes on "Yahoo Auctions".

You will often find secondhand and even resellers posting new Nike appeal at competitive prices. 

If you don't find what you are looking for and want even more options to choose from, then feel free to search your favorite Japanese website that sells Nike shoes. 

If you find a pair of kicks you like on another Japanese website, but they don't ship overseas or the website has no English version available, then just copy the URL of the item you would like to buy from that website and paste that URL into our search bar.

You will get a pop-up asking you to confirm a few details of the item and then you can submit it for item checking. A member of our team will then go and manually check the item and approve it for purchase if the listing appears to be a valid purchase option. 

Even if the URL of the item comes from a Japanese store that doesn't offer international shipping, no problem, that's why we're here! 

In most cases, we will be able to process the domestic order for you and then ship the item to you internationally. 

You will get a webpage or pop-up box for you to confirm the item and add it to your shopping cart.

Step 3: Browse Listing Options

When it comes to buying Nike goods, there are a few options to be aware of.  

If you are buying directly through ZenMarket, You will often find that some trainers come with or without their original packaging, the latter being more common when bidding on items from Yahoo Auctions.

Shoes can come in a wide array of conditions and sometimes comes with extras that were included in the original sale of the item, so it's best to take your time when browsing auction options and double-check the item titles. 

To get the best value for your money, we recommend shipping any Nike appeal that you plan on buying all at the same time.

You will save money on shipping and processing fees in the long run instead of shipping single clothing items one by one.

Remember, you can always use the options listed to the left and top of the search results to help you find and narrow down your search.

Step 4: Check Item Details

On the product page, you can find out more information about the item you want to purchase.

You will be able to see the price, photos from different angles, and more.

If you are pre-ordering an item, please note that it will only be shipped out to us on the delivery date stated, after which you will be able to create a parcel for international shipping once it arrives at our warehouse. 

There will also be a lot more information about the item under “Product Details”, which you can normally find by scrolling down the page.  

Step 5: Place Your Order!

Once you are satisfied and ready to order, add the item to your ZenMarket cart.

Our operators will then confirm the price and availability of your item and you will receive a notification once it is ready to be paid for. 

For a full tutorial on how to buy from ZenMarket, check out our guide here. 

Bonus Step: Even More Options!

If you are looking for a good place to get started on finding your first pair of Nike shoes all the way from Japan, then you may want to check our showcase page. 

We try to update our showcase pages regularly to help you keep track of what's new and hot currently in the world of Japanese Nike appeal!  

Click the banner below to check out our showcase page! 

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy anything you want, not just Nike appeal, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Welcome one and all to ZenMarket's Halloween giveaway! 

With the arrival of the spookiest season of the year, ZenMarket is throwing away all the tricks and treating you all to a series of giveaways we're calling "Day of the Dolls"! 

From today, October 26th, ZenMarket with be giving away one Halloween themed figurine each day up until October 31st to one lucky winner every day.

The giveaway is open worldwide with free shipping - that's right, we'll handle the bodies for you. 

We'll stop accepting new entries into the giveaway after October 31st, so don't miss out! 

6 Days. 6 Figures. 6 Winners! - Scared yet? 

No? Then try not to scream when you see these six horrifyingly beautiful bishoujo figurines that you can win throughout the giveaway.

1. Horror Bishoujo "Pennywise"

2. Horror Bishoujo "Beetle Juice"

3. Horror Bishoujo "Jason"

4. Horror Bishoujo "Hellraiser"

5. Horror Bishoujo "Chucky"

6. Horror Bishoujo "Freddy"

All six prizes are 1/7 Scale PVC Pre-Painted Figures. 
Click on the prize name for more information. 

How To Enter?

Terrified that you might miss out on your chance to win one of these bewitching beauties?

Don't be, entering the giveaway couldn't be simpler. 

If you would like to enter the giveaway, head on over to Twitter and find our Giveaway Tweet.

• Like,
• Retweet,
• Follow.
  
  

That's it! 

You will then be entered into the figurine giveaway for ALL six days of the competition. 

Keep an eye on our Twitter account during the first week of November as we will be announcing who survived this session's giveaway as one of the six lucky winners! 

The competition is completely free to enter and remember, we'll handle shipping them worldwide.

Good luck to those of you that enter the giveaway.

Have a fang-tastic Halloween!

Link to Giveaway Tweet!

As the birthplace of Sony and Nintendo, Japan is home to some of the most brilliant game developers and designers in the world. Many games and game consoles are first developed in Japan and if popular enough, are then brought to overseas markets.

However, for one reason or another, many of these amazing game consoles were exclusive to Japan and never made their way to other countries.

In this list, we will talk about some of our favorite Japanese exclusive game consoles that didn’t make it off Japanese shores. Many of these consoles can still easily be bought today, so if you fancy yourself a collector, this article is for you.

Japan Exclusive PS Vita Consoles

Contrary to popular belief, the PlayStation Vita is not dead.

At least, in Japan, it is alive and thriving.

Even in 2020, new games are still being released and with a big visual novel market in Japan, Sony’s mobile handheld still sees a lot of love. 

The PS Vita is one of my favorite consoles of all time, and it is downright criminal that other countries didn’t get 90% of the console variants released in Japan. Not only did the Japanese market get exclusive color variants, but they also got numerous limited edition consoles with art design from different franchises. 

Rest assured, the PS Vita is not region locked.

This means you can play games from any country on Japanese PS Vitas.

Below are just a few of the coolest ones.

1. Japanese Minecraft Limited Edition PS Vita Console

For Minecraft fanatics, this console is a dream come true.

This bundle came with the Minecraft game for the PS Vita, as well as a carrying case. You can buy the Minecraft PS Vita [Here]

2. God Eater Limited Edition Console

Full disclosure, I’ve never even played God Eater, but this is the coolest PS Vita design I’ve seen so far in Japan.

This one is definitely on my to-buy list. 

You can buy the God Eater PS Vita [Here]

3. Final Fantasy X | X-2 Japan Exclusive PS Vita Console

It’s a shame we didn’t get any themed PS Vita consoles in The West.

While the demand for PS Vitas was relatively low in North America, I’m sure that any Final Fantasy variant of the PS Vita would’ve sold like hotcakes.

With Final Fantasy X being one of the most popular titles in the franchise, this console is a great piece to add to the collection for any Final Fantasy fan.

You can buy the Japanese Exclusive Final Fantasy X PS Vita [Here]

4. Pikachu N64 Light Blue and Orange Japan Exclusive Game Consoles

The Nintendo 64 is one of the most beloved game consoles of all time.

For many, it was the first time they experienced a decent first-person shooter game with Goldeneye 007.

For others, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Snap are games that bring on great bouts of nostalgia.

Many different color variants of the system were released in English-speaking countries. However, Japan was the only country to receive the best limited edition N64 variants, the lightblue and orangePikachu N64s.

With these variants, a full-bodied Pikachu is on the face of the system and Pikachu’s foot is used as the restart button.

Other countries received the same system as a dark blue variant, but Japan was the only country to receive the light blue version.

It should be noted that Japanese N64 consoles can only play Japanese games unless you do a simple hard mod. However, that requires you to remove parts of the plastic near the cartridge slot of the system.

5. Sharp Twin Famicom

Most retro game enthusiasts know that the Famicom is the name for the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in Japan. The design and cartridges were different and the Famicom had many exclusive games that weren’t brought over to the NES.

However, a lesser-known exclusive Japanese retro gaming console that no one really talks about is the Sharp Twin Famicom System.

I’m willing to bet most of you reading this never knew that Nintendo once partnered with Sharp to make a game console.

It is called the Sharp “Twin” Famicom because it includes both a cartridge slot for regular Famicom games and a floppy disk-like slot for the Famicom disk system games.

In Japan during the Famicom/NES era, Nintendo released a disk system add-on compartment for the original Famicom. It played games that came on yellow floppy disk-like cartridges.

Interestingly, these disks were re-writable.

This meant that when you finished the game, you could simply walk up to a Nintendo game kiosk, buy a new game, and write the new game onto the disk.

This kept costs down both for Nintendo and for consumers. People could rewrite games onto existing disks for a fraction of the cost.

The Twin system came in a variety of color variants, including two red-black variants and one blue-green-black variant.

While it is nearly impossible to find these in the wild outside of Japan, you can still purchase them on second-hand auction sites like Yahoo Auctions and even on eBay. [Click here to get yours]

6. Wonderswan and Wonderswan Color

The Wonderswan is a handheld gaming console that was invented by the company of Gunpei Yokoi, the fabled inventor of the cross-shaped directional pad, the original designer of the Nintendo Game & Watch and the Nintendo Game Boy.

With such an impressive résumé, you’d assume that anything this man touches would turn into gaming gold. Unfortunately, that was not the case for the Bandai Wonderswan.

Released in Japan in 1999, one year after the release of the Game Boy Color, the Wonderswan had to compete both with Nintendo and SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket Color. 

While the Wonderswan had a cool design and a decent library of games, unfortunately, it couldn’t match the popularity of Nintendo’s Game Boy systems and didn’t even make it off Japanese shores. 

However, with a little searching, you can still find Wonderswan and Wonderswan Color systems today on various auction sites.

If you live in Japan, you may even be able to find them at your local Book-off or other used game shops. 

7. The Frozen PlayStation 4

It isn’t often that we see a Disney-themed limited edition game console.

It turns out that the blockbuster hit Frozen was popular enough in Japan to warrant its own limited edition PlayStation 4 game console.

The system features a subtle yet elegant design with Elsa and Anna on the face of the console. This one is rare enough that in my three years of game hunting in Japan, I have yet to see this console in the wild.

Hopefully, with the imminent release of the PS5, Sony will release more of these amazing console variants outside of Japan.

These were just seven of our favorite Japanese exclusive video game consoles. Hopefully, we introduced you to a few you had never seen before. 

When searching for these consoles online, be sure to use ZenMarket as your proxy delivery service, if you come across a seller that doesn’t ship to your country from Japan.

The much anticipated Johnny's merchandise website is live, primed and ready to deliver the highest quality merchandise to fans all over Japan!

We know just how popular Johnny's exclusive merchandise has been in Japan and the arrival of their online store caused a wave of excitement for fans across Japan. 

Aside from the store-specific memorabilia, you can purchase all of your favorite photos and merchandise easily, with delivery only available within Japan.

For those of you that love Johnny's merchandise, but live overseas, don't worry - ZenMarket has you covered and we are here to help.

With the help of this step-by-step guide, you too can soon get your hands on all the goods Johnny's has to offer.

Step 1: Search For Items

First things first, head on over to Johnny's store homepage, where you can find all those great products you have been craving. It is important to be aware that currently, the website is closed between 2 am and 5 am Japan standard time (GMT +9) for maintenance, so watch out for that when you first try to log on.

It's easy to navigate. As soon as you hit the homepage you will be faced with the familiar Johnny's logo, and just beneath an incredibly useful search tool.

We highly recommend that you scroll down because that is where you will find all of the artist's names, so you can easily locate the merchandise from the artist you after.

The beauty of this is that many of the group names are already translated into English, making it much easier for you to find what you are looking for.

Of course, even for those names that haven't already been translating, we are sure true fans already know what their names look like in Japanese, but just in case you don't, a quick google search or a trip to Wikipedia should provide the answer.

We recommend using the kanji or Japanese characters when you are searching for merchandise of a popular artist as you will often have more search results appear and it will be easier to find what you are looking for.   

Step 2: Select Your Items

Next stop is picking out those all-important goods!

If you are looking to narrow down your options, you can use the pink hashtags, or click one of the three tabs that appear above the lists of items

• 写真 - Photos
• グッズ - General goods
• CD/Video

This will help you to fish out exactly what you are looking for far quicker.

For most goods, you can access the product simply by clicking on the photo, however, for general goods, you may need to click a few more times to bring you to the page you are looking for.

Once you have selected your product of choice, you'll be taken to a new window that displays the price and further product details listed underneath. Take note of the item's webpage URL as you will need that in the next step. 

Step 3: Add To Cart

Unfortunately, although you can create an account with Johnny's online store regardless of where you live, delivery is only available if you're living within Japan - so here is where ZenMarket comes in! 

I'll need to create an account with ZenMarket to complete the rest of the steps, but after that, you are good to go.

Once found the product or products you would like to buy from Jonny's online store, take a note or copy each product's webpage URL.

By typing or pasting the URL link of the items you are looking to buy into our ZenMarket search bar, you will be able to add each item to your ZenMarket cart by clicking the search icon button.

Alternatively, you can add the item to your basket by clicking the '+' link on the right-hand side of the search bar and then paste your item's URL link into the pop-up window. 

This pop-up window will allow you to customize your item choice with size, colors, quantities, and other options that may be available for that specific item. 

Describing the item and the variation you want to buy such as size, color, or other options available in as much as much detail as you possibly can make the item processing a little faster, so we highly recommend making use of this box!

Johnny's has an online purchase cap, meaning that the maximum copies of a single item you can order is 5 copies per individual product, with a total cap of 200 photos/items per order.

These limits have been set up by Johnny's store itself so is currently non-negotiable.

Step 4: Add Funds

Once you have added your items to your ZenMarket cart, one of our website operators will confirm your order. 

When your order has been confirmed, you will be provided with payment information which will normally include:

• The cost of the items.
• The charge of domestic delivery to our warehouse.
• A 300 yen service fee per unique item (5 copies of the exact same item is only 300 Yen, not 1200 Yen)

You will then be given the option to add your funds to cover the cost of your order.

When you add funds to your account, they will appear as a balance upon your account.

Go directly to your cart with your already confirmed items and then click on the 'pay' button which appears in orange, this will confirm your purchase and your items will be ordered! 

Step 5: International Shipping

After our warehouse has received your order, you can arrange international delivery to your address.

To ship your items abroad, you will need to click on 'create a new package' which you will find under the parcels tab on the left-hand side of your account. This allows you to fill in your shipping address as well as organize your items into packages.

Once you have completed this, your package will be weighed, measured, and packaged for international shipping.

We'll provide you with a quote for your international shipping fees and that's it!

Time To Get Excited!

It really is that simple! Your items from Jonny's will be on their way to you.

Now it is time to get excited in anticipation of receiving your Johnny's order and wait for the mailman to knock on your door!

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to share it with a friend or check out our other blogs on how to buy whatever you need from Japan. 

Why Shop with ZenMarket?

As it stands the only place to order Johnny's merchandise is from Johnny's themselves unless you would prefer to buy Jonny's items secondhand through sites like Japan's Yahoo Auctions! - which we can also help you with (Link to that guide here).

ZenMarket allows you to place orders for authentic Johnny's merchandise no matter where in the world you live, providing you with the access you truly deserve, with our service you can buy anything you want from online Japanese retailers, not just goods from Johnny's.

If you are interested in more information about ZenMarket click the image below that will take you to our full tutorial on how to use our service. 

Buying car parts from Japan is not an easy thing - unless you know what you’re doing.

You need to know what to look for and how to identify quality pieces.

Not only that, but you also need to know who to buy it from and how to get it shipped to your country.

A lot comes into play when you decide to buy car parts from Japan - But worry not!

This guide will help you understand the many things you need to keep in mind when it comes to buying and shipping car parts from Japan.

What are the benefits of buying car parts from Japan?

You can buy directly from the source and with no need to deal with auto parts dealerships selling goods with inflated fees.

In doing so, you'll reduce a great number of costs and lose no quality whatsoever. You'd be dealing with those who are close to the source as well, here in Japan, just in case you need any information related to what you want to buy.

Having access to a one-on-one relationship with a Japanese company that will do everything they can to ensure you'll get the top-quality auto parts you are looking for can save you a lot of time.

Needless to say, you'll be able to rest easy knowing the parts you are buying are authentic coming from Japan.

To do so, you don't need to go one by one and browse each and every second-hand website on the internet, you can go directly to Japan’s largest auction site, Yahoo Auctions! through ZenMarket, the one-stop-shop for all your Japan-related needs.

You'll find the best deals on used parts right here!

If you are looking to buy parts brand new from Japan, you can use ZenMarket to place orders with any of your favorite online Japanese auto part retail stores.

You'll have a broad variety of options to choose from, instead of the limited options at your local import business.

What kind of car parts can you buy from Japan?

Once you’ve made up your mind about buying car parts directly from Japan, you need to learn about what you can and can't buy.

You need to make sure the parts you want will have no issues going through customs.

There are some parts that you won't be able to buy - but, don't worry, there are plenty of car parts available for you!

Car parts you can buy from Japan:

• Nuts and bolts
• Tuning chips
• Electrical components
• Plastic parts
• Specialty fasteners
• Glass and lights
• Muffler
• Shift
• Interior panel
• Meters

And many more!

Some car parts are unavailable because of customs-related issues.

These kinds of parts are the ones you want to avoid buying.

Car parts you shouldn't buy from Japan:

• Engines (because of oil and gas usage)
• Transmissions (because of lubricant usage)
• Greased-related parts
• Engines-related parts (pistons, cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, etc.)
• Carburetor
• Suspension (shock absorber, dumber)
• Battery
• Air conditioner condenser
• Wheels with tires

Unfortunately, a lot of shipping companies do not accept any parcels containing these items.

Keep in mind any item that contains gas, oil, or inflammable liquids will be off-limits.

If you want to know more, please check ZenMarket's FAQ on “Prohibited and Restricted Goods” to further understand what you can and can't buy.

How to find the right company to order car parts from Japan?

Your safest choice to order the parts you want would be a proxy shopping and bidding service company.

This type of company will help you gain access to the parts you want; at the same time, they'll have the Japanese communication skills to help you find the best deal possible.

Their main feature is their export-related experience.

A company like this will know what kind of parts you can and can't get shipped.

Before you even try to buy any off-limits item, you can contact the company to find out if you can have a particle item shipped before you place your order and help you avoid wasting money.

The company's experience will also guarantee you get the best bang for your buck. A veteran shipping company will have access to the best sources for you to find the best parts for the best price possible.

They’ll also have tools you can use to help calculate the estimated cost of shipping. That way, there'll be no big surprises when your car parts are quoted for international shipping.

Simply put, you need a company that knows its business and knows how to help you get what you want. ZenMarket is that company.

Things to know before buying car parts from Japan?

Even with the help of a company like ZenMarket, you're bound to encounter shipping- and import-related costs, like taxes and fees depending on your own country’s import laws and taxes.

Please, check and then double-check the items you would like to import to your country before you place an order. Pay close attention to both shipping and import tax costs that apply to your country.

More likely than not, you will have to pay the import taxes at the customs center. You need to have the money to pay these types of fees; otherwise, you won't be able to receive the parts you ordered since they can get stuck at customs.

Make sure you research what kind of extra import tax costs you might encounter to get your parts as quickly as possible.

How to get car parts from Japan without problems?

Nobody wants to deal with any issue when they buy something, especially when they are buying from overseas.

Do a thorough read on item descriptions and check the parts' numbers, estimated shipping costs and duty taxes, and everything related to your car parts before you place your order.

Then, double-check just to be sure.

You can always reach out to ZenMarket’s support team where we can help you with any questions you may have or reach out to Japanese sellers/online retailers directly with your questions on your behalf.

When buying second-hand or through Japanese auctions sites, it is best to assume your orders will not come from a single source.

If you're buying different parts, you'll probably receive shipments from different retailers or individual sellers. Because of that, make sure you check all the serial and part numbers before you finish placing your order as not all sellers will describe parts in the same way.

The bottom line is:

1. Buying car parts from Japan directly from the source carries many benefits such as reduced costs and ensured quality.
   
   
2. There are different parts you can ship and parts you can't ship - make sure you know whether you can get it shipped or not!
   
   
3. You need an experienced company to work with, one that has plenty of experience in this trade.
   
   
4. Always calculate and account for any extra costs and taxes.

Now you know the basics of buying car parts from Japan and how to get them to your home with no issues!

The best advice we can give you is to look for an experienced company. That way, you'll get the best parts at the best price.

When you know what car parts from Japan you want, don't hesitate to use an experienced company like ZenMarket.

We'll help you get the best car parts from Japan quickly and safely to your front door!

---

 

 

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to Buy Anything you want, not just cart parts, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

 It wasn’t too long ago that earlier this year ZenMarket was celebrating breaking a world record by selling the world’s most expensive Pokémon card – a “Pikachu Illustrator” card that tipped the scales at $233,000 (25,000,000 JPY).

Less than 6 months later, Pikachu strikes again!
Although not breaking any world records this time, another “Pikachu Illustrator” was sold through our ZenPlus marketplace for a shocking$208,496 (22,000,000 JPY).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what is so special about these“Pikachu Illustrator” cards, this Pokémon card could only be obtained through a Japanese comic contest in 1998. From the 39 released initially, there is said to be only 10 left in the world.

It even features art by Atsuko Nishida - the original illustrator of Pikachu.

If you are interested in finding out more about this legendary Pokémon card or just want to know what the Japanese text translates to in English, then click this link to see our previous “World Record-Breaking $233,000” blog.

The sky's the limit at ZenPlus

If more than $200,000 isn't enough to spark your interest when it comes to the value to be found in rare collectible trading cards, you'll be happy to know that little ol' Pikachu has much more juice left in the tank!

How does over $360,000 (38,000,000 yen) sound?! Simply electrifying, no doubt!

That's the price of yet another oh-so-rare Pikachu Illustrator card being listed on ZenPlus right now - again from the ever-exciting pokemonmania store.

That's right, a few simple clicks - and a generous ZenPlus cashback for you, the buyer! - is all it takes to be the newest owner of what the masses deem "the most valuable and rarest Pokémon card in the world."

Who knows what valuable heights it - and other Pokémon cards - will reach going forward?

But wait, there's more

For all you Pokémaniacs, budding collectors, and online treasure hunters out there, don't worry if Pikachu isn't in your trading card Pokédex just yet! At ZenPlus, you'll find a hefty selection of other uber-rare Pokémon cards that will definitely turn heads and get people talking. Check out a few below! (Credit to Bulbapedia for much of the info mentioned.)

1) Shining Mew

View item page

Set: Unnumbered Promotional card (Japan exclusive)
Year: 2001
Price: ¥45,095 ($400+)

Who out there has fond memories of rocking up to a special Nintendo event at their local mall, original Pokémon Red or Blue in hand, ready for smiling staff members to download the elusive Mew onto their cartridge? We sure do!

In Japan, Mew found its way into 10 lucky trainers' hands not via mall, but monthly manga magazine - namely, the "Legendary Pokémon Offer" found in a 1997 issue of CoroCoro Comics.

CoroCoro Comics clearly holds Mew dear to their heart, because in their May 2001 issue they included this gem of a card for readers to ooh and aah over - and now with ZenPlus, you can do the same!

2) Shining Charizard

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Set: Neo Destiny expansion ("Darkness, and to Light...")
Year: 2001
Price: ¥372,450 ($3,500+)

"So what did you choose - Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle?"

Life is full of tough choices, and for a fledgling Pokémon trainer in the mid-90s, none was tougher than deciding which starter Pokémon to go with: the botanical Bulbasaur, the fiery Charmander, or the aquatic Squirtle.

We all had our favorite - and maybe, just maybe, so too did the creators of the Pokémon TCG. After all, it seems Shining Charizard (the final evolution of Charmander) here was the first of the original trio to get the "Shining" treatment, where the illustration of the Pokémon itself - rather than the background - boasts a cool metallic, holographic effect.

ZenPlus is proud to have the so-called "crown jewel" of the Neo Destiny set on offer for collectors worldwide!

3) Grand Trainer Certification

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Set: Unnumbered Promotional card (Japan exclusive)
Year: 2000
Price: ¥113,894 ($1,000+)

Just like the University Magikarp at the start of this list, this card isn't just a collectible - it's legit Poképroof of a trainer's hard-earned battle scars.

The Grand Trainer Certification was awarded to winners of a special lottery open only to those who had collected 50 stamps (in other words, battled 50 other players) throughout the course of a tournament campaign dubbed "Grand Party 1999-2000."

With stages of the campaign featuring names like "Challenge Road," "Battle Road," and "Champion Road," you can only imagine the prestige and glory that having this card on your mantelpiece meant for all those involved.

...And now, 20 years later, that prestige and glory can be yours to savor!

4) Fan Club Eevee

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Set: Unnumbered Promotional (Japan exclusive)
Year: 2000
Price: ¥437,184 ($4,100+)

Adorable, evolvable Eevee's popularity has stood the test of time since its debut in the original Pokémon games - so much so that it became the tandem mascot for the Let's Go! remakes in 2018 alongside the unstoppable of unstoppables, Pikachu!

Jump back in time to the year 2000, which saw the release of this Pokémon Card Fan Club exclusive in Japan. Though the card was made available in English later on in the year, it featured different artwork that - most unfortunately - dropped Eevee's naww-inducing little wink.

If you ever find life getting you down, you can guarantee this Japan-only Eevee card will aid your evolution to a state of supreme bliss!

5) University Magikarp (Out of Stock)

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CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

Set: Unnumbered Promotional card (Japan exclusive)
Year: 1998
Price: ¥3,200,000 ($30,000+)

Lastly, everyone's favorite secret weapon, the often-misunderstood Magikarp!

This promotional exclusive was awarded to the winners of a two-day group tournament held in Osaka, Japan in 1998. Participants consisted solely of elementary school kids who had successfully passed a so-called "Tamamushi University Hyper Test" published in popular Shogakukan magazines at the time.

A mere 1,000 cards were intended for issue at the event, though who knows how many were actually awarded, or are even in circulation today...

Just the tip of the TCG iceberg

Along with the release of the new Pokémon music video "GOTCHA!" (see some awesome reactions below), it seems that - especially recently - Pikachu and its Pokémon buddies are popping up aplenty. If you are interested in getting your hands on some Japanese Pokémon cards, you can check out our Trading Card showcase containing lots of individual cards, decks, and booster packs from your favorite TCGs.

A huge "Thank You" to all the Pokémon and TCG collectors worldwide that trust ZenPlus and ZenMarket to secure all their card collecting needs!

How much would you be willing to spend on cardboard?

The answer to that question has probably surprised more than one veteran card game collector when they look over their collections. 

If you grew up in the early 2000's you've probably heard about Yu-Gi-Oh! at least once – The Trading Card Game (TCG) sensation blew up in the west.

The TV-based anime first aired almost two decades ago and it spawned an entire franchise: videogames, movies, and much more!

Despite its venture into other forms of media, What keeps people coming back to the franchise is the anime-based trading card game.

Even though the original anime ended years ago, the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG is still going strong.

Booster packs and decks are released yearly – and many cards are valued into the thousands of dollars.

There are over 22 billion Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in circulation but there are 14 cards, in particular, you should really know about.

Top 14 Most Expensive Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards

14. 2002 Blue-Eyes White Dragon

If you’ve watched the anime, you'll recognize this card.

This iconic dragon was used multiple times in defining moments of the anime.

What makes this card so interesting (and valuable as well) is not its relation to the anime or the franchise’s many movies. This card was released in 2002 as a promotional item for “Yu-Gi-Oh!: Dark Duel Stories”, a Game Boy Color game.

This card is both iconic and incredibly rare due to the promotional release. It’s now valued at $400 USD dollars– if you can get your hands on it.

13. 2009 Dark End Dragon

Unlike the Blue-Eyed White Dragon, this card doesn’t hold any sentimental value when it comes to its relation to the anime – because it wasn’t born out of the anime. Instead, this card was the product of the Trading Card Game itself.

Back in 2009, a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament was organized with one of the competition’s many prices for top duelists was a card. And you’ve guessed it: it was the Dark End Dragon.

Only the best duelists that participated in the 2009 Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship received this card.

Because of its exclusivity this card is, it’s valued at over $800 US dollars.

12. Gold Sarcophagus

If rare Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are what piques your interest, it doesn’t get any better than the Gold Sarcophagus card.

There are only 25 of them in the entire world!

It’s incredibly difficult to encounter one of them in second-hand markets, if there are any of them out there at all.

This card was a prize for the top duelists who participated in a tournament that took place back in 2005 and 2006. Only 25 copies were printed and the card has not seen a reprint since.

Only 25 people in the world own this card – and that makes it of rather high value.

If you’re lucky enough to see it for sale, expect to pay at least, $1400 US dollars.

11. Limited Edition Shrink

At first glance, you think that the Shrink card might not be worth much.

If you know your way around the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, you’ve probably come across many copies of the card Shrink. You can look them up right now on eBay or Amazon – it’ll probably be worth less than a US dollar.

So, why is the Shrink card on this list? Well, we’re not talking about any old printing worth a couple of cents. Not at all!

There’s a limited-edition Shrink printing worth $2000 US dollars– and that’s way more than a couple of cents!

10. Minerva the Exalted Lightsworn (Original)

The value of this card is twofold.

It is both a collector’s item and a great card for competitive play. Then again, not all Minerva the Exalted Lightsworn cards are made equal. While this card was reprinted in 2015, many people are after the original printing.

An original, ultra-rare Minerva card is just doesn't have the same feeling as the reprinted versions. The ultra-rare version was a prize for top players of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament.

Because this card is both rare and strong card depending upon the current meta, you can get it for no less than $2300 US dollars.

9. 2004 Cyber-Stein

Ever wondered which card was the first one given away as a prize in the Shonen Jump tournaments?

Well, wonder no more, you’re looking at it! The best players who participated in the 2004 edition of this tournament received a Cyber-Stein card.

The Cyber-Stein card, just like the Minerva card, is twice as valuable. It’s both a collector’s item and a great card to have in a competition deck.

You’ll have to save quite a bit of money to buy it, though. It’s valued at $3000 US dollars.

8. Skuna, The Leonina Rakan

There’s little confirmed information around this card's printing details. 

If not for the internet, many might even doubt its existence in the future. All we know is that it was a prize for the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2009 tournament.

We don’t even know how many Skuna cards were printed, but the rumored number is only 6. Many people have reported seeing it in online auctions – for, at least, $6000 US dollars.

7. Swords of Revealing Light (Original)

The original version of this card is of incredible value.

It is one of the first cards to ever be released as a promotional card for the anime.

This card even precedes the official release of the Trading Card Game itself!

While there’s no exact number, this card is likely worth well over $6000 US dollars.

6. Armament of the Lethal Lords

Similar to Skuna, not too many people have seen this card up for auction.

It was also a prize card in one of the earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments. Rumors say it was once sold for 1 million dollars– but that’s only online hearsay.

While a million dollars might not be accurate, if you do find it for auction, it could be worth at least $9000 US dollars.

5. 2017 Iron Knight of Revolution

The 2017 edition of this card was only printed 3 times and given out as prizes for a tournament during the same year. Cards this rare are almost never commonly seen in an online auction – but there’s an exception here!

Out of the three cards ever printed, only one was put up for sale. It was sold for $12,999 US dollars.

4. Amatsu-Okami of the Divine Peaks

While this card is not as rare as the final ones on this list, there’s a little bit of secrecy surrounding it.

It was given to the best players of a tournament held in 2018, but nobody knows how many they were. All the players who received it kept it for themselves – all but one.

The one player who sold it got $18,800 US dollars– maybe that will get the others to sell!

3. Lottery Edition Dark Magician Girl

Not only this is one of the most featured and beloved cards in the entire anime series, but it’s also one of the most wanted cards in history. It’s been reprinted countless times – but that’s not what collectors are after.

An ultra-rare Dark Magician Girl card is worth $50,000 US dollars.

How come it costs so much?

Because the only way to obtain the card during its release was to win an exclusive Japanese lottery!

2. Tyler the Great Warrior

This card has no official value assigned to it as it was never sold – but it has a heart-warming story behind it.

Tyler, a young boy suffering from cancer back in 2002, asked as a final wish to be immortalized as a Yu-Gi-Oh! card.

His wish was granted and the card was made!

Fortunately, his story has a happy ending. He made a full recovery and still has his card to this day.

He has received plenty of offers for it, but still refuses to part with it until this day!

1. Tournament Black Luster Soldier

This card is worth $9 million dollars– and the funny thing is, you can’t even use it to play the game!

However, it’s considered the definitive Yu-Gi-Oh! collector item.

It was the first place prize of the very first Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament ever held.

You probably won’t find it for auction, though. There’s only one in existence and it was sold years ago.

We don't expect Yu-Gi-Oh! to be going anywhere anytime soon and as the franchise continues to print more limited edition cards and the those that currently exist will become even rarer, we are sure to see the price of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards continue to rise.

Will the popularity of the Yu-Gi-Oh! continuing to rise both domestically in Japan and in the international market, we are looking forward to seeing what new cards get released by the franchise. 

If you are interested in trying to get your hands on any of these rare cards, especially those cards that were only released in Japan, check out our showcase page below or use ZenMarket to search for Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! cards directly from Japan! 

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to Buy Anything you want directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Over 1 Million Yahoo Auctions Completed!

Since the establishment of ZenMarket in 2014, customers from all over the world have been using our service, and on September 28th, 2020, we set a record with the number of completed Yahoo Auction! transactions exceeding over 1 million!

This is all thanks to YOU! We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those of you that support us through your continued patronage, it means the world to us. 

What Does One Million Auctions Look Like?

1. Total value of purchased products - 6.1 billion yen
2. Total weight of shipped items - 750 tons
3. The highest item bid - 5 million yen (Pokemon card)
4. The heaviest product record so far - 91 kg (Gaming consoles)
5. Monthly watchlist items -350,000
6. Number of sellers worked with - 207,038
7. Total number of bids - 3.46 million

It's an unimaginable record in terms of numbers, but we're happy to be able to deliver so much joy from Japan to our international customers over the six years since ZenMarket started.

Thank You

ZenMarket is a place where you can purchase valuable items that you may not normally have access to such as collection items, and other goods that are difficult to obtain. The Japanese market is constantly producing amazing new items and we don't see a limit to the almost infinite potential of demand for Japanese goods both domestically and internationally.

At Zenmarket, all our employees are committed to making every effort to further improve the support system to meet such demand, and we ask for your continued patronage.

Please feel free to follow us for continued updates on our progress. 

Did you know that it's completely possible to learn Japanese from manga?

While most learners focus on tutors, apps, and courses, reading Manga is often the fastest and most enjoyable to learn.

Most people studying Japanese wait too long to start adding manga in their study routine due to the fear of Kanji. Kanji is one of the biggest obstacles for most people trying to learn Japanese as it appears everywhere and is required to be able to read most things in Japan.

However, even Japanese people aren’t born knowing kanji.

That’s why you will find a huge selection of Japanese manga that has furigana - kana that is placed above kanji that allows for people to be able to read kanji that they have never come across before.

This is great for those of us that want to start reading in Japanese as soon as possible without having to constantly fiddle around with looking up kanji by stroke orders, just to immediately forget it moments later...

Although using manga will not make you an expert, it's an effective method for practicing Japanese. However, not all Japanese manga have furigana.

Below is a list of some of the best manga with furigana to help you start reading Japanese and have fun while doing it!

20 Manga With Furigana

1. Doraemon (ドラえもん)

If you are looking for the best way to study Japanese, this is a good starting point.

Meant for children, it's written in straightforward and easy to understand Japanese.

It revolves around a robot cat whose mission is to help Nobita win love and change the future. However, by doing this, he often ends up making things worse.

2. Shirokuma Cafe (しろくまカフェ)

This Japanese manga focuses on a local cafe where you'll often find a wide array of customers gathering after a long day at work.

However, unlike most usual cafes, it's operated by a polar bear that serves both animals and humans.

With a host of exciting characters, including a clumsy Panda and sarcastic penguins. Entertaining and funny, it centers around everyday issues and adds it's own interesting twist for an entertaining read.

3. Your Name. (君の名は)

Divided between the Japanese countryside and Tokyo metropolis, this manga features modern Japanese culture and contains useful vocabulary for those looking to focus on more commonly used Japanese. 

It's a story about Taki, a high school boy, and Mitsuha, a high school girl who begins to wish that she will be born a boy in her next life - But the reality of her wish is far from what she expected. 

After reading the manga, watching the internationally critically acclaimed film would be a great way to get in a little Japanese listening practice too.

4. A Town Where You Live (君のいる町)

This is a romance manga that focuses on Haruto, a high school boy whose life changes when a new girl starts staying with them.

In modern-day Japan, it includes common phrases and words that you can apply in various situations.

5. Pokémon (ポケットモンスター)

Pokemon is another manga with simple vocabularies to use.

If you are starting, you'll find it relatively easy to learn.

If you haven't heard of Pokémon before, where have you been?

For existing fans of the series that are looking to dive into the world of Japanese literature, the Pokémon manga can be a great place to start. 

If you are looking for more straightforward sentences and vocabulary, this is the right manga for you.

6. Yotsuba&! (よつばと!)

This manga is about a young girl who lives with her father, makes friends, and explores the neighborhood.

You'll not only find it hilarious but also easy to understand.

If you are a beginner, it's the best manga for you.

7. School Rumble (スクールランブル)

School Rumble is a comedy where the main character, Tenma, struggles to win the love of her crush.

While our main male protagonist, Harima, is in love with Tenma, but can't summon the courage to confess his feelings to her.

Sounds pretty simple, rights? If you love Slapstick comedy, this manga is great.

8. Natsuko's Sake (夏子の酒)

Natsuko no Sake revolves around a girl who wants to create the best Japanese rice wine.

After leaving her job, she embarks on searching for the best rice seed.

The story follows her challenges as a woman in the male-dominated world of Japanese saké.

You'll get several useful words and phrases, that will be great to know as you get ready to start having conversations with Japanese friends - you may even surprise a few of them with your new-found vocabulary!

9. Naruto (ナルト)

As one of the popular manga's in japan, Naruto is a ninja-themed story whose main character, Naruto, strives to become the greatest Ninja.

Although hopeless at first, he quickly develops new skills and friendships to help him overcome obstacles.

Created with easy to read language with an enjoyable story, it's among the best manga with furigana.

10. Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン)

This manga revolves around a high school girl that is bestowed with powers to save the world from approaching danger.

Although she takes her job to protect the world seriously, she still takes care of all the responsibilities of a normal schoolgirl.

Aimed at female readers, you can use this timeless manga to learn a lot about the Japanese language.

11. Cowa! (こわ!)

Cowa! is a manga set in a place where humans and monsters are the same.

Brilliant and comedic, it follows Jose and Paifu, who is a young half-vampire.

Short and sweet with only one volume, it uses beginner kanji and furigana to help you out. Even if you are not a fan of vampires, it's well worth checking out.

12. K-On! (けいおん!)

K-On is a Japanese manga that follows four school girls.

Their vocabulary used centers around their hope for a musical career and performing arts-related topics. 

Featuring a 13 episode anime as well, this series can be a great way to immerse yourself in Japanese vocabulary focused on music and a must for those who are looking for a great reading experience. 

13. Chi's Sweet Home (チーズスイートホーム)

This Japanese manga comes with short and interesting stories.

It focuses on a small cat searching for a new home.

With the story and vocabulary easy to master and the manga panels well-illustrated, it's one story that you'll love.

If you are starting with Japanese, it's a perfect place to start.

14. Dr. Slump (Dr. スランプ)

As an incredibly popular manga here in Japan, Dr. Slump is funny and charming.

By the same writer as the world-famous "Dragon Ball", Akira Toriyama, if you are want to learn Japanese, you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

15. Kuruneko (くるねこ)

Kuruneko is a Japanese manga full of stories to help you learn Japanese fast.

While you may find the handwriting feature in the manga at times hard to read, this is a minor thing that should not discourage you as you will quickly get used to it.

In fact, if you ever plan to come to Japan, it would be a good idea to get some practicing trying to read handwritten Japanese - it comes up more than you would think. 

16. Tama-san (タマさん)

One thing that sets this book apart is its visual appearance in how it is drawn. 

As an easy-to-read manga with furigana, you'll want to put this in your shopping cart.

As you flip through the manga, you'll find it quite easy to master and build confidence quickly as you read. It can act as a great starting point to help launch you into more challenging manga in the future. 

17. Whistle! (ホイッスル!)

When it comes to choosing sports manga, you can't just go wrong with this one.

This manga features a high school boy who moves to a new school but is consider too short to play soccer.

The story focuses on his struggles and journey to overcome the people's perspectives of him and chase his goals in spite of it all.

A fantastic manga with a lot of related situations occurring throughout its story, making it a great place to mine useful vocabulary from. 

18. Slam Dunk (スラムダンク)

Slam Dunk is one of the best sports manga with furigana out there - it is considered by many Japanese readers to be the best manga ever written, period!

Coming with a basketball theme, it features Hanamichi, a delinquent who wants to impress Haruko his love.

However, after trying the sport, it turns out he has great potential for the sport and ends up falling in love with the game.

Written in an easy to understand language, this manga is a must for all readers!

19. Fruits Basket (フルーツバスケット)

If you are a beginner, Fruits Basket is the right manga for you.

It's a story about Toru Honda, who loses her mother and ends up having to stay with another family.

To her surprise that Yuki and Kyo, who he ended staying with her, can transform into animals.

As a fascinating story, you will find yourself flying through the manga and picking up Japanese fast.

20. Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃)

Kimetsu no Yaiba is also a good manga to try out if you are looking to read something rising in popularity at the moment. 

Its story is set in Japan of the past and revolves around demons. Some of the vocabulary you'll come across may not be words you'll finding yourself using in everyday Japanese conversation, but if you like Shounen stories, you will feel right at home with the vocabulary here!

If you want to build a strong foundation in the Japanese language, this list of manga containing furigana is a great starting place.

When starting, choose something with a story that will hold your attention - it's hard to learn anything when you are bored.

With several easy-to-read manga options with furigana in the list, you'll be sure to land on one that is right for you!

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to Buy Anything you want directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

We thank everyone who participated in our monstrous Halloween giveaway on our Twitter account!

It was fantastic to see you all your messages and thank you to everyone that entered.

The competition ended on October 31, it is now time to announce the winners.

Winners!

• Chucky - LilyMai Darling
• Beetlejuice - Osamu Dazai
• Pennywise - Reiko
• Freddy - Casper
• Hellraiser - 你是哪颗小星星那
• Jason - 楊勝閔

Congratulations again to the winner and a big thank you to all the other participants!

Even if you haven't been selected, don't give up hope! We will be doing more giveaways for other occasions so keep participating!

Don't forget to follow us on our Twitter and our other social networks of course to not miss any of the next contests!

Seinen anime series are often short and sweet, spanning just one season with anywhere between 8 to 30 episodes.

For those unfamiliar with the term, we did an entire on ZenMarket article talking about what Seinen is.

For the purposes of this article, all you need to know is that seinen anime is targeted at young adults, normally 18-40-year-old males. Therefore, the titles often feature more mature themes, older main characters, and more serious plotlines.

This seinen anime list includes both films and series and spans a variety of genres.

For those looking for anime with deeper stories, be sure to give one of these titles a try.

Seinen Anime Titles Everyone Should Watch

1. Plastic Memories

Plastic Memories is set in a world where androids and humans coexist in harmony.

The androids, called Giftias, help humans in various industries and also are used as companions for those who have no family, couples who can’t bear children, or even orphans who need a guardian.

However, Giftias have a very limited life span of only 8 years.

If their operating system (OS) is not reset before their time is out, they run the risk of losing their minds. The only issue is once their OS is reset, they lose all their memories and develop a completely new personality. In essence, they die and a new “person” inhabits their body.

The anime follows a high school graduate named Tsukasa who goes straight into the workforce at a Giftia recovery agency.

His job is to recover Giftias who are nearing the end of their lives. Interestingly, every agent in the company is partnered with a Giftia to make the end-of-life process easier on both the Giftia and their loved ones.

Things are going well for Tsukasa until he starts developing closer relationships with the Giftias around him, knowing full well that their lives only last 8 short years.

There are few anime that have made me cry as much as Plastic Memories.

As a fan of all forms of fiction, I constantly look for titles that can draw out the strongest emotions. I would put Plastic Memories up next to well-respected heartwrenching titles like Anohana and Violet Evergarden.

Put simply, Plastic Memories is about the value of life, and sometimes it takes an android to show us just how precious life can be.

2. Grave of the Fireflies

Developed by the critically-acclaimed Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke), Grave of the Fireflies is their most serious work.

While the studio normally produces children’s anime films, Grave of the Fireflies is definitely for more mature audiences only.

The seinen anime film follows a young boy and his even younger sister trying to survive after the fallout of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War 2. The film depicts the atrocities of war and the innocent souls left behind to fend for themselves.

The film is so powerful that acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert called it “one of the greatest war films ever made”.

While the graphics are a bit dated, they fit perfectly with the theme and tone of the film. Since the film covers the difficult lives of the Japanese civilians during World War 2, some have called the film depressing, which can be true for some viewers.

However, it is a very important anime film that I think every anime fan must watch.

3. Welcome to the N.H.K.

Originally aired in 2006, Welcome to the N.H.K. is an oldie but a goodie.

The anime follows Tatsuhiro Sato, a 22-year-old university student who has unfortunately become a hikikomori, due to societal pressures.

Sato also exhibits some slight forms of mental illness and sometimes hallucinates and hears household objects like his fridge and television talk to him. 

One day, a high school girl named Misaki and her aunt stop by Sato’s house and drop off a pamphlet about help for hikikomori. Misaki returns on her own and offers Sato a contract to help him recover from his hikikomori ways. 

Many people say that Japan is behind when it comes to acknowledging and dealing with mental health issues, so I applaud Welcome to the N.H.K. for having a protagonist that exhibits mental illness. 

The anime helps shed light on the fact that most hikikomori are not creeps or weirdos, they are likely just sick and need some help.

The anime offers a glimpse, albeit a fictional one, into the world of hikikomori and is powered by a solid story that keeps you interested from start to finish.

4. Gantz: O

Set in the world of the popular manga and anime series Gantz, Gantz: O is an anime film that follows the Osaka Arc of the original manga series.

If you’re a lover of all things apocalyptic or survival game stories like Battle Royale or Danganronpa, then this CGI anime film will be right up your alley.

Gantz: O follows a high school boy named Kato who tries to stop an assault on a train platform and ends up getting stabbed to death. That isn’t exactly a plot spoiler, as the bulk of the story happens after he dies. 

For unexplained reasons, strange monsters and creatures have begun invading Tokyo and Osaka.

After Kato dies, he wakes up in an empty room and is told by a robotic voice that he must participate in a game with the objective of killing all the monsters attacking Japan.

If he is successful, then he can be resurrected. If he dies in the game, he dies forever.

The film has beautiful graphics and a thrilling story with well-choreographed action scenes. The monsters are grotesque and there is a lot of gore in the film, so those with weak stomachs should probably stay away from this one.

5. ReLIFE

What started as a webcomic quickly became one of my favorite romance manga and anime of all time.

ReLIFE is a modern take on the high school romance anime. 

You might be thinking: if it’s set in high school, then how is this a seinen anime? Well, that’s because the main character isn’t actually a high school student. Rather, he is a 27-year-old NEET whose life has gone off track. 

ReLIFE follows Arata, who is approached one day by a mysterious stranger who offers a very suspicious contract:

1. Take this pill and your body will revert back to its 17-year-old form
2. Relive your third year of high school and do your best in your studies and school life
3. We will pay for your living expenses for one year
4. If your performance is satisfactory, we will find you a job with a great company after the year is over

ReLIFE isn’t just a romance anime, it has mature themes and issues around office politics and dealing with societal pressures.

Short and sweet, with just 13 episodes, I highly recommend ReLIFE for those looking for a unique seinen romance anime. 

We hope you found at least one of the titles on this seinen anime list interesting. For more anime articles, check out our related content below:

A Bathing Ape, shortened to Bape, is a Japanese fashion brand that can be hard to come across in the West.

Buying Bape from Japan is often the best way to get the latest and exclusive designs that are constantly being released.

Unfortunately, you will often find that many of the exclusive Japanese Bape releases do not offer international shipping, often making it incredibly difficult to obtain overseas. 

This is even more true for those wanting to buy previously released designs on Japan's second-hand marketplaces, where there is next to no English support or options to have you Bape pieces delivered to you.

This guide will help walk you through the process step by step of not only how to get the Bape clothing you want, but we will also show you how to get your clothing shipped to you internationally anywhere in the world. 

Why Buy Bape from Japan?

Bape in Japan is a unique fashion line that can't be found elsewhere.

There are many reasons to buy Bape from Japan including choice, price, exclusivity, and those all-important bragging rights.

More Choice

Bape is famous for its exclusive brand collaborations that simply don't exist in other countries.

In Japan, brands often work together to come up with a unique item that appeals to specific audiences, and few companies do it as well as Bape.

They've worked with some of the biggest and most popular brands including:

• Marvel comics
• Pepsi
• Coca-Cola
• Adidas
• Beastie Boys
• Biggie Smalls
• Linkin Park
• SpongeBob SquarePants

...And so many others!

If there's a particularly popular brand you'd love to showcase on your clothing, then the is a good chance that Bape may have already collaborated with them.

You're bound to find a limited edition product that fits your unique fashion sense.

Cheaper Prices

Japan has one of the most thriving and competitive fashion industries, which is good news for customers!

Fierce competition drives down prices.

If you browse many different online retailers or are willing to bid on a few auctions, then you're likely to find something at a lower price than you'd get in the US or Europe.

Because of this high level of competition, exclusive brand collaborations are available for a lower price than you'd expect.

Exclusive Merchandise

In the Japanese fashion market, clothing ranges are often released to Japanese buyers only. You won't find Bape products in your local high street retailer!

If you want to get your hands on exclusive Japan-only clothing, then you need to buy Bape from Japanese online stores.

Each season, new Bape clothing is released that won't be sold internationally.

Bragging Rights

Let's face it, how many of your friends are wearing Bape?

Whether they've heard of Bape or not, the unique style of your outfit will catch their eye.

After you've put in all the effort to source an item from Japan, you'll have every right to show it off!

However, many online retailers won't ship overseas, so we are here to help! 

Here's a step by step guide to achieving your Bape fashion goals from Japan.

Step 1: Translation

Unfortunately, eCommerce stores in Japan are rarely in English for you.

That's typical because most Japanese retailers choose to solely focus on the domestic market only.

Therefore, knowing the name of your desired product is in Japanese can make things a lot easier when it comes to finding what you want. 

Whether that's a specific Bape item or a more general term, such as "hoodie", you'll struggle to find what you're looking for if you don't know the local search terms.

Knowing these terms will help to guarantee you find items at the best price unlike if you were to buy your clothing through an English-speaking re-seller.

English isn't widely spoken in Japan, so you shouldn't expect to be able to do business in your native language.

In order to find the Japanese wording, use services like Google Translate for general clothing items, like "T-shirt" or "sneakers".

Bape is often known to name pieces of their clothing range in English even when they are selling to only the Japanese domestic market. This is both a blessing and a curse. 

This makes it easy to get the official product name directly from Bape's Japanese website, but that doesn't mean other retail stores or second-hand sellers won't try to translate the product name to Japanese when they create their listings. 

We recommend, especially for those of you shopping on Yahoo Auctions! for second-hand Bape clothing, that your try searching both the official English name of the item and a translated version in order to find all the listing available and give you the best chance of finding a great deal.

For specific products, it can be easier to go directly to Bape's Japanese website and copy the name from their item listing. 

From there, you can paste the item name into the ZenMarket search bar to find the best results.

Step 2: Search For Bape

Once you have the Japanese name of the Bape item you want, it's time to start searching!

Use the ZenMarket search bar, by copying and pasting your search term and see what offers are currently available.

Remember to also check the biggest retailers like Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo Auctions! if you are looking for some great Second-hand deals.

Second-hand stores, in particular, may reveal a list of bargain Bape products. 

If you worried about buying second-hand, don't be. Japanese is famous for its second-hand market having items that are like new.

Generally speaking, Japanese people tend to take great care of the items they own and so second-hand items can look brand new compared to second-hands you may be used to finding in your local markets.

If you can find what you are looking for on ZenMarket, then feel free to search for items directly on other Japanese websites.

If you find what you are looking for on another site, but they don't ship items internationally, don't worry!

You can just copy and paste the URL of the item you want into the ZenMarket search bar.

After confirming that it's the product you want, our team will make it available for purchase.

We'll process the Bape order within Japan and then ship it directly to you!

Step 3: Filter Results

Once you've found a list of potential purchases from ZenMarket, you'll be greeted with several options.

For instance, is the item available for bidding or can you buy it straight away?

Does the item come in original packaging? If not, it might be a second-hand auction item.

Be sure to read the item description carefully, since items of ZenMarket come from sellers all across Japan, and not every seller will describe their items the same way.

If you sort through the results carefully, you could find an incredible bargain!

To help you sort through everything, use the filter options listed above the search results.

You should then buy and plan to ship all your items at once to help save even more money when it comes to shipping and import taxes you may face. 

Step 4: Confirm Details

Before you part with your cash, remember to double-check the details carefully.

Go to the item page and read everything on the product description. You'll be able to work out whether you're getting exactly what you want.

Double-check the price and look through the photos to ensure you're happy with your purchase.

Remember that the shipping date refers to when it will arrive at the ZenMarket warehouse.

From there, we'll package it up and send it to you from Japan.

Due to the international shipping involved it important to check the details are correct the first time, as trying to return items once they have traveled overseas will likely not be an available option unless the item arrives damaged or not as described.

Step 5: Confirm Purchase

If you're certain that the Bape products you have found are for you, then click add to cart.

This will send the products to ZenMarket staff, who will be able to confirm their availability and price.

Once they have, you'll receive a notification informing you that you can now send your payment for the Bape clothing.

And that's it!

Sit back, relax, and wait for your exclusive Japanese Bape clothing to arrive.

Once you've got the hang of it, using ZenMarket is just like shopping at any other online retailer.

The difference is that we give you access to products that aren't usually available in your country.

It's worth the extra effort of looking up the Japanese term to get your hands on Bathing Ape products designed exclusively for the Japanese market, particularly when many of these items are sold for a limited time only and then they disappear forever - unless you are lucky enough to find them on Yahoo Auctions! later down the line.

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want, not just Bape appeal, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Melonbooks is known around the world as one of the biggest doujin-related stores in Japan.

It sells all sorts of things related to anime, video games, and more – but the one thing everyone knows and loves about Melonbooks is its vast offer of doujinshi.

And it’s not just one store! A place this special wouldn’t fit in one place!

Melonbooks has 31 stores across Japan. Their biggest ones are located in Akihabara, the otaku paradise.

If it’s doujin, no matter what you’re looking for, Melonbooks can sell it to you!

That is, unfortunately, if you live in Japan.

Melonbooks does not ship outside of Japan or accept non-Japanese payment methods.

But wait! Don’t panic! There’s an easy way to get what you want!

You can buy all the doujinshi you want from Melonbooks (and its twin site, Fromagee) with the help of ZenMarket.

Read down below to find out how!

How To Buy From Melonbooks?

We’re going to talk as if this was a guide for Melonbooks alone but keep in mind the process is almost identical if you want something from Fromagee too.

Step 1: Go to Melonbooks’s website

First and foremost make sure you are on the right website!

You want to visit Melonbooks.co.jp and not Melonbooks.com.

The former is the one you want, the latter is for digital media only.

If you try to visit Melonbooks.com, you might be blocked from doing so – but it’s not your fault; a lot of non-Japanese IPs have been blocked lately.

Don’t worry, though: Melonbooks.co.jp (the one you want to visit) hasn’t blocked anyone.

Once you’re on the website, you’ll soon realize it’s entirely in Japanese with no support for another language whatsoever.

Using Google Translate will be more than enough to help you navigate the site with no issues.

If you have a specific question, please contact us at ZenMarket, our multi-lingual team will be more than happy to help you with any issue you have.

Step 2: Search For Your Items

Browsing Melonbooks's site is pretty straightforward.

If you already know what you want, write it down on the site’s search bar.

Remember you can send us a message at ZenMarket and our team will help you find what you want.

If you want to browse the site and see what they have in-store, take a look at the website's menu bar, where you’ll find plenty of categories such as:

• 新着作品– New releases.
• ランキング– Top-ranked Doujin.
• オリジナル同人誌 - Oringal pieces of work.
• サークルで探す– Search by circle
  • (Circles are akin to publishers, a group of people, or an individual who publishes doujin).

If you look around, you’ll find plenty of new terminology.

Doujin terminology can be a little hard to grasp at first – but no worries, here’s a little cheat sheet to help you get started:

• 般同⼈誌 (Ippan Doujinshi): Doujinshi for all audiences
• R18 (Rated 18): Adult content
• BL (Boys’ Love): Stories of male love for a female audience. Similar content aimed at gay men is called Bara or ML (Men’s love)
• 男性向 (Dansei Muke): Doujin made for a male audience. Even though some pieces of this genre aren’t explicit, most of them are.
• ⼥性向 (Josei Muke): Doujin made for a female audience. More often than not, it’s BL-related.
• ⼩説 (Novel/Shosetsu): Novel or fan fiction doujin.
• ク (Circle) – Circles are individual or group publishers.

Step 3: Check Item Information

Before you make an order with ZenMarket, make sure you take a look at your desired item’s details.

Here’s what you need to look for:

• 発売 (Release Date): Check the release date to make sure you’re not pre-ordering something
• 般 (Suitable for General Audiences): This will let you know what you’re buying is suited for all audiences. If it has an R18 rating, it’s explicit material.
• (Price): The final price with tax included.
• 在庫 (Stock): Whether the item you want is available or not.

When it comes to 在庫 (Stock), there are three stock options:

• 在庫– In Stock
• 受– Taking Orders
• 売り切れ– Sold Out
  
  

Step 4: Copy Item’s Page URL

Once you made sure everything is okay with the details of your item, head over to ZenMarket’s site to place your order.

Copy the item’s page URL from Melonbooks’s site and paste it into ZenMarket’s search bar and hit enter.

It’s that easy!

Step 5: Submit Your Order

After you’ve submitted the item through the ZenMarket website, you will be presented with an input box where you can write any specific information with regard to the item you have submitted.

Please be as thorough as possible.

Write down the item’s name, how many of them do you want, and any detail you can think of. Any additional comments are welcome!

Providing additional details will allow us to process your order as quickly as possible.

Check and double-check the details and make sure everything is okay before you proceed.

When we receive the item request, one of our team members will confirm the item details and then provide you will a final quote.

Once you’ve paid for it, the items you bought will be shipped to our warehouse center.

Step 6: International Shipping

When we have the items and are ready to send them to you, we will ask for your preferred international shipping method from the options available.

Once supplied, we will pack and weigh the items you want to ship internationally and then provide you will a quote for your chosen shipping method.

When that’s done and out of the way, all you have to do is wait for your items to arrive!

We will make sure your doujin arrives at your doorstep as quickly as possible.

Happy shopping!

DISCLAIMER: Rated 18 (explicit material) can be exported from Japan – but this is at the discretion of the customs office. Your country’s customs can refuse to accept the package and send it back according to its own rules and regulations.

ZenMarket has no jurisdiction over your country's customs laws and regulations. Please always confirm first that items you plan to buy from Japan can be imported to your country.

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want, not just doujin, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

While you might think a piece of cardboard with a picture on it might not be worth a whole lot, collectors are willing to be thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of dollars for the rarest, most valuable Pokemon cards out there.

Starting in 1966, Pokemon has been developed into medians like movies and video games, but the trading cards still remain the core of the franchise.

Below are the rarest, most expensive Pokemon cards out there.

22. Southern Islands Card Set

This set can be extremely hard to find as there are only 18 cards made up of 2 sets of 9, and they are only valuable if it is an original in its collectible folder. But if you meet all those requirements are met, the set is sold at between $150 and $300 per card!

21. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Machamp

This card is worth up to $5,000 dollars! It is both a first edition and has a shadowless error, both things that make cards extremely valuable! Of course, the price does vary a lot based on the quality of the card, but it is pretty much guaranteed to get you a pretty penny.

20. Gold Star Espeon and Umbreon

There are very few cards with the Gold Star, but if your card is a Gold Star, you will find it directly to the right of the name. These cards are so rare because originally the Espeon card was only given out to members of the Pokemon Players Club, and they had to trade 50,000 points to get it! The Umbreon is worth up to $5000 dollars and the Espeon up to $6000.

19. 1999 Pokemon 1st Edition Venusaur

Because the Venusaur is one of the most collectible and notable Pokemon, the first edition of the card, especially in good quality, can be sold for quite a bit. In fact, one was recently sold for over $8000!

18. Shining Charizard

Pokemon shining cards were introduced with the second generation of Pokemon games, and The Shining Charizard was the first-ever shiny Pokemon found! One thing that stands out about this card is that the Charizard itself is holographic, rather than just the background. This card is typically appraised around $5000 dollars, but it has been sold for as much as $8900!

17. Pokemon Booster Box with Black Triangle Error

Regular Pokemon booster boxes can sell for thousands of dollars if the box is sealed because there may be a variety of different rare cards inside, but if the box has a black triangle error on the cover, it is worth even more!

Recently, one box was sold for $8,700! The black triangle was put on the box because they printed too many first edition boxes, so they had to cover the 1st edition stamp with the triangle.

16. Snap Cards

With the release of the game Pokemon Snap 64 DD, there was a promotion where gamers could take snapshots, and the winners had their work printed on the trading cards!

These cards have been sold for up to $11,000, but sadly (if you are trying to sell yours), most go for considerably less.

15. Tropical Mega Battle Cards

From 1999 to 2001, there was an annual TCG tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii, called The Pokemon Tropical Mega Battle.

Every year there were only 50 TCG players, so the promotional cards given out at these events are extremely rare. Some of these cards, such as the One Tropical Mega battle Trainer Card with Psyduck, can go for up to $10,000!

14. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Blastoise

Shadowless cards were created due to an error in production and therefore are very rare and very valuable! Blastoise is not the most valuable shadowless card by a long shot, but one in mint condition can still be worth up to $10,000.

13. Charizard First Edition

There are a number of different first edition Charizard cards, and pretty much all of them are valuable.

Specifically, the first edition German Charizard card named Glurak has recently been sold for $9,400 and is definitely one of the more sought after Charizard first editions.

First edition Charizards with good grades can pretty much all make 10,000+ dollars!

12. 2010 Japan World Championship Master Key Trophy Card

Every year the best of the best Pokemon players meet at world championships to battle for money, prizes, and the title.

The 2010 championship took place at the Hilton in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, and was made up of just thirty-six contestants who were the only ones to receive this foil card, making it one of the rarest cards out there!

They rarely go up for sale or auction, but when they do, they always go for $10,000 or more.

11. Kangaskhan Parent/Child Tournament Promo

In May 1998, there was a special Parent/Child Mega Battle Tournament, and at that event, there was a special promotional card handed out to only the elite players.

Because these cards were only ever given out at that event, many collectors view it as the holy grail of TCG cards and will pay up to $10,000 for one!

10. Pre-Release Raichu Cards

There were only between 1o and 15 Raichu cards made available world-wide, which means finding one is extremely difficult, and purchasing one cost a lot of money.

One Pre-Release Raichu card can be sold for well over $10,000.

9. 2002 Expedition For Position Only Charizard Card

The Pokemon Company gave out these cards to their employees, and they were never really supposed to get out to the general public, but it seems that at least one of the employees kept their original packs and sold them to hobbyists years later.

Because no one really knows how many cards have been printed, they are definitely considered a collectible and valuable card and have been sold for just over $11,000.

8. 20th Anniversary 24K Gold Ginza Tanaka Japanese Pikachu Card

These cards were only sold for 20 days meaning there are not that many of them out there.

Each card is made from 11g of 24k gold and is made for decoration, not technically playing. While the gold is only worth around $600, the card has been sold for over $12,000!

7. Black Star Promo Holo Ishihara GX Card

At his 60th birthday party Tsunekazu Ishihara gave out around 30 of these cards, and they rarely go on the market, making it one of the rarer cards out there!

Those that have been sold have gone for close to 13,000.

6. Japanese Promo Summer Battle Road Holo Victory Orb Card

The top 3 victors of each age division at the Battle Road Summer tournament in 2005 received one of these cards, and it was only given out at this competition during that year, which makes it one of the more rare cards out there.

People have recently sold the card for over $15,000!

5. 2005 EX Deoxys #107 Rayquaza Gold Star Holo Card PSA 10 Gem

Rayquaza is one of the most powerful Pokemon there is, and it gained a considerable amount of popularity after it was used as the mascot for the Pokemon Emerald video game. If you are lucky enough to have one of the Rayquaza cards with the gold star, you will find that it may be worth upwards of $19,000!

4. Numbers 1, 2, 3 Trainer Cards

Every year at the Worlds Finals TCG, they would release trainer cards and only give them to the winners.

Receiving one of the cards was a guarantee that you would be able to play in the next year's championship.

Because only one of each card was given out each year, they are extremely rare. Unfortunately, these cards are so rare that there is not a known price, but it would certainly be one of the most expensive cards out there.

3. Magikarp Tamamushi University Promo Card

When it comes to playing the game, the Magikarp is definitely not anywhere near the most powerful card, but there are only between 30 and 100 of these cards in circulation, making it one of the rarest! They were originally given out in 1998 at a Japanese Pokemon conference, and today, they are worth up to $27,000.

2. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard

Shadowless cards are cards that are missing the shadow on the right of the image.

This error only occurred for a very short period of time, making the cards rare and very valuable. Specifically, the first edition, shadowless holographic Charizard, can go for up to $50,000 or more if awarded a pristine grade!

1. Pikachu Illustrator Cards

The Pikachu Illustrator card is by far the rarest card in circulation, making it the Holy Grail of Pokemon!

This card was only ever given out to the winners of the 1998 CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest, so there is only a handful available in the entire world! These cards are worth a minimum of $50,000 and have been sold for over $200,000

In fact, in 2020, we (ZenMarket) broke a world record by selling the world's most expensive Pokémon card ever! 

For a groundbreaking $233,000, ZenMarket market sold a Pikachu Illustrator card - solidifying the Pikachu Illustrator card as the most expensive and rarest Pokémon time of all time. 

You can read about the historic event by checking out the blog we wrote at the time below. 

You can even occasionally find some extremely rare cards being sold on our ZenPlus marketplace. You can click here to see what rare pokemon cards we currently have up for sale! (Rare Pokémon cards) 

Every year Pokemon trading cards, especially the rare ones, are getting more and more valuable. If you are interested in getting your hands on any of the ones on this list, check out the ZenMarket showcase page to see if you can find one for yourself.

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Buying vinyl records from Japan can often be more complicated than it needs to be, to help solve this problem we have put together a guide complete guide to make the purchasing process as easy and painless as possible for you. 

Vinyl records have received enormous popularity over the last few years.

This is quite surprising because there was a time when this audio medium was almost dead with the arrival of modern music platforms, but despite this, the Japanese record industry is on the rise.

Although a majority of people prefer using online streaming applications and platforms, they are always new vinyl records of your favorite music genres being released to add to your personal collection.

Even with all the recent developments in technology, the sound quality produced by a good vinyl record is still held by most to be the highest-quality listening experience of any audio format currently available. 

Its high fidelity audio is one of the main reasons behind the huge popularity of vinyl records in the modern market allowing vinyl records to successfully outpaced the other traditional audio mediums such as CDs and cassettes.

Get out our step by step guide below as well as some of the answers to the frequently asked questions we receive for people looking to get started in ordering their first vinyl records from Japan. 

What Vinyl Records To Purchase?

When you visit a Japanese record store, you're just as likely to find records by popular Japanese artists like Tatsuro Yamashita and Anri as you are popular Western artists like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Not just that, you'll also find the creations of modern musicians as well!

Due to the huge popularity of this format at present, many modern artists are releasing their music albums on vinyl records.

Depending on which store you land in, you'll find a full range of vinyl records by artists from different countries and in different genres.

You're most likely to find records of Japanese rap, R&B, Hip-hop, City Pop, American Rap, Indie, House, Techno, and many, many more!

All in all, name any genre and you'll find it in a Japanese store.

Regardless of the artist you want to listen to or the genre you're interested in, you'll always find a Japanese version of that album which often comes with additional features that make it stand out from its counterparts.

It will be a great addition to your display case or wall.

Why Buy Japanese Vinyl Records From Japan?

There aren't one or two, but plenty of reasons to buy vinyl records, especially from Japan.

But the biggest reason is the popularity and reputation of the Japanese vinyl record industry.

These records offer great quality when compared to some of their western vinyl record counterparts.

Not just that, Japanese records are known to have some of the best sound quality on the market.

The reason behind the amazing quality is the fact that these records are processed in smaller batches which often means better and higher quality control is carried out on them.

The main advantage of having high-quality records is that they result in noise reduction when you play them.

Aside from the excellent quality control, there is one more reason behind the premium sound quality of Japanese vinyl records: the Japanese Vinyl record manufacturers use 100 percent pure vinyl for making the records. This high-quality vinyl or "Virgin" vinyl is a material that hasn't been recycled before.

For the collectors among you, records from Japan are commonly considered to be the home of many rare editions of records. 

If you're a collector, you would definitely want to check out some of the rarest and hard-to-find records in the world from Japan. 

These vinyl records generally come along with "obi" which roughly translates to "belt" in English. It's basically a piece of material, often paper,  that is wrapped on the left side of the cover and contains all the information regarding the record.

Many collectors go out of their way to collect Western albums from Japan that come with this Obi.

Due to these benefits and how easy it has become to buy records from Japan, more and more people are shifting towards Japanese vinyl records that they can purchase directly from Japan.

Why Buy Japanese Vinyl Records With ZenMarket?

If you live in a country other than Japan, buying Japanese vinyl records can be very difficult as well as costly. But not with us!

Many Japanese online vinyl records stores do not offer international shipping for people wanting to buy items from Japan. To make matters worse, most Japanese websites won't have an English version available for you to read and navigate through. 

Our proxy service acts as a great mediator between the Japanese record industry and you.

We make this process easy and hassle-free.

All you need to do is, find the record you want from Japan and then let us know which online retailer you would like us to buy it from.

We'll take care of shipping your parcels to your doorstep, regardless of where in the world you live. If you place your order early enough, we can even help you pre-order records you want to purchase through us.

Buying Japanese vinyl records from ZenMarket is a quick, easy, and hassle-free process.

If you want to take the Japanese vinyl record collecting hobby to the next level, try shopping with ZenMarket for all your needs!

How To Buy Vinyl Records From Japan?

Here is a complete step-by-step guide for buying Japanese vinyl records from Japan.

Step 1: Translation

The first thing you may need to do is translate the name of the record you're searching into Japanese.

This isn't always necessary as often with western music artists the Japanese will keep the name of the artist in English, but this isn't always the case.

"The Rolling Stones" = "ローリング・ストーンズ"

"AC/DC" = "エーシー・ディーシー"

Often searching for the artist you are looking for using the Japanese spelling of the artist name can often yield more search results, especially if you want to go hunting on auction sites such as Yahoo Auctions!.

You can use Google translate in a pinch if you can't seem to find the name of the artist you are looking for in Japanese. However, we would strongly recommend looking up the Wikipedia page of the artist you are searching for. 

If you didn't know, you are able to click on other languages versions of the same Wikipedia page by going to the bottom left "Language" menu of the page and selecting “日本語“ (Japanese).

simply highlight and copy the Japanese name you will find on the page and using that when searching on online Japanese vinyl record sites on auction listings. 

Step 2: Searching For Japanese Vinyl Records

Once you find the name of your favorite Japanese vinyl record, the process becomes much easier.

Simply copy the name from Wikipedia and paste it in the ZenMarket search bar, or the Japanese site of your choice, and simply press "Enter".

After this, the desired record will be shown in the search result.

Next, select your favorite store. You can often find newly released records by selecting and searching through stores such as Amazon Japan or Rakuten. 

You even check out the selection of vinyl records provided by world-famous Tower Records by checking out their ZenPlus store on our website - Browse the Tower Records range here.

If you are looking for something older, rarer, or just can't seem to find what you are looking for on the stores mentioned above, we strongly recommend checking out Yahoo Auctions! 

You'll find a tone of rare records on Japan's largest auction site at great prices!

Moreover, if an item is unavailable, reach out to our customer support by clicking the "can't find" option.

STEP 3: BROWSE VINYL RECORDS

With a bit of practice finding your favorite music records is easy! 

With some Japanese online retailers to choose from, feel free to search on any other online Japanese retailers that work best for you!

If you find what you are looking for on another site, but they don't ship items internationally, don't worry!

You can just copy and paste the URL of the item you want into the ZenMarket search bar.

All you need to do now is pick the best deal for you.

Our recommendation would be to look for the premium and "Virgin" vinyl records as they offer the best sound quality. 

Here are a few online Japanese online vinyl stores to get you started:

Step 4: Confirm Product Information

On reaching the product page, you can look at the item details more closely.

Check the price and other features to make sure you're getting the right item.

There will also be a lot more information about the item under “Product Details”, which you can normally find by scrolling down the page.

In case you're pre-ordering the records, know that we will be able to ship it after it reaches us on the stated delivery date.

So, keep that in mind while placing your order.

Step 5: Place Your Order

Once you're satisfied with the vinyl record, add that to your ZenMarket cart.

If your requesting us to buy from an external website, fill out all the information and wait till our operators check the availability and price of that record.

Then, simply proceed with the payments and you're done!!

Once your record arrives at our warehouse, we will weigh and safely package the item for international shipping with your chosen shipping courier. 

Once international shipping has been paid for all you have to do is sit back and relax till your favorite vinyl record reaches your doorstep!

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want, not just vinyl records, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re an avid otaku, a person who loves to cuddle while they sleep, or a workaholic who has a stiff back, Dakimakuras are what you need in your life.

Different types of Dakimakuras with unique fabrics and benefits have gotten popular recently all over the world.

A Dakimakura can be classed as a pillow, but it is something that can bring about an immense change in the way you sleep and enhance your time alone.

Many people face problems when it comes to buying a dakimakura for themselves. Well, what exactly do you need to look for in a Dakimakura?

In this article, we’re going to talk about dakimakura and why you should buy one for yourself.

We’re also going to provide you with a step by step guide on how to buy the best Dakimakura for yourself.

So, sit back, and read this article till the end to satisfy all your anime waifu cravings.

What Is A Body Pillow? (Dakimakura)

Dakimakuras are large pillows that are exclusively made in Japan. They’re more commonly known around the world as "body pillows". 

Dakimakura (抱き枕) = Daki (抱き) "To Embrace" + Makura (枕) "Pillow"

Once you will learn about the numerous benefits of a body pillow, you'll want to get your hands on one. Such a pillow can also make an excellent gift for someone who is either having a hard time falling asleep or having some health issues.

Dakimakuras are available in different shapes and sizes with different patterns available on them.

The most popular Dakimakuras are actually made for anime lovers who want to cuddle up and spend time with their favorite anime characters as characters can be imprinted onto the pillows.

The pillows are usually life-sized and that is why they’re considered security objects by people. Reducing stress, calming a person down, and providing physical benefits as well.

Dakimakuras aren’t just for show!

Dakimakuras can make for a perfect gift as well. One, they’re super cute and two, they’re incredibly comfy and soft, so you can even lie on them and find yourself getting a great night’s sleep.

There is plenty of good reasons to get one of these orthopedic body pillows for yourself or a friend or family member who’s in love with anime.

Why Should You Get A Dakimakura?

Well, first off, why shouldn’t you? Dakimakuras have so much to offer.

Comfort, security, orthopedic relief, and the warmth of a loved one, among many other things.

In order to help you understand why exactly getting a Dakimakura is a great option for you, we have compiled a list of benefits here. So, let's have a look at these.

• Orthopedic Benefits

Orthopedic problems are becoming very common nowadays.

Whether you’re an office worker or a business owner, back pains probably aren’t new to you.

You might even have difficulties straightening your back and sleeping soundly without any back support or resting cushions. Long working hours and no time to rest often affect your shoulders and back posture negatively.

The condition further deteriorates when you use the wrong pillow and mattress for sleeping.

Well, dakimakuras are specially designed to deal with these problems.

You can get yourself a soft pillow yourself and lie on it or keep it under your back before sleeping for a great night’s sleep.

• Decorative Aesthetics

If you’re looking to make a cute themed room or just decorate empty spaces or even get new cushions or pillows for your sofas and bed, dakimakuras can be an amazing choice for you.

They are unique, extremely cuddly, and very soft.

The pillows can be found in many different categories, so you can choose one according to the purpose you have in mind.

Dakimakuras are designed beautifully, often featuring different themed characters or patterns with high-quality detailing and amazing aesthetics which give the environment they’re placed in, a beautiful aesthetic look.

This is why it should definitely be considered if you’re looking for decorations.

• Dealing With Loneliness

Well, we’ve all been there. Away from friends and family or just no one around when we’re cold and feeling lonely.

Body pillows are great for that as they can replicate the feeling of an actual person.

This is probably one of the most prominent benefits of a dakimakura that attracts a lot of people to consider buying it. The security of having someone lying close by is good for our mental health. If you don't have that loved one in real, no need to worry!

Dakimakuras can help you through your loneliness especially if you’re looking for a cuddle buddy.

• Love For Anime Characters

Another important reason why you should get a dakimakura for yourself is the love of anime characters.

If you’re an anime-loving otaku or just a casual anime watcher and you have a male or female favorite character, you spend some time with them in the comfort of your home. 

You can get custom made dakimakuras or get one of the premade ones that feature your favorite anime characters.

Make most of your love for anime with a cute and cuddly dakimakura for yourself.

• Psychological Comfort and Security

Mental instability and insecurity are arguably becoming more common nowadays.

People's feelings of stress are on the rise for many reasons. It could be either their work or an unbalanced personal life. Everybody needs psychological comfort at some point in their life.

Without it, the stress turns to anxiety and then to depression. There are multiple ways to reduce stress to feel secure and happy - getting a dakimakura is one of them.

Well, dakimakuras can often provide people a feeling of security because of their life-sized appearance and their humanistic feel. If you’re mentally stressed and you’re looking for a pillow that you can feel comfortable around, then dakimakuras can be a great choice for you.

Ultimately, dakimakuras are great and serve a lot of amazing purposes.

If you are having any of the above-mentioned problems; lack of sleep, orthopedic issues, feelings of loneliness, and a need for comfort, you maybe consider getting your hands on a dakimakura.

How To Buy A Dakimakura - Complete Guide

Well, if you’re looking to get a dakimakura for yourself or as a gift for your friends and family, you’re going to need to know more than just the benefits.

That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide so you can look for and buy dakimakuras with ease.

Once you read through this guide, you’re not going to need to scour the internet to find your ideal body pillow.

Step 1: Find The Right Size

Before you actually buy your dakimakura, the first thing that you’re going to need to learn about is the different sizes that are available.

There are about three major sizes in which dakimakuras are available in the market as of now.

The right size can be selected depending on your height and stature as well as the purpose for which you are buying a dakimakura.

Let’s talk about each of the sizes available.

• 100 X 35CM

A smaller size of body pillows is available for people who’re looking for decorative dakimakuras.

These are ideal if you’re thinking of increasing the aesthetics of your living space and placing on sofas and your bed. They’re usually cheaper as well, so that’s a plus point too.

• 160 X 50CM

This is where we’re slowly getting into the life-sized dakimakura scene.

If you’re looking for a cuddle pillow and you’re a beginner dakimakura user, then I’d suggest that you go for this size.

The 150 x 50cm size hits the sweet spot in terms of quality and appearance and is going to be a great choice.

• 160 X 60CM

The largest size in terms of dakimakuras is 160 x 60cm as of now.

This is a size that is more customized for dakimakura lovers and users. This sized dakimakuras are not only great for sleeping but also for decoration.

But we’d suggest that you get this size if you’re experienced with dakimakuras already and it’s not your first time.

Step 2: Find The Right Fabric

When it comes to Japanese Dakimakura fabric, finding the perfect fabric for you can be quite difficult.

Well, you don’t need to worry because we’re going to talk about some of the highest quality dakimakura fabrics available in the market.

You will find body pillows from Japan in almost any fabric you can think of. But the most popular ones are:

• PEACH SKIN– Peach skin is the most widely-liked fabric when it comes to dakimakuras. They’re really great because they offer great detail, durability, and softness. However, they’re not very stretchable.
  
  
• SMOOTH KNIT– Aptly named, smooth knit is incredibly soft and smooth, making the details of the characters very beautiful. This fabric is very stretchable and at the same time incredibly durable as well.
  
  
• PLUSH– The fabric itself is very soft and durable but the problem with plush is that the design and the pictures aren’t very clear in comparison to smooth knit and other types of fabric.
  
  
• TWO WAY TRICOT– The highest quality fabric in terms of dakimakuras is the two-way tricot. It is stretchable, durable, and incredibly detailed making sure that all your dakimakura needs are going to be fulfilled.

Step 3: Where To Buy Dakimakura

Since body pillows are found in many different shapes, sizes, and patterns, you need to find one according to your requirements.

There are L-shaped pillows and extra-long, winding pillows as well in addition to the standard rectangular-shaped pillow that we all are familiar with.

Remember, the original or genuine anime body pillows from Japan are not cheap.

So, you need to look out for counterfeits or replica dakimakuras out there. These might appear to be affordable but in reality, they are low-quality and not long-lasting.

The licensed dakimakuras are generally available in standard sizes only.

Look out for a 160cm by 50cm, which is the standard size in genuine dakimakuras.

Bootlegs or stolen pillows are often described as [150cm by 50cm].

If you have ever owned a genuine dakimakura before, you will instantly notice after receiving a counterfeit pillow that almost everything including the zipper, fabric, and construction is of a low quality.

It might be possible to find legit products on eBay and other similar sites but the possibility of finding a counterfeit is certainly more on these sites. It is therefore recommended only to buy from a reputable source online.

As you start the search of your dakimakura, we recommend using the ZenMarket and scroll through the options available as all options will be sourced directly from Japan.

You can checkout dakimakuras from Rakuten, Amazon, and other shops as you get a better idea of what kind of body pillow you want.

Step 4: Choose Your Ideal Dakimakura

If you’re unable to find the ideal dakimakura having the size and fabric that you want on ZenMarket, you can go and search using any other Japanese online Dakimakura stores and have us take care of international shipping for you.

AmiAmi is another character and hobby shop where you can find a lot of character goods including original body pillows. The pillows available here are standard size and of high quality.

If you are looking for affordable yet good quality and genuine dakimakuras, try Mandarake.

Here you will also be able to find "hugging dakimakura" covers and sheets as well as "talking dakimakuras" - but let's not get ahead of ourselves. You can look at various options from very soft to medium soft pillows.

Once you’re sure that you have the body pillow and cover for you, copy the item's URL and paste them into the ZenMarket Search Bar.

Our website team will perform an item check in Japanese; checking the price and the details of the dakimakura.

Once the item has been confirmed we will notify you and you can finalize the purchase. 

Step 5: Make Your Parcel

Well, now it is time to make your package.

Your items have arrived at our warehouse and you’re ready to have them sent to you from Japan.

By requesting a parcel be created, you’re essentially telling the ZenMarket warehouse team which of your items at our warehouse you would like us to place in the same international shipping package.

This is great for those of you that may have ordered your body pillow and covers from different domestic Japanese stores, but you want them packaged together for international shipping to help save time and money!

Step 6: International Shipping

Once a package is made, you’re going to have to add the details of your shipping address and preferred shipping company.

The main concern of all the staff at ZenMarket is to provide you with the best online shopping experience that you can get from anywhere across the world.

That includes your dakimakura and whatever else you’re going to order from any retailers online from Japan.

After entering details, you’re going to provide the shipping fees depending upon your shipping options and our team will make sure the shipping process gets initiated as soon as possible.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Dakimakura

That’s it!

After you have paid for international shipping, you don’t have to do anything else but wait for your dakimakura to arrive.

Now that you’re a proud owner of a Japanese Dakimakura, you can use it for sleeping better, you can use it for decorative purposes or living your anime fantasies.

The possibilities are endless and up to you!

How To Care For Your Body Pillow

Finally, when you get your hands on your favorite item from Japan, you need to know how to care for it.

The first step is to remove the cover carefully. Since it is usually bigger than a normal-sized pillow you are familiar with, it requires a little extra effort to remove the cover safely.

It is also recommended to shake your body pillow frequently in order to get rid of dust built-up and dander.

Fluff your pillow every 2 or 3 weeks to make sure it stays the same and offers the optimal level of comfort.

The best way to clean the anime cover is to use a gentle detergent and wash it in cold water.

It is recommended to air dry the cover instead of using the drying or spinning function of the machine.

Body pillows have recently gained popularity all over the world.

They are unique and highly effective when it comes to addressing body aches, feeling of loneliness, and lack of sleep.

If you follow this guide, you’re going to be able to find the ideal dakimakura and get the best prices from any Japanese store online.

Japanese products are made to last a long time, they are durable and effective.

So, if you have decided to get a body pillow for yourself or buy it as a gift, you have made the right decision to order it directly from Japan!

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World is one of the most popular isekai anime of recent years.

Its mature, dark fantasy, adventure story maybe a little mind-bending at first, but it rewards the audience more and more the further you get in the series.

Most importantly, the heart of the story lies in the reversal of the overpowered isekai protagonist trope.

Instead of the all-powerful high-leveled game character we see in a lot of isekai anime, Re:Zero’s protagonist, Subaru, is by far one of the weakest people in the new world he finds himself in. 

In this article, we will go over five anime like Re:Zero, that are either similar in genre, mature themes, or overall story.

1. Sword Art Online

To get the most obvious title out of the way, we can’t talk about isekai anime without mentioning Sword Art Online (SAO).

Arguably one of the most popular anime of the decade, SAO is an isekai anime about a virtual reality game (called Sword Art Online) where players enter the world of Aincrad via a futuristic neural link VR headset.

The anime follows a high-school boy named Kirito and a girl named Asuna who get trapped in the game along with thousands of other players.

The mysterious creator of SAO tells them that to exit Aincrad and return to the real world, all they have to do is beat the game. However, there is only one problem: if you die in Aincrad, you die in real life. 

While SAO isn’t as dark an anime as Re:Zero, all isekai fans should definitely give it a try.

2. Angel Beats!

If you’re looking for darker anime like Re:Zero with a mature story, then look no further than Angel Beats! 

There are many isekai anime out there about virtual reality games or fantasy worlds.

However, Angel Beats! is unique, as it takes place in purgatory.

The anime begins when a young man named Yuzuru wakes up outside a mysterious high school. Next to him is a beautiful girl holding a sniper rifle, aiming it at another girl in the middle of the school field. 

The girl tells him that he has died and that the only way to leave this purgatory world is to kill the girl in the field known as “Angel”.

Similar to Re:Zero, those who "die" in purgatory are automatically brought back to life again (usually in the school’s nurse’s office). 

Angel Beats! has strong rounded characters, and each character has a backstory that will make your heartache.

This title is highly recommended for those who want an anime that has a more mature, emotional story, with a little bit of romance thrown in.

3. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

This title is the dark horse on this list. I was expecting another run-of-the-mill isekai but was pleasantly surprised by Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody.

The anime begins by showing us a glimpse into the world of an Akihabara game developer.

The main character, Ichiro, is a game developer in a stereotypical Japanese company that overworks their employees to the point where many of them sleep in sleeping bags under their desks.

Part of the title, “Death March,”  is a real term used in project management that refers to projects destined to fail or those that require an unsustainable level of overtime from the staff. 

After finishing work for the day, Ichiro takes a break under his desk and wakes up in a video game he had been developing.

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody has a unique art direction that constantly keeps you grounded in the “game world” and will probably bring on bouts of nostalgia for RPGs you’ve played in the past. 

While it is still a harem isekai anime, the story is intriguing and the well-paced plot keeps you engaged throughout. 

4. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is definitely one of the more shallow titles on this list.

It has abundant fanservice and quite a basic isekai plot. However, we felt the need to include it in this list, because it is currently a very popular isekai anime.

On the other hand, the animation quality is great and the voice acting is up to par as well. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord seems like it was made for a young teen male audience, as it has lots of tropes from the shounen romance genre. 

If you’re into this sort of anime, all the power to you.

But if you are looking for an anime like Re:Zero that has a deep story, you might want to skip this one.

5. The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero is a great example of an anime that begins rather slowly and almost appears cliche, but just gets better and better as the story unfolds.

The anime begins stereotypically, when the main character is unexplainably transported into the world of a book he’d been reading.

The king of the world explains that he summoned four heroes to help save his world from an impending demon invasion.

At this point, The Rising of the Shield Hero just seems like another SAO clone or anime like Re:Zero trying to piggyback off of the isekai hype.

However, things take a dramatic turn for the worst after the Shield Hero is accused of rape and shunned by the people he was summoned to protect.

Just like Re:Zero, the anime illustrates a masterful reversal of the stereotypical overpowered isekai protagonist.

Since the Shield Hero can only wield a shield, he has little to no attack power and must be inventive in his quest to level up and become strong enough to survive in a world completely foreign to him.

For those looking for mature and psychological anime like Re:Zero, The Rising of the Shield Hero is by far the best anime on this list. 

Those were some of the best and most popular anime similar to Re:Zero that isekai fans should check out. If we missed one of your favorite anime on this list, be sure to let us know on Twitter.

• UPDATE: 27.11.2020 - Canada Shipping + FedEx
• UPDATE: 08.08.2020 - 45 Days of Storage
• UPDATE: 28.04.2020 - Warehouse Operations
• UPDATE: 23.04.2020 - JP Post
• UPDATE: 09.04.2020 - JP Post
• UPDATE: 07.04.2020 - Parcel Delays and Returns
• UPDATE: 07.04.2020 - Changes to Warehouse Operations
• UPDATE: 02.04.2020 - Surface Shipping Available!
• UPDATE: 01.04.2020 - JP Post
• UPDATE: 31.03.2020 - DHL
• UPDATE: 30.03.2020 - FEDEX
• UPDATE: 23.03.2020 - 45 DAYS OF EXTRA STORAGE

UPDATE: 27.11.2020 - Canada Shipping + FedEx

Canada Shipping

Unfortunately, we have just received the following update from JapanPost with regards to shipping to Canada. 

As of today, EMS and AirMail will no longer be available options for shipping items from Japan to Canada.

No information was given with regards to when these shipping options would be restores, but assume this is JapanPost taking further actions due to the current COVID-19 situation.

Canada customers will still have the option to use surface mail, DHL eC or use a private courier to have their parcels delivered to them. 

We hope that the COVID-19 disputation will come to an end soon. 

See the JapanPost announcement here:
JapanPost Announcement

FedEx Announcement

FedEx has notified us this morning (November 27th) that due to the reduction of international flights caused by the current COVID-19 situation and an increase of parcel due to the holiday session, all shipments via FedEx will be switched toFedEx International Priority.

This means that users that prefer to ship by FedEx will, unfortunately, temporarily incur higher shipping fees when trying to ship with FedEx.

For context, FedEx provides two shipping options:

• FedEx International Economy
• FedEx International Priority

Economy shipping has lower pricing, but packages will take slightly longer to reach you than Priority shipping.

We apologies that FedEx's sudden change in policy may cause you some inconvenience and we will notify you as soon as FedEx restores their pricing to normal.

UPDATE: 08.08.2020 - 45 Days of Storage

UPDATE: 28.04.2020 - Changes to Warehouse Operations

Thank you all for understanding in this time of uncertainty.

We would like to inform you that due to the current global COVID-19 situation in Japan we have made the decision to extend, until the end of May, the reduction of warehouse operations to 5 days a week in an attempt to keep our members of staff safe and follow the Japanese Government recommended social protocols.

This means that receiving goods, packing and shipping parcels will be unavailable on Saturdays. We apologize for any inconvenience or delays this might cause you.
Customer support and purchasing will be working as usual and there will be no disruption to your normal purchasing experience through our website.

Thank you for your understanding.

UPDATE: 23.04.2020 - JP Post

We have recently received more updates from Japan Post in addition to the information posted on April 9th.

Starting today, until further notice the following services will be Disabled:

EMS and Airmail for:

• United States
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

*Parcels bound for the United States collected today (23.04.2020), will be shipped, however, there might be significant delays (up to 4 months).

Surface Mail for:

• Spain
• Nepal

Starting April 27th the following services will be Enabled:

Surface Mail for:

• Ukraine

If you have items at our warehouse, you have the following 3 options:

1. Use DHL, FedEx or UPS. We are currently offering a [10% discount on shipping fees] for these methods (See Details), however, please kindly note some items cannot be shipped with these methods or may undergo stricter customs check.

• Food
• Beverages
• Cosmetics
• Sanitary items
• Health supplements
• And others...

Please keep this information in mind when planning your purchases during this time.

2. Ship with Surface mail. It will take longer for your item to arrive toy you, but shipping will be cheaper. The limitations, with regards to parcel size and content, are the same as for SAL or Airmail.

3. Pre-pack your parcels and store them safely at our warehouse for 90 days FREE (See Details) or until shipping to America is restored. 

The ZenMarket Team asks you all to stay safe during this time and check back here in the future for any further updates.

UPDATE: 09.04.2020 - JP Post

We have recently received more updates from Japan Post in addition to the information posted on April 1st.

Starting today, until further notice the following services will be disabled:

EMS and Airmail for:

Australia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Botswana

Surface mail for:

Sri Lanka, Nepal, Eritrea, Bhutan, Syria, Bahrain, Fiji, Serbia, Zimbabwe, Botswana

Japan Post have also notified us that currently there is a significant delay in processing parcels bound for the USA. 

Due to the reduction in international flights, after a parcel is collected it might take over 2 weeks to assign a plane to the parcel bound for the USA. 

Japan Post has assured us that they are working around the clock to deliver parcels to destinations still available. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding given the current global circumstances.

The ZenMarket Team asks you all to stay safe during this time and check back here in the future for any further updates.

UPDATE: 07.04.2020 - Parcel Delays and Returns

UPDATE: 07.04.2020 - Changes to Warehouse Operations

UPDATE: 02.04.2020 - Surface Shipping AVAILABLE

Following JapanPost's decision to stop sending SAL parcels for every country and, for selected countries, stop the shipment of EMS and Airmail, the ZenMarket team has been hard at work trying to find alternatives for our customers. 

Today we are happy to inform you that we have implemented Surface Shipping! 

As an alternative for those countries whose normal shipping methods have been suspended, many of you will now be able to select Surface shipping as an option. 

If your parcel is already created, you can modify the shipping method via your "Parcel Tab" in your ZenMarket account.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to provide Surface shipping to the following countries:

• Asia: China, Mongolia, India, Indonesia, Maldives
• Europe: Ukraine
• Oceania: New Caledonia, New Zealand
• North and Central America: Panama. Honduras
• South America: Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela
• Middle and Near East: Iraq, Cyprus, Kuwait
• Africa: Tunisia

During this time some carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS), may be unavailable as a delivery service for certain areas, regions and countries.

Please check on the specific carrier's website for delivery information for your specific area, region or country.

We hope the addition of Surface Shipping helps to ease some of the concerns some of you have been facing recently with regards to shipping and receiving your parcels. 

UPDATE: 01.04.2020 - JP Post

UPDATE: 31.03.2020 - DHL

UPDATE: 30.03.2020 - FEDEX

UPDATE: 23.03.2020 - 45 DAYS OF EXTRA STORAGE

Many anime fans are likely familiar with CoMix Wave Films as the production company of Makoto Shinkai’s blockbuster hits: Your Name, and Weathering With You.

However, most people don’t know that the company has produced more great anime films, aside from Shinkai’s most recent films. 

In this article, we’ll introduce five of the best films developed and/or distributed by CoMix Wave, including both non-Shinkai works, and a couple of lesser-known Shinkai films that every fan should check out.

1. Nekketsu Jinmenken LIFE IS MOVIE

One of the most over-the-top anime from Comix Wave Films, Nekketsu Jinmenken LIFE IS MOVIE is a sci-fi action anime film starring a spunky female university student named Ai and a dog with a human face. 

On Earth, a strange extraterrestrial disease ravages the planet.

This disease, known as the Cold Heart Syndrome doesn’t attack the physical health of humans the way normal diseases do. Instead, it fills people with negative thoughts and feelings.

Only Ai and the human-faced dog from space can save the world from an impending apocalypse. 

Please note that Nekketsu Jinmenken LIFE IS MOVIE hasn’t received a lot of attention overseas. I checked most streaming sites and was only able to find it on Hulu Japan (no English subtitles) and BANDAI Channel (no English subtitles).

In order to watch it with English subs, you’ll likely have to buy the DVD from places like Play Asia or Otaku Mode.

2. Someone’s Gaze

Definitely one of the shortest anime films out there, Someone’s Gaze is also one of the best.

With a runtime of just around 6 to 7 minutes, this powerful work of art just may be one of the best films by Comix Wave and Makoto Shinkai. 

Longer isn’t always better, and Someone’s Gaze proves that sometimes a 7-minute film can evoke more emotion than a 9-hour trilogy.

Released alongside Shinkai’s Garden of Words, Someone’s Gaze is about a young woman learning to make it on her own in Tokyo and coming to terms with the aging of her parents and childhood pet. 

For any young adult living away from home who has parents or pets they love, this anime will hit you with all the feels in less than 7 minutes.

With such a short time commitment, you should definitely add Someone’s Gaze to your watchlist. 

3. Flavors of Youth

Flavors of Youth is a Chinese anime film developed by ComixWave and is made up of short stories set in China.

With a 75-minute runtime, the directors manage to pack in three short and sweet stories about youth.

The first story is about a young boy’s favorite noodles and the memories he associates with them. The second is about an aging model who is past her prime.

The final story is a tragic case of childhood friends and “the one that got away”. 

With much of the same team behind Shinkai’s greatest works, Flavors of Youth has beautiful graphics and an art style akin to Your Name.

4. Peeping Life

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this is some weird hentai.

Peeping Life is one of the most unique and innovative anime series I’ve ever seen.

The concept of the series is to give people a glimpse into the lives of others through short comedy sketches via CGI animation.

I didn’t expect much when I started reviewing the series. However, I must say that Peeping Life had me giggling within the first 40 seconds. Different seasons have different themes.

I particularly liked the sketches featuring the “typical Japanese couple”, and those who are or have been in a relationship before can easily relate. 

The light humor and simple animation style reminded me a lot of the early days of Youtube when videos didn’t take themselves so seriously and people were creating videos just to elicit a quick laugh from the viewer. 

To make the series even more interesting, the scenes were ad-libbed by the voice actors who were just given the situation and starting lines and ran with it.

Therefore, Peeping Life is a blend between improvised theater and anime, the first of its kind as far as I know. 

Please note that throughout my searches, I couldn’t find any English subbed versions of Peeping Life.

Therefore, you will need to know beginner or basic Japanese to watch this show. Luckily, most of the series is available for free on Youtube.

5. Voices of a Distant Star

With a runtime of around 30 minutes, Voices of a Distant Star isn’t quite as short as Someone’s Gaze.

However, it is definitely another one of Makoto Shinkai’s best works and biggest hidden gems. If you’re a fan of 5 Centimeters Per Second, you’ll definitely like Voices of a Distant Star.

The film puts a sci-fi twist on stories about lovers torn apart by distance and time.

Many reviewers have said that Shinkai has a serious “the one that got away” complex, and if that is true it only makes his films about loss more powerful. 

Set in an alternate future, Voices of a Distant Star is about Mikako and Nogoro. The two are junior high school students who have had feelings for each other for a long time, but haven’t mustered up the courage to say it out loud.

Things take a turn for the worst, when one day the Earth is attacked by mysterious alien beings.

Mikako becomes a talented pilot of the UN Space Army, while Nogoro remains on Earth, and the two can only communicate via text message. The farther Mikako gets from Earth, the longer it takes for their text messages to reach each other. 

While the graphics may seem a bit dated, I truly believe Voices of a Distant Star is one of the biggest hidden gems of Shinkai’s career. 

I hope you discovered at least one anime you didn’t know about in this list of the best anime from Comix Wave Films. Please note that we didn’t mention Your Name, Weathering With You, or other Shinkai blockbusters, as we assume most people already know about them. 

If you’re looking for a full list of Shinkai’s works, check out our complete guide below:

Whether you’re an avid otaku, a person who loves to cuddle while they sleep, or a workaholic who has a stiff back, Dakimakuras are what you need in your life.

Different types of Dakimakuras with unique fabrics and benefits have gotten popular recently all over the world.

A Dakimakura can be classed as a pillow, but it is something that can bring about an immense change in the way you sleep and enjoy your time alone.

Many people usually face a problem when it comes to buying a dakimakura for themselves. Well, what exactly do you need to look for, in a Dakimakura? Let’s talk about that.

In this article, we’re going to talk about dakimakura and why you should buy one for yourself.

We’re also going to provide you with a step by step guide on how to buy the best Dakimakura for yourself.

So, sit back, and read this article till the end to satisfy all your anime waifu cravings.

What Is A Body Pillow? (Dakimakura)

Dakimakuras are large pillows that are exclusively made in Japan. They’re more commonly known around the world as "body pillows". These pillows can be useful for a variety of purposes.

Once you will learn about the numerous benefits of a body pillow, you'll want to get your hands on one. Such a pillow can also make an excellent gift for someone who is either having a hard time falling asleep or having some health issues.

Dakimakuras are available in different shapes and sizes with different patterns available on them.

The most popular Dakimakuras are actually made for anime lovers who want to cuddle up and spend time with their favorite anime characters as characters can be imprinted onto the pillows.

The pillows are usually life-sized and that is why they’re considered security objects by people. Reducing stress, calming a person down, and providing physical benefits as well.

Dakimakuras aren’t just for show!

Dakimakuras make the perfect gifts as well. One, they’re super cute and two, they’re incredibly comfy and soft, so you can even lie on them and have a great night’s sleep.

That’s why you should think about getting one of these orthopedic body pillows for yourself or a friend or family member who’s in love with anime.

Why Should You Get A Dakimakura?

Well, first off, we’d like to say, why shouldn’t you? Dakimakuras have so much to offer.

Comfort, security, orthopedic relief, and the warmth of a loved one, among many other things.

In order to help you understand why exactly getting a Dakimakura is a great option for you, we have compiled a list of benefits here. So, let's have a look at these.

• Orthopedic Benefits

Orthopedic problems are becoming very common nowadays.

Whether you’re an office worker or a business owner, back pains probably aren’t new to you.

You might even have difficulties straightening your back and sleeping soundly without any back support or resting cushions. Long working hours and no time to rest often affect your shoulders and back negatively.

The condition further deteriorates when you use the wrong pillow and mattress for sleeping.

Well, dakimakuras are specially designed to deal with these problems.

You can get yourself a soft pillow for yourself and lie on it or keep it under your back before sleeping and you’re going to have a great night’s sleep. We assure you of an experience you will never forget.

• Decorative Aesthetics

If you’re looking to make a cute themed room or just decorate empty spaces or even get new cushions or pillows for your sofas and bed, dakimakuras can be an amazing choice for you.

They are unique, extremely cuddly, and very soft.

The pillows can be found in many different categories, so you can choose one according to the purpose you have in mind.

Dakimakuras are designed beautifully, often featuring different themed characters or patterns with high-quality detailing and amazing aesthetics which give the environment they’re placed in, a beautiful aesthetic look.

This is why it should definitely be considered if you’re looking for decorations.

• Dealing With Loneliness

Well, we’ve all been there. Away from friends and family or just no one to hold and cuddle when we’re cold and feeling lonely.

Body pillows are great for that. They serve a great purpose and that is to replicate the feeling of an actual person.

This is probably one of the most prominent benefits of a dakimakura that attracts a lot of people to consider buying it. The security of having someone you love lying close by is good for our mental health. If you don't have that loved one in real, no need to worry!

Through this, Dakimakuras are able to replicate actual fictional characters and if you’re lonely, you can get one for yourself and cuddle with them when you feel lonely and sad.

Dakimakuras can help you through your loneliness especially if you’re looking for a cuddle buddy.

• Love For Anime Characters

Another important reason why you should get a dakimakura for yourself is the love of anime characters.

If you’re an anime-loving otaku or just a casual anime watcher and you have a male or female favorite character, you spend some time with them in the comfort of your home. 

You can get custom made dakimakuras or get one of the premade ones that feature your favorite anime characters.

Make most of your love for anime with a cute and cuddly dakimakura for yourself.

• Psychological Comfort and Security

Mental instability and insecurity are arguably becoming more common nowadays.

People feel stressed out due to many reasons. It could be either their work or an unbalanced personal life. Everybody needs psychological comfort at some point in their life.

Without it, the stress turns to anxiety and then to depression. There are multiple ways to reduce stress and feel secure and happy and getting a dakimakura is one of them.

Well, dakimakuras provide a feeling of security because of their life-sized appearance and their humanistic feel. If you’re mentally stressed and you’re looking for a pillow that you can feel comfortable around, then dakimakuras can be a great choice for you.

These are just some of the reasons why you should definitely get a dakimakura for yourself.

Ultimately, dakimakuras are great and serve a lot of amazing purposes. If you are having any of the above-mentioned problems; lack of sleep, orthopedic issues, feelings of loneliness, and a need for comfort, a dakimakura is what you need.

How To Buy A Dakimakura - Complete Guide

Well, if you’re looking to get a dakimakura for yourself or as a gift for your friends and family, you’re going to need more than just the benefits.

That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide for things that you need to look for and buying dakimakuras with ease.

Once you read through this guide, you’re not going to need to scour the internet to find your ideal body pillow.

Step 1: Find The Right Size

Before you actually buy your dakimakura, the first thing that you’re going to need to learn about is the different sizes that are available.

There are about three major sizes in which dakimakuras are available in the market as of now.

The right size can be selected depending on your height and stature as well as the purpose for which you are buying a dakimakura.

Let’s talk about each of the sizes available.

• 100 X 35CM

A smaller size of body pillows is available for people who’re looking for decorative dakimakuras.

These are ideal if you’re thinking of increasing the aesthetics of your living space and placing on sofas and your bed. They’re usually cheaper as well, so that’s a plus point too.

• 160 X 50CM

This is where we’re slowly getting into the life-sized dakimakura scene.

If you’re looking for a cuddle pillow and you’re a beginner dakimakura user, then I’d suggest that you go for this size.

The 150 x 50cm size hits the sweet spot in terms of quality and appearance and is going to be a great choice.

• 160 X 60CM

The largest size in terms of dakimakuras is 160 x 60cm as of now.

This is a size that is more customized for dakimakura lovers and users. This sized dakimakuras are not only great for sleeping but also for decoration.

But we’d suggest that you get this size if you’re experienced with dakimakuras already and it’s not your first time.

Step 2: Find The Right Fabric

When it comes to Japanese Dakimakura fabric, finding the softest, most detailed, and perfect fabric can be quite difficult.

Well, you don’t need to worry because we’re going to talk about some of the highest quality dakimakura fabrics available in the market.

You will find body pillows from Japan in almost any fabric you can think of. But the most popular ones are:

• PEACH SKIN – Peach skin is the most widely-liked fabric when it comes to dakimakuras. They’re really great because they offer great detail, durability, and softness. However, they’re not very stretchable.
  
  
• SMOOTH KNIT – Aptly named, smooth knit is incredibly soft and smooth, making the details of the characters very beautiful. This fabric is very stretchable and at the same time incredibly durable as well.
  
  
• PLUSH – The fabric itself is very soft and durable but the problem with plush is that the design and the pictures aren’t very clear in comparison to smooth knit and other types of fabric.
  
  
• TWO WAY TRICOT – The highest quality fabric in terms of dakimakuras is the two-way tricot. It is stretchable, durable, and incredibly detailed making sure that all your dakimakura needs are going to be fulfilled.

Step 3: Where To Buy Dakimakura

Since body pillows are found in many different shapes, sizes, and patterns, you need to find one according to your requirements.

There are L-shaped pillows and extra-long, winding pillows as well in addition to the standard rectangular-shaped pillow that we all are familiar with.

Remember, the original or genuine anime body pillows from Japan are not cheap.

So, you need to look out for counterfeits or replica dakimakuras out there. These might appear to be affordable but in reality, they are low-quality and not long-lasting.

The licensed dakimakuras are available in standard sizes only.

Look out for a 160cm by 50cm, which is the standard size in genuine dakimakuras.

Bootlegs or stolen pillows are often described as [150cm by 50cm].

If you have ever owned a genuine dakimakura before, you will instantly notice after receiving a counterfeit pillow that almost everything including the zipper, the fabric, and the construction is low quality.

It might be possible to find legit products on eBay and other similar sites but the possibility of finding a counterfeit is certainly more on these sites. It is therefore recommended only to buy from a reputable source online.

As you start the search of your dakimakura, we recommend using the ZenMarket search and scroll through the options available as all options will be sourced directly from Japan.

You can checkout dakimakuras from Rakuten, Amazon, and other shops as you get a better idea of what kind of body pillow you want.

Step 4: Choose Your Ideal Dakimakura

If you’re unable to find the ideal dakimakura having the perfect size and fabric that you need on ZenMarket, you can go and search for any other Japanese Dakimakura seller online and have us take care of international shipping for you.

AmiAmi is another character and hobby shop where you can find a lot of character goods including original body pillows. The pillows available here are standard size and of high quality.

If you are looking for affordable yet good quality and genuine dakimakuras, try Mandarake.

Here you will also be able to find hugging dakimakura covers and sheets as well as talking dakimakuras. You can look at various options from very soft to medium soft pillows.

Once you’re sure that you have the body pillow and cover for you, copy the item's URL and paste them into the ZenMarket Search Bar.

Our website team will perform an item in Japanese checking the price and the details of the dakimakura, once the item has been confirmed we will notify you and you can finalize the purchase. 

Step 5: Make Your Parcel

Well, now it is time to make your package.

Your items have arrived at our warehouse and you’re ready to have them sent to you from Japan.

By requesting a parcel be created, you’re essentially telling the ZenMarket warehouse team which of your items at our warehouse you would like us to place in the same international shipping package.

This is great for those of you that may have ordered your body pillow and covers from different domestic Japanese stores, but you want them packaged together for international shipping to help save time and money!

Step 6: International Shipping

Once a package is made, you’re going to have to add the details of your shipping address and preferred shipping company.

The main concern of all the staff at ZenMarket is to provide you with the best online shopping experience that you can get from anywhere across the world.

That includes your dakimakura and whatever else you’re going to order from any retailers online from Japan.

After entering details, you’re going to provide the shipping fees depending upon your shipping options and our team will make sure the shipping process gets initiated as soon as possible.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Dakimakura

That’s it!

After you have paid for international shipping, you don’t have to do anything else but wait for your dakimakura to arrive.

Now that you’re a proud owner of a Japanese Dakimakura, you can use it for sleeping better, you can use it for decorative purposes or living your anime fantasies.

The possibilities are endless and up to you!

How To Care For Your Body Pillow

Finally, when you get your hands on your favorite item from Japan, you need to know how to care for it.

The first step is to remove the cover carefully. Since it is usually bigger than a normal-sized pillow you are familiar with, it requires a little extra effort to remove the cover safely.

It is also recommended to shake your body pillow frequently in order to get rid of dust built-up and dander.

Fluff your pillow every 2 or 3 weeks to make sure it stays the same and offers the optimal level of comfort.

The best way to clean the anime cover is to use a gentle detergent and wash it in cold water.

It is recommended to air dry the cover instead of using the drying or spinning function of the machine.

Body pillows have recently gained popularity all over the world.

They are unique and highly effective especially when it comes to addressing body aches, feeling of loneliness, and lack of sleep.

If you follow this guide, you’re going to be able to find the ideal dakimakura and get the best prices from any Japanese store online.

Japanese products are made to last a long time, they are durable and effective. The manufacturers make sure they offer good value to the customers.

So, if you have decided to get a body pillow for yourself or buy it as a gift, you have made the right decision to order it directly from Japan!

If you need more information on how to shop with ZenMarket you can click the image below to check out our full in-depth guide on how to shop using ZenMarket, which will teach you everything you need to know about how to buy ANYTHING you want, directly from Japan and have it shipped to your front door anywhere in the world.