Articles
Guides & Industry Know-How
Practical, technical reading on Japanese auctions, dealer sourcing, compliance, and exporting — written for professional buyers.
Auctions · 7 Sep 2026
What "Unsold" Really Means at a Japanese Car Auction
Unsold does not mean nobody wanted the car, and it does not tell you the reserve. Here is what really happens when a car does not sell at a Japanese auction, and how negotiation works.
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Auctions · 27 Aug 2026
How Accurate Is a Japanese Auction Sheet?
We checked 304 auction sheets against the actual cars. Nearly half of 25-year-old JDM cars have rust — and the sheet had already declared 76.6% of it. Where undeclared rust hides, what underbody photos changed, and what it means for bidders.
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Compliance · 21 Aug 2026
Why Does Buying a Car Directly From a Japanese Dealer Take So Much Paperwork?
Behind every smooth export is a maze of Japanese property law, police enforcement, and privacy rules. Why dealer inquiries need vetting, the Owner-vs-User title trap, and how seal (hanko) rules split by vehicle class.
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Shipping & Export · 31 Jul 2026
Who Carries the Risk When You Ship a Car Out of Japan?
A briefing for dealers, importers and fleet buyers on Incoterms, marine cargo cover and chain of custody — why we won't quote FOB as a risk term, what ICC(A) with a 90-day Before Loading Clause actually covers, and six questions to put to any exporter.
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Dealer Sourcing · 9 Jul 2026
Do You Know Who I Am? — When a Car Deal Turns Into a Shakedown
An early lesson from stepping outside the auction system: a rare AMG, a smiling interrogation, a demand for more money after a completed deal — and the due-diligence protocol it forced us to build.
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Dealer Sourcing · 29 Jun 2026
What Does It Take to Buy From a Japanese Dealer as an Exporter?
Three years and 140+ logged dealer inquiries — from a ¥1.8M Hijet to a ¥700M Bugatti. The exporter wall, brand and price-ceiling patterns, regional differences, and the hours of work behind every successful purchase.
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