Japan-side buyer representation
We contact Japanese suppliers, compare their products and quotes, negotiate the agreed terms and coordinate orders for you.
When to use this service
We follow up on incomplete replies, ask questions in Japanese and put each quote on the same basis.
What your agent handles
We manage supplier communication, comparison, negotiation and follow-up.
Write your product use, quality, volume, timing and business needs in a form suppliers can answer.
Approach current candidates and relevant alternatives across regions, mills, wholesalers and trading companies.
Request current wholesale prices and clarify MOQ, 10/50/100 kg tiers, monthly volume, lead time and payment.
Compare origin, traceability, COA or test results, organic status, capacity, packaging and supplier response times.
Track packaging, fill sizes, artwork, production dates, order documents and supplier tasks.
Update forecasts and quotes, collect documents, coordinate orders and handle supplier questions after selection.
What you receive
We agree the scope before work starts. A short initial project can produce the following files.
A table comparing about 3–5 suitable suppliers, including current written prices where available, MOQ, volume prices, lead time, documents and packaging.
Recommendations for 1–2 main options per category, such as beverage matcha and premium matcha for retail tins.
Draft terms covering MOQ, price, lead time, payment, packaging and delivery.
Open questions, quote expiry, unconfirmed claims, supply risks, pending supplier actions and recommended negotiation priorities.
Ways to work with us
Start with a clear scope. Continue with ongoing support only if you need it.
Contact suppliers, update prices and terms, and prepare a shortlist with any unresolved issues.
Confirm MOQ, price, lead time, payment, packaging, documents and production dates with the selected supplier.
Update forecasts and quotes, collect documents, coordinate orders and stay in contact with the supplier.
Plan and attend visits in one region or across several regions, with supplier appointments, meeting preparation and follow-up.
See supplier visits ↗Two different buying briefs
The business goal, target taste, packaging and target price are different. We compare them as separate product categories.
| Category | Primary procurement questions |
|---|---|
| Beverage / latte | Color in milk, flavor impact, preparation, cost per cup, consistency, recurring volume and foodservice packaging. |
| Premium drinking / retail | Aroma, umami, harvest, origin, brand position, tin or pouch format, fill weight and retail margin. |
| Organic program | Product-level certification, destination-market documentation, available volume and price premium. |
| Private label / OEM | Packaging capability, MOQ, artwork, production lead time, batch coding and finished-goods delivery. |
Pricing that can be compared
Flag outdated, verbal or unconfirmed pricing and seek current written terms.
Separate sample, first business order and recurring-order price levels.
Clarify packaging, domestic handling, freight and the applicable Incoterm.
Compare deposit, balance, production timing, shipment timing and reorder planning.
See the work in context
Choose the role closest to yours, or see a country example. These are fictional examples, not actual client results.
Separate beverage and retail requirements, then organize samples, quotes and first-order terms.
Put supplier replies on the same basis, negotiate volume prices and prepare draft terms for approval.
Link product test results to pilot volume, reorder timing and a backup supplier.
Track technical fit, packaging, documents and production dates in one file.
Who approves each step
We agree which suppliers to contact, what we may negotiate and how we will report back before work begins.
| Japan Matcha Agent | Buyer / appointed provider |
|---|---|
| Uses the approved requirements and follows supplier communication. | Approves the product, supplier, quantity, price and binding binding orders. |
| Requests and organizes available supplier, product and shipping documents. | Confirms destination-market compliance, importer requirements and final document acceptance. |
| Coordinates the Japan-side supplier, production and shipment-readiness milestones. | Acts as importer of record or appoints the relevant customs, freight and compliance providers unless separately agreed. |
Ongoing supplier management
Use one contact for quote updates, forecasts, orders, documents and supplier questions.
Send your requirements
Share the current suppliers, samples, prices, open questions and first order you need to approve. We’ll define the work that remains.