Articles
Guides & Industry Know-How
Practical, technical reading on Japanese auctions, dealer sourcing, compliance, and exporting — written for professional buyers.
Auctions · 6 Oct 2026
Well, Just How Easy Is It? Japan's Car Auction Groups
Japan has 123 car auction venues, run by groups like USS, JU and TAA. Who runs what, where the bargains and the strict grading are, and why you can't just log on and bid.
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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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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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