Being an Otaku living outside of Japan can have its difficulties. There is just so much merchandise that’s only available to locals. To just scratch the surface, one type of product in abundance in the land of the rising sun, is Manga. It’s a cultural phenomenon that originated from Japan, and beloved animations like Akira wouldn’t exist without them. Manga is similar to American comics and picture books but more in-depth and typically longer. Plus, if you’re a big fan of a particular anime, you’ll sometimes find the Manga version has even more content.
If you stumble into your local bookstore looking for Manga, what you see there is only the tiniest fraction of what’s available. There’s a whole other world of content across the ocean, but it’s actually easier than you may think to get Manga straight from Japan. Before going into how, here are a few reasons why it’s better to get your Manga straight from the source.
Wider Range of Options
Whether you’ve run out of the popular Manga that got translated due to demand, or your favorite series never got a translation; you’ll probably want to start looking into getting your fix directly from Japan itself. While this may require learning some Japanese, the difference in availability is staggering. Manga has had its roots in Japan since the 12th century. However, the overseas demand for this Japanese staple didn’t pick up until the 1970s. That’s a large gap to bridge, and the truth is Manga sales in Japan are still higher than in any other country.
The Price Is Right
Anyone who loves to read Manga will tell you it can be an expensive hobby. However, in Japan, a single second-hand book can cost at low as 100 yen. With the brand-new copies being around 500 yen. That is less than half the price of a single volume anywhere else. In the United States, one book can cost about $15. With series like Naruto and Inuyasha both having well over 50 volumes, this can quickly become an unaffordable pastime. Price is a large determining factor in how many books you can have, and getting more for less should be a no-brainer.
Cover Art
While Manga in other places only has a front and back cover with little variation, Japanese versions usually come with their own dust jacket. They also have cover art exclusive to Japan. So for Die-hard Otakus looking for a complete collection, buying directly from Japan is sometimes the only option to get these variants. Even if you’re a more casual fan, having more options for your display is never a bad thing.
Knowing Is Half The Battle
Now that it’s clear why buying Manga in Japan is the best option, getting into the process of how to do it, is just as easy. FROM JAPAN is a Japanese auction and shopping proxy service that puts goods from Japan straight into your hands. With the ability to bid on Japanese auction websites, they get you the best price possible. You can even bid on stuff yourself, allowing you to buy those products that you otherwise would need to travel directly to Japan to get. Since there are still many retailers in Japan that don’t offer overseas options, this service is the best way to get that elusive merchandise you’ve been seeking.
Two Different Methods
To start using the service today: all you have to do is visit the FROM JAPAN website and choose your shopping option. The first is buying from shopping sites. To use this method, you only need to:
- Visit the FROM JAPAN home page.
- Use the search bar at the top of the page to look for the Manga you want. You can check out our article on searching in Japanese on how to get the best results.
- Use filters to look for the category, price, and condition that you desire.
- Select the quantity and click the ‘add to cart’ button.
- Pay Charge 1.
- Once FROM JAPAN gets the item, you will need to give shipping instructions and pay Charge 2.
- Enjoy your item once it’s safely delivered
The other available option is to bid on these items yourself for a possible better deal. The steps for this option are just as easy. Once you click on the search bar, select the Yahoo! Japan Auctions button and look for your desired product. If they are listed, you simply need to place your bid, and once the time expires and you are the highest bidder, you then make the payment and allow time for FROM JAPAN to receive the item. At this point, repeat these steps until your collection is complete.
For all of your Otaku dreams, be sure to check out the wide range of products that FROM JAPAN has available. Contact them today to quickly surround yourself with the merchandise from all your beloved series.
