Crowdfunding in Japan
Why should you crowdfund?
Interested in releasing your product to the Japanese market? You should consider displaying your product on Japanese crowdfunding platforms. It is a low-risk option to raise money for your product as well as an effective method for gauging how popular your product will be in Japan, pre-release.
Japan has experienced gradual increase in crowdfunding popularity year after year and is not stopping yet. Kickstarter, a big name in the crowdfunding industry officially launched its Japan service in 2017, to join Japan's large players Campfire and Makuake. Crowdfunding has raised over $72 Million (USD) in 2017 with continued growth in following years.
Who can crowdfund in Japan?
Although rules vary depending on which crowdfunding site you use, here are the commonly shared rules from the top crowdfunding sites in Japan:
- Must be 18+ years of age
- Must be a permanent resident of Japan
- Must possess a Japanese bank account
- Must possess a major credit card or debit card
But don't worry! You can still crowdfund in Japan. Continue to the next section to see how.
How to crowdfund in Japan
Unfortunately for many companies and individuals overseas, it is somewhat difficult to enter the Japanese crowdfunding network. The reason for this is the restrictions and rules on crowdfunding sites. Most of the sites require a bank account and an address registered in the country where you want to start your project (Japan).
So how do people crowdfund in Japan? In most cases it is done with business partnerships. By having a party represent your product in Japan, it is possible to localize and initiate your project.
How we can help
We are a trustworthy and reliable company that can act as an intermediary between your company and Japanese crowdfunding networks. We are a team of Japanese speakers who specialize in e-commerce, digital marketing, and data analytics and have the resources to effectively localize your product for the Japanese market.
Having Japanese speakers on your team will be very beneficial, especially when working with Japanese platforms, as it will be easy to address any issues and allow for streamlined communication. It will also be helpful when working with customer interactions and answering any questions that potential backers may have about your product.
Contact us via the contact form (to the right or directly below), and let's discuss how we can get your product into the Japanese market!