Japan's second-hand goods market is experiencing significant growth overseas, with quality-conscious buyers in other Asian countries increasingly participating in the circular economy trend [1]. The market has doubled in value since 2010, according to market research agency Kadence International [1]. Multiple Japanese re-use companies are expanding across Asia, including Treasure Factory, a Tokyo-based second-hand store operator, which now operates six stores in Thailand and three in Taiwan [1]. Industry leader Bookoff partnered in April with FamilyMart to collect items in its convenience stores across Japan and export them to one of Bookoff's 26 shops in Malaysia or Kazakhstan [1].
The popularity of Japanese used goods is evident at auctions near Tokyo, where foreign traders, such as Thai trader Kangyapat Yoosanong, actively bid for items to resell in their home countries [1]. Kangyapat paid 340,000 yen (around $2,100) for 100 kilograms of stuffed toys, which will be shipped to a warehouse in Bangkok [1]. At these auctions, foreigners represent roughly a third of bidders, and most stock is sold by the end of the day, according to Hamaya, the organizing company [1]. Hamaya's president, Ippei Kobayashi, noted that while it is difficult to sell second-hand goods in Japan if they are more than seven years old, these items remain popular in foreign markets [1].
The circular economy, which involves recycling and reusing existing products, is described as a 'megatrend' in a 2024 report by the Amsterdam-based Circle Economy Foundation [1]. Smaller ventures are also thriving, with entrepreneurs leveraging social media platforms like Facebook to sell Japanese used goods abroad [1]. Shoppers in overseas warehouses are eager to find valuable items, with some products still in their original packaging [1].
The market implications suggest continued growth for Japanese second-hand goods exporters, driven by strong demand in Asia and the mainstreaming of the circular economy concept [1].
CONCLUSION
Japan's second-hand goods market is thriving internationally, fueled by rising demand in Asian countries and the expansion of Japanese re-use companies. The market's doubling in value since 2010 and the success of both large and small exporters highlight the sector's robust growth potential. This trend is expected to continue as the circular economy gains further traction.