Japanese second-hand electronics retailer JANPARA launches cross-border e-commerce via WorldShopping BIZ, covering 228 countries

Event Overview

In June 2026, JANPARA, a Japanese second-hand electronics retailer, announced the launch of global e-commerce through the WorldShopping BIZ service, expanding its online store's sales reach to 228 countries and regions. WorldShopping BIZ, operated by ZIG-ZAG Inc., provides Japanese e-commerce companies with a one-stop solution for multilingual support, overseas payments, and international logistics. JANPARA only needs to add one line of JavaScript code to its domestic online store to achieve cross-border sales.[^1]

Market Background

Three converging trends lie behind JANPARA's international expansion.

Inbound Tourism Boom and "Return Demand"

According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of foreign visitors to Japan reached 36.87 million in 2024, a 47.1% increase year-on-year; tourism consumption amounted to approximately 8.13 trillion yen (about US$54 billion). Inbound demand has fully recovered post-pandemic, with tourists coming from a wide range of regions including North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Notably, travel experiences in Japan are directly translating into purchasing behavior upon returning home. A November 2024 survey by BEENOS Group showed that 44.0% of foreign tourists who purchased desired products while traveling in Japan later repurchased the same products through cross-border e-commerce after returning. Physical contact and quality confirmation serve as starting points for online repeat purchases, and "return demand"—the continued purchase intention of returning travelers—has become a new engine for cross-border growth.[^1]

JANPARA's stores in popular electronics districts such as Akihabara in Tokyo, Nipponbashi in Osaka, and Osu in Nagoya have long been popular destinations for international tourists, but previously it was difficult for tourists to purchase again after returning home. The integration of WorldShopping BIZ has broken down this barrier.

Mainstreaming of Japan's Second-Hand Market

Japan's domestic second-hand market has grown for 14 consecutive years since 2009, reaching a market size of approximately 3.26 trillion yen in 2024 (up 4.5% year-on-year). A survey by the Ministry of the Environment places it at around 3.5 trillion yen in FY2024, and industry predictions expect it to reach 4 trillion yen by 2030.

Behind this growth lies Japan's unique "quality culture." At specialized retailers like JANPARA, every item is inspected and graded by trained employees, and condition is clearly labeled based on defined standards before being listed. This meticulous approach has earned high recognition from overseas consumers, and a global perception that "Japanese second-hand goods are trustworthy" is already established.

In addition, the continued depreciation of the yen has made Japanese second-hand goods more price-attractive to overseas consumers. High-quality smartphones and PCs often cost less than half the price of new ones.[^1]

Tangible Commitment to the Circular Economy

Global discussions on sustainable development have shifted from abstract "SDGs" slogans to practical implementation of the circular economy. Consumers, investors, and regulators are now asking for results: how many devices have been kept from disposal? How many kilograms of rare metals have been recovered? How many years has a product been used by whom?JANPARA's core business model is the circular economy: repurchasing used digital devices from consumers, refurbishing and inspecting them, and then delivering them to new owners. Now expanding into overseas markets, this directly helps reduce electronic waste and extend product life cycles.[^1]

Platform and Brand Impact

Impact on the Platform

As a one-stop cross-border service, WorldShopping BIZ provides Japanese small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses with a low-barrier path to internationalization. JANPARA’s case demonstrates how simple integration can support multiple languages, currencies, and international logistics. This is expected to attract more Japanese second-hand retailers to follow suit, driving business growth for WorldShopping BIZ.

Impact on JANPARA

Cross-border e-commerce has opened a new growth channel for JANPARA. As of August 2025, JANPARA achieved an annual revenue of 19.8 billion yen, with 267 employees and 59 stores in Japan. Overseas markets will help it break through domestic growth ceilings and enhance global brand awareness.

Impact on Sellers

JANPARA’s cross-border model provides a replicable template for other Japanese second-hand retailers. By utilizing third-party services, sellers can reach global consumers without building their own international logistics and payment systems, reducing trial costs.

Impact on Consumers

Overseas consumers can directly purchase Japan-exclusive models or discontinued devices from JANPARA’s real-time inventory, enjoy high-quality second-hand goods that have undergone professional inspection, and benefit from cost-effectiveness due to the yen exchange rate. At the same time, circular economy advocates can more directly participate in extending product life cycles.[^1]

Consumer Trend Analysis

“Return demand” is a key consumer trend behind this cooperation. Travelers not only wish to relive their travel experiences but also tend to trust brands they have interacted with in physical stores. JANPARA capitalizes on this psychology by connecting in-store experiences with an online repurchase loop.

In addition, global consumers are increasingly focusing on sustainable consumption, particularly in European and American markets. The “trustworthy” label of Japanese second-hand electronics aligns perfectly with this value. Consumers are more willing to buy certified refurbished products to reduce electronic waste.

Price-sensitive consumers also take advantage of arbitrage opportunities brought by the yen’s depreciation. The price of a high-end second-hand Japanese smartphone may be only half of a new local model, making it highly attractive.[^1]

Regional Market Impact

North America and Europe: Consumers are mature and have strict quality requirements for second-hand electronics, but they have high trust in Japanese standards. JANPARA plans to offer high-performance PCs for the European market and may focus on smartphones and gaming devices for North America.

Asia (Southeast Asia, China, South Korea) : Geographically close, consumers have a strong interest in Japanese electronics. JANPARA will prioritize support for English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean, and launch SIM-free smartphones for Southeast Asian markets.

Middle East and Latin America: Emerging markets have strong demand for cost-effective second-hand electronics, but face greater challenges in payment and logistics.Middle East and Latin America: Emerging markets have strong demand for cost-effective second-hand electronics, but payment and logistics present significant challenges. WorldShopping BIZ's integrated solution helps address these issues.

Africa: Covers 228 countries including multiple African nations, but current purchasing power may be limited. JANPARA may prioritize focusing on more mature demand regions.[^1]

Future Trends

• JANPARA has a clear roadmap planned:
• Strengthen multilingual support and search optimization: Prioritize English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean;
• Establish overseas customer support: Multilingual inquiry channels;
• Regional product customization: Tailor product selection based on regional preferences;
• Capture return demand: Clearly connect in-store visitors with online repurchases;
• Visualize environmental impact: Plan to annually publish overseas sales data, CO₂ emission reductions and e-waste reduction figures from extended product lifecycles.

JANPARA views cross-border e-commerce not just as a new sales channel, but as a way to expand circular economy practices globally.[^1]

With the continued weakness of the yen and the rising brand power of Japan's second-hand market, more Japanese second-hand retailers are expected to join the cross-border ranks. Platforms like WorldShopping BIZ will benefit from this wave of "Japanese quality" going overseas. Meanwhile, consumers' dual pursuit of sustainable consumption and cost-effectiveness will continue to drive the growth of cross-border transactions in second-hand electronics.

[^1]: Source: JANPARA press release via The National Law Review, June 2026.