Can you assess a supplier I have already identified?

Yes. Most engagements start this way. You send us the company name and what you need verified, and we assess that specific supplier against your requirements.

What do I actually receive?

A written finding. Not a slide deck. The document states what we checked, what we found, what it means for your decision, and what we could not verify. It is written to be used in a board briefing, a financing process, or a vendor negotiation.

How much does an engagement cost?

A Sourcing Brief starts at 750 USD, a Targeted Assessment at 2,500 USD, and a Full Assessment at 5,000 USD. Scope and fee are confirmed in writing before any work begins.

Why are your clients not named?

Sourcing relationships are commercially sensitive, and most clients ask that their supplier not be identified. We publish the constraint we found and what it changed instead. The assessment basis states the period, the sources checked, and the standards applied.

SOURCED IN JAPAN — MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Japan Market Intelligence
for Global Decision-Makers

Q: Do you work outside Japan?

No. We assess factories, supply chains, regulatory environments, and markets in Japan. That is the full scope. We do not work outside Japan.

Q: How long does it take?

A Targeted Assessment takes 4 to 8 weeks from brief sign-off to finding delivery. A Full Assessment takes 8 to 14 weeks.

We answer one sourcing question at a time, in writing — across manufacturing, cold-chain logistics, regulatory compliance, and market entry.

Explore Intelligence Areas

View Case Studies →

INTELLIGENCE AREAS

Four Lenses on Japan's Market

Each intelligence area is a distinct field of expertise. We go deep in one, or across all four, depending on your decision.

Manufacturing
Intelligence

OEM sourcing, supplier qualification, GMP compliance, and freight cost reduction across Japan's industrial base.

Explore Manufacturing Intelligence →

Logistics
Intelligence

Cold-chain integrity, air-to-sea conversion, incoterm negotiation, and 3PL selection in Japan's complex freight market.

Explore Logistics Intelligence →

Compliance
Intelligence

TAA, FDA, and customs compliance for products manufactured or sourced in Japan, from defense to consumer goods.

Explore Compliance Intelligence →

Market
Intelligence

TAM audits, equity due diligence, and commercial entry assessments for Japan's mid-market and listed companies.

Explore Market Intelligence →

Manufacturing Logistics Compliance Market

WHAT MANUFACTURING INTELLIGENCE COVERS

Manufacturing assessment is about one factory, not a category.

Every Manufacturing Intelligence engagement follows the same framework: we assess whether a specific Japanese factory can meet your product requirements, regulatory obligations, and export documentation needs.

Establishment Registration Verification

Confirm FDA/regulatory registration status, registration holder, and whether prior inspections exist.

GMP Gap Analysis

Compare current factory documentation against 21 CFR Part 111 or equivalent standard. Identify remediable gaps.

OEM Capability Assessment

Verify MOQ, lead time, formulation flexibility, and whether the factory has exported this product category before.

Documentation Package Review

Review or coordinate creation of batch records, allergen logs, COA format, and shipping documentation for US customs.

WHAT LOGISTICS INTELLIGENCE COVERS

Logistics assessment goes beyond freight rates.

Most logistics assessments stop at quoted shipping costs. We assess freight classification, carrier qualification, cold chain compliance, documentation readiness, and Incoterms risk — the factors that determine whether your landed cost matches your proforma.

Freight classification audit

Dimensional vs. actual weight analysis, HTS code verification, duty rate confirmation, and classification risk for FDA / customs holds.

Cold chain compliance

Temperature log documentation, certification status, break-in-chain risk points from factory to port, carrier qualification.

Incoterms analysis

Assessment of proposed Incoterms against your actual risk exposure. Most buyers accept seller-proposed Incoterms without reviewing the insurance and liability implications.

Documentation review

Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, phytosanitary / health certificates as applicable. We identify what is missing before customs does.

WHAT COMPLIANCE INTELLIGENCE COVERS

Compliance assessment is verification, not box-checking.

A facility can have valid FDA registration and still fail an import alert. A product can carry CE marking and still be non-compliant with the specific directive your buyer requires. We assess what the documentation actually covers — not what the supplier claims it covers.

Regulatory framework identification

Which regulations apply to your product in your target market: FDA 21 CFR, CE (which directives), TAA / DFARS, JIS, or other applicable frameworks.

Registration status verification

Facility registration current and in good standing. No open import alerts, warning letters, or consent decrees. Third-party audit history where applicable.

Documentation gap analysis

What documentation the supplier actually has vs. what your target market or buyer requires. Technical files, test reports, declarations of conformity, certificates.

Compliance roadmap

For products not yet compliant: what testing, certification, or registration is required, estimated timeline, and whether the supplier has the capability to complete it.

WHAT MARKET INTELLIGENCE COVERS

Market intelligence answers one question per engagement.

Market entry analysis is often too broad to be useful. We scope each engagement to a specific question: can this product be sold at this price through this channel? Is this TAM estimate realistic for this product category? What is the actual regulatory barrier to entry?

TAM sizing for your specific product

Not a category TAM. The addressable market for your product at your price point through the channels available to a new entrant without an existing distribution relationship.

Competitive set identification

Who is already selling a comparable product in Japan, at what price, through which channels. The goal is to understand whether you're entering a served market or creating one.

Regulatory and import barrier analysis

Product registration requirements, import restrictions, labeling requirements in Japanese, and licensing conditions that apply to your specific product category.

Distribution channel mapping

Which distribution channels are realistically available to a new entrant. Department store buyers, specialty retail, e-commerce, and foodservice each have different qualification requirements.

SELECTED WORK

Select Engagements

Every engagement here started as one scoped question. Client names are withheld — the constraint we found, and what it changed, are not.

Manufacturing

Germany

Ten companies, one closed route

Discontinued Sony VTR Heads: Sourcing a Route That No Longer Existed

Four established Japanese makers declined, all for the same technical reason. Four identical refusals are not four rejections; they are one market fact.

Read Case Study →

Market

Taiwan

25-page entry roadmap, delivered early

The Analogue Barriers Behind Japan's Property Portals

Inventory, pricing and geography are all visible online. Brokerage licensing, judicial scriveners and the rent guarantor company are not — and they decide whether a transaction completes.

Read Case Study →

Market

Poland

One listed company, read in context

Reading a Japanese HR-Tech Company in Context

Financial statements translate. Why a Japanese company would buy talent-management software at all does not. The addressable market depends on a shift the filings never mention.

Read Case Study →

View all case studies →

ENGAGEMENT TIERS

Three Ways to Engage

START HERE

Sourcing Brief

From $750

A desk assessment of one supplier or one question, answered from public and registry sources. Delivered in writing.

One supplier or one question

Desk research — no supplier contact

2–3 page written finding

10 business day turnaround

MOST COMMON

Targeted Assessment

From $2,500

A focused assessment answering one specific question: can this factory meet your requirements? Is this market viable for your product?

Single-question engagement

Defined deliverable (written finding)

4–8 week timeline

One follow-up call included

COMPLEX CASES

Full Assessment

From $5,000

A comprehensive assessment covering multiple dimensions: factory qualification, logistics, compliance, and documentation — for clients making a significant sourcing commitment.

Multi-dimension assessment

Full documentation package

8–14 week timeline

Two follow-up calls included

Fees are quoted and invoiced in USD. Final scope and fee are confirmed in writing before any engagement begins.

THE PROCESS

How an Engagement Works

Your Question

You send your sourcing question through the form. We reply in writing with what we would check and whether we can help.

Engagement Brief

We send a one-page brief confirming scope, deliverable, timeline, and fee. You approve.

Assessment

We carry out the work in scope: factory visits, regulatory checks, logistics review, or market analysis.

Written Finding

You receive a structured written finding with the answer to your sourcing question and what to do next.

FOUR ASSESSMENT TYPES

What the Work Looks Like

MANUFACTURING INTELLIGENCE

Factory Assessment

On-site visit: production line, QC records, capacity

Equipment age and maintenance documentation

Labor structure and retention rates

Export history and documentation capability

Quality system audit (ISO, GMP, or equivalent)

LOGISTICS INTELLIGENCE

Logistics & Cold Chain Assessment

Freight classification review (dimensional vs. actual weight)

Cold chain compliance: temperature logs, certification

Incoterms analysis for proposed shipping routes

Customs documentation review

Carrier qualification for the specific product

COMPLIANCE INTELLIGENCE

Regulatory Compliance Assessment

Applicable regulatory framework identification

Registration status verification (FDA, CE, TAA)

Documentation gap analysis

Required testing and certification mapping

Timeline estimate for compliance completion

MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Market Entry Assessment

TAM sizing for the specific product category

Competitive set identification (existing suppliers)

Regulatory and import barrier analysis

Distribution channel mapping

Pricing benchmark vs. current alternatives

THE DELIVERABLE

A Written Finding.
Not a Slide Deck.

Every engagement produces a structured written finding: the question we were asked, what we found, and what it means for your decision. The document is written to be used — in a board briefing, a financing process, a vendor negotiation.

WRITTEN FINDING — STRUCTURE

Question scoped

Assessment methodology

What we found (primary)

What we found (secondary)

What it means for your decision

Recommended next step

PRINCIPAL

Photo: Wataru Sato

Wataru Sato

Principal, Sourced in Japan / Japan Consulting

I spent 11 years as CFO of a listed Japanese company operating in more than 40 countries. The work was mostly about verifying what the numbers behind a supplier actually meant, rather than what they were presented as meaning. I left that role in 2009 to build Japan Consulting. Since then I have worked with more than 500 companies on cross-border trade — sourcing, compliance, logistics, and market entry. Much of that work has been on the buying side, where a supplier's paperwork and what is actually on the factory floor stop matching faster than most buyers expect. The practice started with one observation: most buyers entering the Japanese market ask questions that are either too broad to answer or too narrow to trust. They are looking for certainty in a market that rewards patience and specificity. Sourced in Japan exists to answer one question at a time. We assess factories, map regulatory requirements, and document what we find. That is the product.

40+

Countries of operational exposure

11yr

CFO tenure, listed Japanese company

500+

Companies advised on cross-border trade

OUR PRINCIPLES

How We Think About Assessments

One question at a time

We scope every engagement to answer a single, verifiable question. A scoped question produces a usable answer. A broad mandate produces a report.

Written findings only

Every engagement ends with a written finding. Not a slide deck. Not a verbal debrief. A document you can bring into a board meeting or a financing process.

No ongoing advisory

We don't build retainer relationships. We're not trying to create dependency. We're trying to give you something specific so you can make a specific decision.

Japan-only scope

Japan-only scope — We assess factories, supply chains, regulatory environments, and markets in Japan. That is the full scope. We do not work outside Japan.

OPERATING ENTITY

Japan Consulting

Sourced in Japan is the English-language practice of Japan Consulting. Japan Consulting provides business development and market entry advisory to Japanese firms operating internationally. Sourced in Japan applies that same depth of market knowledge to international buyers sourcing from Japan.

Established

2009

Practice focus

International sourcing advisory

Base

Japan

English site

j-consulting.co.jp/en

COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions

What does an engagement actually produce?

A written finding. This is a structured document — not a slide deck, not a consultant's report — that answers the specific question we were asked. It includes what we assessed, what we found, and what it means for your decision. Typically 4–8 pages plus supporting documentation.

Do you work on retainer?

No. Every engagement is scoped to answer one question and ends with a written finding. We do not offer ongoing advisory, monthly retainers, or open-ended consulting arrangements. If you need a second assessment after the first, that is a new engagement.

Can you assess a supplier I've already identified?

Yes. Supplier-specific assessments are the most common engagement type. You name the factory or supplier; we assess whether it can meet your requirements.

What happens after I send my question?

You get a written reply within one business day. We’ll tell you what we would check in your situation, what usually goes wrong in that category, and whether a formal engagement is worth your money. There is no cost and no obligation for this.

How long does a typical engagement take?

A Targeted Assessment takes 4–8 weeks from brief sign-off to finding delivery. A Full Assessment takes 8–14 weeks.

What kinds of suppliers or factories do you assess?

Japanese manufacturers across manufacturing, logistics, compliance, and market entry — covering sectors including consumer goods, food and beverage, industrial components, defense-adjacent, and healthcare-adjacent products. The common factor is Japan sourcing. We do not work outside Japan.

Can you help us identify suppliers, or only assess ones we've already found?

Both. If you name a supplier, we assess whether it can meet your requirements. If you do not have one yet, we identify candidates and assess them against your specification. Identification is a wider scope, so the fee depends on the product and how many candidates need screening. It is quoted case by case and falls outside the Sourcing Brief.

Who are your typical clients?

PE funds and institutional investors conducting Japan-sourcing due diligence. International buyers — consumer goods, industrial, specialty — qualifying Japanese factories. Importers facing compliance questions (FDA, CE marking, TAA). Companies conducting Japan market entry assessments.

Tell us what you're sourcing. We'll tell you what's realistic.

One paragraph is enough — name the supplier, the product, or the question you are stuck on. You get a written reply within two business days: what we would check, and whether an engagement is worth it. No cost, no obligation, and no proposal unless it fits.

Send your sourcing question

View all case studies

Japan Market Intelligencefor Global Decision-Makers

Four Lenses on Japan's Market

ManufacturingIntelligence

LogisticsIntelligence

ComplianceIntelligence

MarketIntelligence

Manufacturing assessment is about one factory, not a category.

Logistics assessment goes beyond freight rates.

Compliance assessment is verification, not box-checking.

Market intelligence answers one question per engagement.

Select Engagements

Three Ways to Engage

Sourcing Brief

Targeted Assessment

Full Assessment

How an Engagement Works

Your Question

Engagement Brief

Assessment

Written Finding

What the Work Looks Like

Factory Assessment

Logistics & Cold Chain Assessment

Regulatory Compliance Assessment

Market Entry Assessment

A Written Finding.Not a Slide Deck.

Wataru Sato

How We Think About Assessments

One question at a time

Written findings only

No ongoing advisory

Japan-only scope

Japan Consulting

Questions

What does an engagement actually produce?

Do you work on retainer?

Can you assess a supplier I've already identified?

What happens after I send my question?

How long does a typical engagement take?

What kinds of suppliers or factories do you assess?

Can you help us identify suppliers, or only assess ones we've already found?

Who are your typical clients?

Japan Market Intelligence
for Global Decision-Makers

Manufacturing
Intelligence

Logistics
Intelligence

Compliance
Intelligence

Market
Intelligence

A Written Finding.
Not a Slide Deck.