Services

Six services. Fixed scopes.

Take one, or several in order. Every paid service is quoted before work starts, so you always know the cost before you commit.

Free — no chargeFixed fee — one price, agreed upfrontFixed per SKU — priced per productPer project — quoted to your briefMonthly — retainer

Quick Answer

Start here · Free

A free, ingredient-by-ingredient answer on whether your formula can be sold as a food in Japan. Any brand wondering whether Japan is realistic. Most founders start here.

What you get

A written go / reformulate / not viable answer
The specific ingredients or doses that are a problem, and why
Our recommendation on the next step, if there is one

What we need from you

Supplement facts panel or full ingredient list with amounts per serving
Dosage form (capsule, powder, gummy…)
Where you sell today and the channel you're considering in Japan

Time5 business daysFeeFreeNoteOne product per request.

Send your formulation

Feasibility Read

Fixed fee

The full picture before you spend: ingredients, doses, claims, channel, cost and timeline. Brands that passed the Quick Answer, or need the full picture before committing budget.

What you get

Ingredient, form and dose review against Japanese rules
Review of your current label, website and social claims
Channel fit: Rakuten, Amazon JP, own site, creators, clinics
Import vs. made-in-Japan comparison
Order-of-magnitude cost and timeline to launch
Written report plus a 60-minute call

What we need from you

Full formulation and specifications
Current label and marketing materials
Your target price point and volume expectations

Time2–3 weeksFeeFixed feeNoteQuoted as one fixed fee before work starts.

Ask about Feasibility Read

Japan Reformulation

Fixed per SKU

Replace what Japan won't allow while keeping what your customers buy the product for. Products with one or more ingredients Japan classifies as pharmaceutical, or doses above Japanese limits.

What you get

A compliant formula that keeps the product's intent
Replacement ingredient options with supplier sources
A rationale document your team and customers can understand
Stability and manufacturing considerations flagged in advance

What we need from you

Full formulation and specifications
What the product is meant to do, and for whom
Any ingredients you consider non-negotiable

Time3–6 weeksFeeFixed per SKUNoteThis is how the Metagenics range was made importable.

Ask about Japan Reformulation

Labels & Claims

Fixed per SKU

A compliant Japanese label and marketing language that survives review. Products that are compliant in formula but not yet ready for the Japanese shelf or listing page.

What you get

Japanese label content: required statements, allergens, nutrition facts
Support for food import notification with your importer
A claims sheet: what you can and can't say on pack, site, social and creator briefs
Assessment of whether Foods with Function Claims (FFC) status is worth pursuing

What we need from you

Final formulation
Current packaging and marketing copy
Your Japanese importer, if you have one

Time2–4 weeksFeeFixed per SKUNotePriced per SKU; variants of one formula are quoted together.

Ask about Labels & Claims

Made-in-Japan Product

Per project

Formulated and manufactured at Japanese GMP partners — for Japan, or for export. Brands who want to manufacture in Japan — for the Japanese market, or for the premium a made-in-Japan label carries across Asia.

What you get

Formulation to Japanese standards
Ingredient sourcing, including Japanese-origin and exclusive materials
GMP OEM partner selection and management in Japanese
Pilot batches, specifications, analytical testing and stability studies
Packaging, labelling and export documentation

What we need from you

Your product brief and target markets
Target cost, price point and first-order volume
Brand and packaging direction

Time4–8 monthsFeePer projectNoteFormats: capsules, tablets, stick powders, jellies, liquids, functional beverages, tea bags.

Ask about Made-in-Japan Product

Launch Partner

Monthly

A Japan team without hiring one: marketplaces, your own site, creators and clinics. Brands with a compliant product that need people on the ground without hiring in Japan.

What you get

Rakuten and Amazon JP setup and listings
Japanese localisation of your own site
Creator partnerships with compliant briefs
Introductions to the clinic channel where the product fits
Japanese customer questions handled, and monthly reporting

What we need from you

A compliant product (or one of the services above first)
Brand assets and positioning
Budget and targets for the first 6–12 months

TimeOngoingFeeMonthlyNoteMonth-to-month after an initial period agreed at the start.

Ask about Launch Partner

FAQ

Questions founders ask first

Do I need a Japanese company to sell in Japan?

Not at the start. Many founder-led brands begin through an importer or cross-border e-commerce, and set up a local entity only once sales justify it. The Feasibility Read tells you which route fits your product and channel.

What does “not permitted in foods” mean?

Japan classifies some ingredients that are sold freely as supplements elsewhere — melatonin and DHEA, for example — as pharmaceutical. They cannot be sold in a food product at all, whatever the dose. Other ingredients are permitted but with dose limits, or depending on which part of the plant is used.

Can I use my US or EU label?

No. Products sold in Japan need a Japanese label with specific required statements, and most overseas marketing claims need rewording to comply with Japanese law. The Labels & Claims service covers both.

What are Foods with Function Claims (FFC)?

A Japanese notification system that lets a food make specific, evidence-backed function claims. It can be valuable, but it requires evidence and preparation; we'll tell you whether it's worth pursuing for your product.

How long does it take to launch?

If the formula is already compliant and you import finished goods, a few months is realistic. Reformulation or manufacturing in Japan adds time. The Feasibility Read gives you a timeline for your product specifically.

How do you price?

The Quick Answer is free. Everything else has a fixed scope and is quoted before paid work starts: a fixed fee, a fixed fee per SKU, a project price, or a monthly retainer, depending on the service.

Will you keep my formulation confidential?

Yes. Formulations are used only to prepare your answer. If you'd like an NDA in place first, tick the box on the form and we'll sign one before you send anything.

Not sure which service you need?

Send the formula. The Quick Answer tells you — free, in five business days.

Send your formulation