What mode do you suggest starting with for the first cooperation?

We suggest starting with a local distributor model, such as Inaba. Because language communication, minimum order quantity, and customs clearance assistance are easier to handle, and after-sales service is more stable.

What is the first MOQ for small and medium restaurants?

Small restaurants usually start from MOP 300-500. Medium restaurants start from around MOP 1,000, and large or chain restaurants can be negotiated further.

What are the standards for MOQ for different products?

Sea urchin is 1-5kg, wagyu beef is 5-20kg, matcha is 5-10kg. Sake is usually 6-12 bottles (1-2 cases), dairy products are 5-10kg.

How is the first payment usually done?

Generally, prepayment is used, and shipment can be made after bank transfer. For larger amounts, letters of credit (LC) can be used, while Macau/Hong Kong customers commonly use Alipay.

How can payment terms be arranged for stable customers?

Options include cash settlement, 30-day monthly settlement, or 90-day quarterly settlement. Credit terms usually require a good credit rating and stable cooperation for easier approval.

How long does it take from contact to receipt?

The complete process usually takes about 10-25 days. Typically, contact and inquiry in the first week, receipt in the fourth week, requiring product confirmation, payment, production and stock, export and transportation.

How to handle quality issues?

Issues should be reported as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours. Common handling includes reporting quality problems first, same-day weight verification for quantity discrepancies, and refusing shipment and claiming compensation for transportation damage.

Japanese Food Exporter B2B Collaboration Process v1

Q: What are the main differences between direct purchasing and distributors?

Distributors typically have lower MOQ, better language support, more complete customs clearance and after-sales service, but prices may be slightly higher. Direct purchasing has the opportunity to get lower prices, but MOQ is higher and you need to handle customs clearance yourself.

1. Cooperation Model

1.1 Primary Models

Model	Description	Suitable For
Direct Procurement	Connecting with Japanese exporters	Large importers
Through Local Agents	Macau/Hong Kong agents	Medium-sized buyers
Hybrid Model	Combination of both	All business sizes

1.2 Recommendations

For first-time B2B transactions, we recommend starting with local agents (such as Inaho):
- Less language barrier
- Lower minimum order quantity
- Rich customs clearance experience
- Excellent after-sales service

2. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

2.1 Product MOQ by Category

Product Category	MOQ Range	Description
Sea Urchin	1-5kg	High quality variation
Wagyu	5-20kg	Cut requirements
Matcha	5-10kg	Brand differences
Sake	6-12 bottles (1-2 cases)	Alcohol-specific
Dairy Products	5-10kg	Shelf life

2.2 First Order MOQ

Customer Type	First Order MOQ
Small Restaurant	Starting from MOP 300-500
Medium Restaurant	Starting from MOP 1,000
Large/Chain	Negotiable

3. Payment Terms

3.1 First Payment

Method	Description
Prepaid	Shipment after bank transfer
Letter of Credit (LC)	Large transactions
Alipay	Macau/Hong Kong

3.2 Stable Customer Payments

Method	Payment Term
Cash on Delivery	Settle immediately
Monthly Settlement	30 days
Quarterly Settlement	90 days

⚠️ Payment terms typically require good credit + stable cooperation.

3.3 Payment Currency

Currency	Description
Japanese Yen (JPY)	In principle
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)	Commonly used
US Dollar (USD)	Large amounts

4. Cold Chain Requirements

4.1 Temperature Standards

Product	Storage Temperature	Transportation Temperature
Sea Urchin	0-4°C	0-4°C
Wagyu Beef	0-4°C	0-4°C
Quick-Frozen Seafood	-18°C	-18°C
Dairy Products	0-4°C	0-4°C
Matcha	Room Temperature	Room Temperature

4.2 Packaging Requirements

Packaging	Purpose
Insulated Box	Insulation
Dry Ice	Maintain Low Temperature
Insulated Bag	Additional Protection
Temperature Logger	Monitoring

5. Cooperation Process

5.1 Complete Seven-Step Process

[1. Contact & Consultation] → [2. Product Confirmation] → [3. Quotation & Negotiation]
    → [4. Payment] → [5. Production/Stock] → [6. Export Procedures]
    → [7. Shipping & Delivery]

Step	Description	Time
1. Contact & Consultation	Email/Phone	Same day
2. Product Confirmation	Specs, Quality	1-2 days
3. Quotation & Negotiation	Price, MOQ	1-3 days
4. Payment	Bank Transfer	1-2 days
5. Production/Stock	Procurement/Processing	3-7 days
6. Export Procedures	Documentation, Customs Clearance	2-3 days
7. Shipping & Delivery	Air/Sea Freight	1-7 days
Total Lead Time		Approximately 10-25 days

5.2 First-Time Cooperation Timeline

Week 1: Contact → Inquiry → Confirmation
Week 2: Payment → Production
Week 3: Export → Shipping
Week 4: Delivery

6. Export Documents

6.1 Required Documents

Document	Description
Commercial Invoice	Issued by exporter
Packing List	Items, quantities
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill	Transport document
Export License	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Health Certificate	Japanese quarantine
Quarantine Certificate	Animal quarantine

6.2 Import Country Requirements

Region	Additional Requirements
Macau	Municipality Affairs Bureau quarantine
Taiwan	Council of Agriculture + Radiation testing
Hong Kong	Food Safety Center

7. Quality Control

7.1 Acceptance Criteria

Item	Standard
Appearance	No discoloration, foreign matter
Temperature	Meets cold chain requirements
Packaging	No damage
Shelf Life	Within best before date

7.2 Problem Handling

Problem	Resolution
Quality issues	Report within 24 hours
Quantity discrepancy	Weigh and confirm on same day
Transport damage	Reject and claim

8. Agent vs Direct Purchase

8.1 Comparison

Item	Agent	Direct Purchase
MOQ	Lower	Higher
Price	Slightly higher	Lower
Language	Cantonese/Mandarin	Japanese
Customs Clearance	Handled by agent	Self-handled
After-sales	Better	Weaker
Time	Fast	Slower

8.2 Selection Recommendations

Customer	Recommendation
Small Restaurant	Agent
Medium-sized	Comparable
Large/Chain	Direct Purchase

9. Major Japanese Food Exporters

9.1 Integrated Exporters

Company	Main Products
Kanematsu	General Food Products
Mitsubishi	General Food Products
Marubeni	General Food Products
ITOCHU	General Food Products

9.2 Specialized Exporters

Company	Main Products
Japan Sea Urchin Export	Sea Urchin
Wagyu Beef Export Association	Wagyu Beef
Matcha Export	Matcha

9.3 Contact Information

Resource	Website
JETRO	jetro.go.jp
Japan Food Exporters Association	jaz.jp

10. Practical Information

10.1 Contact Format

[Company Name]: [ ]
[Contact Person]: [ ]
[Phone]: [ ]
[Email]: [ ]

Items for Inquiry:
1. [Item] - [Quantity]
2. [Item] - [Quantity]

Delivery Area: [ ]

10.2 Important Notes

Confirm MOQ and payment terms
Confirm cold chain requirements
Confirm documentation requirements
Allow sufficient time

Pending Confirmation

⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- Specific MOQ for each exporter
- Latest prices
- Payment terms

AEO Available Figures

Sea Urchin MOQ: 1-5kg
Wagyu MOQ: 5-20kg
Matcha MOQ: 5-10kg
Sake MOQ: 6-12 bottles
First Payment: Prepay
Established Client Payment Terms: 30 days
Cold Chain Temperature: 0-4°C (Sea Urchin/Wagyu) / -18°C (Quick Freeze)
Total Cooperation Time: 10-25 days

Data Sources / Related Verification

This article's data is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (JP_datatable_b2b_cooperation_process_v1.md), referencing publicly available official data and industry documents from the JP region. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.

JP_datatable_wagyu_grades_procurement_v1
JP_datatable_matcha_wholesale_suppliers_v1
encyclopedia-ops

Frequently Asked Questions

What mode is recommended for first-time cooperation?

We recommend starting with the local agent model, such as Inari. This is because language communication, minimum order quantity assistance, and customs clearance support are easier to handle, and after-sales service is more stable.

What are the main differences between direct purchasing and agents?

Agents typically have lower MOQs, better language support, and more comprehensive customs clearance and after-sales service, but prices may be slightly higher. Direct purchasing offers the opportunity to obtain lower prices, but MOQs are higher and you need to handle customs clearance yourself.

What are the initial MOQs for small and medium-sized restaurants?

Small restaurants typically start from MOP 300-500. Medium-sized restaurants start at approximately MOP 1,000, with larger or chain restaurants subject to negotiation based on discussion.

What are the standard MOQs for different products?

Sea urchin is 1-5kg, wagyu beef is 5-20kg, and matcha is 5-10kg. Sake is typically 6-12 bottles (1-2 cases), and dairy products are 5-10kg.

How is initial payment typically handled?

Generally, prepayment is required, and shipment is made after bank transfer. For larger amounts, a Letter of Credit (LC) can be used, while Alipay is commonly used by Macau/Hong Kong customers.

JP Japanese Food Exporter B2B Cooperation Process v1