# Otsukai — Easy proxy-buying from Japan > Proxy buying service connecting users with Japanese locals for item acquisition. (iPhone/iPad app by Otsukai inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/otsukai/id1424701336 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Otsukai inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1522598861) - Category: Shopping, Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 2.90/5 from 23 App Store ratings · 11 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 52 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2019-03-21 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/otsukai/id1424701336/reviews.md ## What is Otsukai? Now it’s even easier to get hold of Japanese items via Otsukai with our smartphone app! Just download, log in with your existing account and make a request for the Japanese merchandise you want to add to your collection! Don’t have an Otsukai account? You can sign up to Otsukai from within the app in seconds. ~Otsukai is a Japanese proxy buying service with a difference!~ We connect you with real Japanese users who will help you hunt down those items you’ve been struggling to find! Just upload a description of the item you are looking for, and the Japanese users will make their move! If one of their offers catches your eye, you can pay for the item right away and send the user on an errand to get the item for you. Signing up and requesting is simple! We especially recommend this service if you: - Are a lover of Japanese anime, manga or pop culture - Struggle to get hold of Japan-exclusive items, especially rare items - Want to pre-order items from Japan - Hope to get hold of items only available at events in Japan - Are on the hunt for a particular item, but not sure where to start looking —— FAQ “How do I use Otsukai?” 1) Make a request for the Japanese item you are looking for 2) Wait for JP users to search for the item and make you an offer 3) Accept and pay for the offer you like best. Otsukai will safely hold onto your money. 4) Wait for the Friend to get hold of the item and ship it to you 5) Let us know when you receive the item, and we pass the money on to the JP user “What makes Otsukai different to other proxy-buying services?” Otsukai is more than just a proxy-buying service. We act as an in-between for you and regular Japanese otaku who can search for the item on your behalf. Some of the things that make us different are: ~ You can ask JP users to hunt for a rare item you haven’t found listed online yet ~ You don’t need to be specific (For example, you can request ‘Badges and keyrings of X from Y’) ~ Request items from Japanese events ~ If the item you want is unavailable, you may get offers with similar items that you didn’t even think of! This is quite popular with our users! “Does Otsukai charge me? Will I be hit with hidden charges?” Signing up and making requests is absolutely free. You will never be charged if you don’t purchase an item, no matter how many requests you make. Otsukai runs on a 10% service charge, which is already included in the offer price. All charges, such as shipping, PayPal charges and our service charge are all calculated at the time that the Friend makes the offer. That means that THE PRICE YOU ARE OFFERED IS THE PRICE YOU WILL PAY. You will never be hit with extra charges from Otsukai. [Please note that any customs charges are entirely the buyer’s responsibility] “Is Otsukai safe? Is it not a target place for scammers?” Otsukai exists for the safety of both you and the JP users. Once you pay for your item, Otsukai will keep the money safe until you have safely received your goodies. We only pass the JP user’s remittance onto them once you have let us know that your item has safely arrived. We will step in right away if we feel there is scamming involved, and we regularly monitor both the requests and offers being made on Otsukai. “I’m a little confused about something” Feel free to message our support center if you are unsure of anything. You can find the link both on our homepage and from within the app. Our Japanese and English-speaking staff will get back to you as soon as they can. [Our office hours are 09:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, excluding Japanese national holidays] ## Key features - Request Japanese merchandise - Connect with local Japanese buyers - Secure payment system - Purchase Japan-exclusive items - Pre-order items - Request items from events ## Recent user reviews (10 of 11) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/otsukai/id1424701336/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Not worth it *2024-01-05* I used to love Otsukai and used them to get many items I’m looking for. When they first launched, they were kind, helpful, and prices were insanely reasonable. Then the “friends” started to get greedy. Prices have shot up because people are looking for maximum profit instead of trying to help people get what they’re looking for at a reasonable price. I’m not saying they can’t make some money for their time, but when you are offered a prize figure for $60 or a keychain set for over $800, it’s just greed. Find yourself a proxy, they are a lot more affordable! ### 1/5 — Can’t even see what you’re typing *2020-11-17, version 1.2.2* This app is already hard to figure out, what makes it worse is that YOU CANT EVEN SEE WHAT YOU’RE TYPING! I’m on ios and when you type in a search bar or request the letters appear as white on a white background making it impossible to see if you’re writing the correct thing. ### 2/5 — Overpriced *2020-07-22, version 1.2.2* I could go on hottopic online and buy figures for like $21, while on this app it’s like $100-500. ### 4/5 — I think it’s great! *2020-04-28, version 1.2.0* I just purchased a plush I’ve been searching for awhile within minutes of requesting it on the app. My only problem though is that whenever I tried to click on their offer through the app, I got this message/error code saying “Request failed because json can not convert”. But if I go through safari or a regular search engine I was then able to look at the persons offer and purchase the item. If I could get help with the error code it would be great, since I would like to use this app in the future! ### 4/5 — Some suggestions! *2020-04-07, version 1.2.0* I love this app! I’ve bought a few things from the website a long time ago, so when I found out there was an app I was excited! However, I think there are a few things to improve. For example, a messaging system would be super useful for people wanting updates on their orders, I know this may be hard because of a language barrier but it would still be very helpful to know the status of what you’ve ordered. Next, I think making the app similar to the mobile site would make the app better, as the site shows you the offers original request, whereas the app just shows the request. Looking forward to see what improvements are in store!! ### 4/5 — Sonic *2020-03-09, version 1.2.0* When I tried to buy a sonic plushie it wouldn’t let me buy it and kept saying, Requset failed because Json can not convert ### 5/5 — Messaging? *2019-12-08, version 1.1.0* This app seems amazing so far! It’s a great idea, with great tools. However, the only thing that makes it a little hard to navigate is the fact that you can’t message people to ask them specific questions. If this was added it be amazing, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to think this. ### 2/5 — It’s okay *2019-11-11, version 1.1.0* The prices on here are outrageous, someone the things on here you can get somewhere else for half the price. It’s still usefull if you want to get something that you can’t find here. ### 4/5 — Needs a search function *2019-08-07, version 1.0.2* This app is a good tool, but it needs a function that will allow us to search the titles and descriptions of listed products. Right now, everything is only sorted by arbitrary categories. I look forward to this improvement! **Developer response:** Hi TLidd17, thank you for your review! We are glad that you like the app. A search function would be a nice feature and we are thinking about adding one, but as we are not like any other store where you have to search for items yourself we didn't do it so far. If you would like to search for what other users were requesting, what Japanese users were offering you can always take a look at our website. There are much more features on the website than on our app. We have a search function and you can also purchase Open Offers, which are offers made not only to the Requester themselves but to any user. Once again, thank you so much for your review and hopefully we can show you our improvement soon. Kind regards, The Otsukai Support Team ### 1/5 — Horrible *2019-07-02, version 1.0.1* I wouldn’t recommend this app to anyone. The prices are outrageous and it doesn’t allow you to search any titles. All you can do is like by category such as “plushies, figures, ...”. You can’t request items unless someone has already posted it. It’s horrible. You’re better off searching on the web for what you’re looking for. **Developer response:** Hi Viridee, Thank you for your review! We have to admit that some prices on Otsukai seem to be very expensive. However, these are the final prices our users pay as they include all the fees (Otsukai 10%, PayPal 8%, item cost, shipping within Japan, shipping to you, packaging, label printing etc.). Otsukai will never ask for a second payment. The reason why we haven't implemented a search function into the app is because Otsukai is different from other stores, where you have to search for your items yourself. On Otsukai you can request any item you would like to purchase. Our Japanese users will then make you offers if they can find the exact same item. In some cases you may even get other/similar items. Therefore, we think that you may have misunderstood how this app works. After you open the app and log in, there is a big plus symbol in the middle of your lower screen. By clicking onto this plus you can create a Request to your likings with pictures, descriptions, links of the things you are looking for. If you really need a search function, we recommend you to look at our website here https://otsukai.manga.tokyo/site/index The website has more features as more people are working on the website than the app, which is unfortunate. Please check our Beginner's Guide herehttps://otsukai.manga.tokyo/hosting/support/en/index.html And if you ever have any problems or questions, please don't hesitate in writing us a ticket here: https://otsukaimangatokyo.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new We hope, you can give us a second chance as we are constantly working on improving the app. Kind regards, Your Otsukai Support Team ## Frequently asked questions about Otsukai ### How do I use Otsukai to buy items? First, make a request for the item you want. Japanese users will then search for it and make offers. You accept an offer and pay, and Otsukai holds the money until you receive the item. ### What makes Otsukai different from other proxy services? Otsukai connects you with regular Japanese users who can hunt for items not listed online, request items from events, and even suggest similar items if your first choice is unavailable. ### Are there hidden charges with Otsukai? Signing up and making requests is free. Otsukai charges a 10% service fee, which is included in the offer price. The price you are offered is the final price you pay, excluding potential customs charges. ### Is Otsukai safe to use? Yes, Otsukai acts as an intermediary to ensure the safety of both buyers and Japanese users. Your payment is held securely until you confirm receipt of your item. ### Can I request items from Japanese events using Otsukai? Yes, Otsukai specifically allows you to request items that are only available at events in Japan. ### What kind of items can I request through Otsukai? You can request a wide range of Japanese merchandise, including anime, manga, pop culture items, Japan-exclusive goods, and items available for pre-order or at events. ### What is the update frequency for Otsukai? The app was last updated on September 27, 2023, indicating regular maintenance and potential feature additions. ### What devices does Otsukai support? Otsukai is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, suggesting compatibility with Apple's iOS ecosystem. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.3.1 — 2023-09-27 - Fixed some bugs. ### 2.3.0 — 2023-07-28 - Fixed some bugs. ### 2.2.0 — 2023-06-23 - Added support for sign in using Google, Facebook and MyAnimeList. ### 2.1.1 — 2023-05-18 - Fixed some bugs. ### 2.1.0 — 2023-04-28 * Comments can be posted on your Requests and Errand pages. * Coupons are now accepted at checkout. * Fixed some bugs. ## Apps similar to Otsukai | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Gamer Supps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamer-supps/id1671834336) | 4.9 (10,091) | Free | Shopping | | [DOKODEMO Japanese Marketplace](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dokodemo-japanese-marketplace/id1069271433) | 4.3 (328) | Free | Shopping | | [CDJapan App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cdjapan-app/id1058711820) | 3.1 (29) | Free | Shopping | | [VLTD.co](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vltdco/id1530422582) | 4.7 (315) | Free | Shopping | | [BoxLunch: Pop Culture Gifts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boxlunch-pop-culture-gifts/id1208018339) | 4.9 (24,532) | Free | Shopping | | [Pusheen Shop](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pusheen-shop/id1521915205) | 4.9 (657) | Free | Shopping | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*