Popular 10 Language Internet Shopping Mall

Youbuy Corporation

A new website has recently been launched that allows you to find food and daily use products – very possibly from your country – that are not readily available in Japan, as well as hot Japanese products and items that are suitable for souvenirs. Better still, information about the items is displayed in 10 languages: Japanese, English, German, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Turkish and Portuguese. This site, called “Youbuy” and launched in September 2007, is Japan’s first multi-lingual online shopping mall. It has since been gaining a lot of attention.

Yahya AYDIN is the founder of this site. When Yahya came to Japan as a foreign student, he experienced many difficulties while shopping. He did not know where to buy various products. In addition, there was a very limited number of shops where he could buy Turkish goods, and he realized that many foreigners around him had the same problems. At that point, Yahya decided to start a business with Metehan OZCAN, a friend of his from his student days.

In the beginning, the shopping site was for Turks and was presented in three languages. However, before long they found that users did not only comprise Turks, but also many Japanese and foreigners. Therefore, they decided to restart the site in 10 languages. The shop owners are Japanese and foreigners living in Japan and include individuals as well as corporations. At present, 165 shops are participating and approximately 350,000 items are on sale.

Speaking of online shopping in Japan, Rakuten and Yahoo are well-known online shopping sites. However, Youbuy’s point of difference is that it is multi-lingual. Although it depends on the shops, it is possible to send many of the products overseas. “Since the market is the world, sales possibilities keep expanding,” says Yahya. Shop owners are sometimes surprised when they receiving unexpected orders from people in countries such as Ghana, Vietnam and Chile.

Famous brand name bags and watches, Turkish carpets, Tales of Genji calendars, as well as many other products are selling very well, and it is reported that Japanese kitchen knives, which are created using the same techniques as for Japanese swords, are selling unexpectedly well to non-Japanese around the world. Actually, there must be shop owners out there who want to sell overseas, but are not sure about the risks and merits. Youbuy provides a system in which you can open a shop without having professional knowledge.

However, Yahya wants to provide a better site. “In the near future, I’d like to create a community site that is related to Youbuy and where everyone can have an opportunity to deepen communication,” he says about his aspirations. Behind his remarks are his international staff.

Youbuy staff are not only from Turkey, but also from Bangladesh, Mexico, Britain, as well as German Turks and Russian Turks. In order to deepen their level of communication, the company sets a 30 minute chatting period over snacks from 18:00 every day. Yahya is planning to employ a Korean and a Chinese in the near future.

What is it like for Japanese to work with foreigners? “Since I can communicate, I don’t feel it is unusual,” CEO MATSUYAMA Kazuhisa says. “The difference of cultures and customs is rather fun. I am always impressed by their fresh ideas. But it is pity we can’t go drinking together, as Turks cannot have alcohol due to their religious beliefs,” he laughs.

“Foreigners doing business in Japan will probably find it twice as hard as Japanese in every respect,” Yahya says. “The situation has improved greatly compared with 14 years ago when I came to Japan, but there are still prejudices. I think I am here to change it and my love for Japan and Japanese overcomes the prejudice,” says Yahya with smile.

Yahya is developing his business with a positive attitude among Japan’s very different cultural environment. With his vitality and unique ideas, he has the chance to become a new hero in the Internet business world. Hiragana Times has tied up with Youbuy, since we have found many things in common and expect their success. We also look forward to their site becoming even more exciting and offering the opportunity for readers to purchase many great products from around the world.

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