I am surprised that so many of you are interested to order brushes from Japan, I get many emails asking me for help so I wrote this little post containing some advice and one tip or two.
As you can imagine it’s not an easy process, sometimes you take risks because either you don’t know the brands or you don’t know if you managed to go through the whole process in a proper way, sometimes I click and pray that my European credit card is accepted, that they get to the right destination, that they deliver the correct products and that the products I chose meet my high expectations…
Brushes to me is Art, when I buy a brush I am ready to take some risks and spend some money to find unique treasures. I am very lucky to have found other happy souls like me who either do some research themselves or who enjoy splurging from time to time with more security. The info below can also be applied to any other items you wish to purchase in Japan but you’ll need to check the customs regulations in case the items are not allowed to enter the country of destination.
Japanese manufactured brushes is a tradition, to be able to pursue Β their tradition and quality they need to have a controlled production both with materials and craftsmanship, they just cannot multiply the number of brushes they produce as easily as machines could. Since the process is very local, often only a Β family business, the websites are in Japanese, the shipping may not be international and the production is very low.
Yes you may be …
but there’s always a way.
I don’t speak Japanese, I just use whatever tools and instinct I have to navigate the Japanese websites, so if I can do it, you can. Google Chrome is my best friend when it comes to Japanese navigation so first, if you don’t speak Japanese, you should install it. Go here to download it if you don’t have it and if you can install it. Once you have it, your pages will be automatically translated to the language you request.
Tip: Not everything is translated, text embedded in images is not, but there is a very useful tip that I can give you (works sometimes) : when you hover on a Japanese menu that didn’t get translated, there is a big chance that the text appearing at the bottom left of your browser, IS in English :
Not that this will solve all the problems but at least you won’t have to click in all menus to find the one you are looking for π
Hakuhodo have two websites, the Β Japanese and the USA. You certainly know the USA website but not all the items are available. Today thanks to their comments in this blog we know that for some of the items not appearing in the USA store you can contact them and they will get them for you, for other items you will still have to go via the Japanese website, then ask a friend to forward them to you or use a forwarding company like Tenso. Not all the companies agree to use forwarding companies so there, you may be facing another issue.
Their Japanese website allows you to engrave the brushes with your name. The letter color is not translated so either you type colors into google translate and then see if they are mentioned here or you ask a Japanese friend to help you… I am lucky to work with my dear Japanese colleague Samir, he is just two desks away from me and he is always very pleased to help (thank God!)… π
Even with Google Chrome, not all is translated:
The Hakuhodo Japanese website has an English browsing area but in that English part you cannot put items in your basket, you will have to switch to the Japanese part to be able to shop:
My first Japanese order was a disaster but Β it wasn’t with Hakuhodo, my card was debited twice because they had cancelled the order then reactivated it plus I had many other problems -items not correct and the forwarding company I was using was not practical at all and made me loose money. Then I found other solutions, either colleagues travelling to Japan or other services that I will share here. The first time it’s complicated, but then it gets dangerously easy…
A few brands are easy to order, Hakuhodo and CDJapan (Koyudo shop), Selfridges UK (Suqqu, RMK, Tom Ford) have websites that are in English so with them it will just be super easy.
Others like Kohlindo (Chikuhodo), Now-eproject (Chikuhodo),Β Bonboncosmetics (Chicca, RMK, Suqqu, Lunasol, Three, etc), Ichibankao (Suqqu, Lunasol, Addiction, Three, etc) Β have easy delivery but are more expensive than buying products in Japan so you just need to know that.
Then you have the more difficult sites, where you may need some help. Koyudo is in Japanese but they have an international document that you can use to order and payment is by paypal. For others like Tanseido, Hakuhodo Japan, Kihitsu, Houkodou, Takeda it will be tough. Β You have a few options :
- You ask a friend in Asia to get them for you
- You go to Asia
- You use a forwarding “agent” (somebody who does that for you in exchange of a commission).
- You use a forwarding company
- You are adventurous
The #1 and #2 options are obvious, for the #3 there are some agents that I know, for example Tommy. I have been ordering with her for a long time, avoids me the hassle. Super easy, you send her your order, she checks the items and price, invoices you with the total and commission but she does all the job for you, then she ships the contents.
When you want to use a forwarding company, option #4, you have to find the one you want to work with (I use Tenso), you have to create an account and have the orders that you place sent to the address they give you.
When you are requested to fill your name in Katakana, it’s easy, click here and copy it from the Katakana result into the order form :
Note: you will have to translate both your names, not only the surname and there are many translators online, this is not the only one.
If you use Tenso, you have all the details on their help page, I have erased my personal details just to show you an example :
Tip: In some sites and forms, if you enter the zip code, the address will be filled automatically π
As I said before, the brushes are handmade and sometimes there is no stock at all, when you place an order you’ll have to be patient and wait. For Koyudo, I sometimes have to wait 2 or 3 weeks and I am well aware that the communication skills are not always excellent, this is due to them not speaking English or not having enough task force to do it all and it is not that easy to hire.
Regarding option #5 – Be Adventurous – I am referring to new territories yet to be fully explored. I tried and found a few excellent surprises but not all is worth it and there is a risk. If you saw my posts about the Kyureido Fine-Kalla brushes, they come from Rakuten (the links are on the Temple in the Seller field, providing they have been bought via Rakuten). Β I was very lucky with these Kyureido brushes but it’s an adventure. It’s a bit like Amazon, the Rakuten seller I used did deliver international but some of the shops within this site don’t.
For even more adventurous research modes, you can learn (or translate) a few words in Japanese and browse in Japanese π
Tip: Some brushes -even if stamped with different names- come from the same Manufacture, they are OEM brushes, they are not copies or fakes but they may come from a similar range bought by other companies for their own business.
Be careful with any online shopping you do, there is always a risk and neither I, nor my kind commenters will be held responsible of any issue encountered and sometimes, problems happen.
Note: If you come from the Hakuhodo world, or Chikuhodo, or Koyudo you may not find better options in Rakuten but if you come from the beauty counters that are commonly found worldwide (Chanel, Guerlain, etc) the brushes from Kumano are certainly of better quality vs price.
If you have the chance to go to Japan or Asia and want to visit the Japanese beauty counters, the only tip I can give you is visit the online stores, there is often a place where they mention their stores, for example Hakuhodo Japan, in their list you see the Malls are listed too, if you are at the right place but can’t find the counter, take a logo or a brush with you and go to the information desk, my french/spanish accent did not help but at the end of my trip I got better at Pictionary – but spent funny moments with the information desks. Try to draw a make up brush, a power adapter or an English keyboard and you’ll understand… π
I am not affiliated with these companies, I just decided I would summarize this in a post to be able to answer those of you who contacted me. I have tried to contact Tenso for example to get offers or an “easier/cheaper” collaboration for you but never got answers. Β I also tried to get coupons for you with some brush companies but that is not easy… I hope one day it will be possible.
If anyone would like to add his or her own tips, please kindly do so π
36 comments
Finally a long enough post in the blogger world to provide screencaps. for English speaking customers!
Shopping in Japanese online or in-store is delightful and I hope more people can share the joy.
Thanks Sonia for your careful research and beautiful layout work, so much time is spent on this article.
You are very welcome, it’s a real pleasure to bring you with me in this adventure π
Sorry to bother you again, I just saw from the checkout site of Chikuhodo’s website and it shows that they no longer accept international shipping and transfer companies from May in 2013 (It is translated from Japanese to English so I am not sure). Does it mean that I have to get a Japanese credit card to find a forwarding agent? Thx.
the post I was waiting for since the first day I met you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MERCI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
et bonne annΓ©e avec un peu d’avance
is that true ?? π
well… you were patient then!
bonne annΓ©e Laurence, bisous!
Hahaha yes we are lost in translation. Every time I search for brushes or try to buy something at a page I wish I could read Japanese. But I still try my best with my English so there is no way to learn Japanese now π
I’m so glad I have my researcher/manager Melissa so I only have to pay for all the sins π
It took me a long time to buy at hakuhodo since I thought when I make something wrong it’s not good π but gladly I had the chance to buy one of the sweet pink sets π it’s worth the pain to order π
I agree, Melissa is our Agent with a big big A !
See the great value with that set makes it so worth it!
Dearest Sonia
I loved discovering you and this blog in 2013. Many thanks for all you do for us – it’s always appreciated. Wishing you lots of happiness, good health, fun and sweet makeup adventures in 2014.
Best, Star. X
Hello Star! funny, it seems like we have been around chatting for much longer π
You cannot imagine how much these messages are rewarding to me so thank you so much!
My very best wishes to you too, I am sure 2014 will be even more fun π
Thank you, Sonia, for this comprehensive post for all of us who are confused and perhaps not as brave or motivated enough to plow through what could be a time consuming and potentially messy or expensive process. I learned a lot.
After reading it, I decided to try a forwarding agent instead of purchasing from a website because they did not have what I want in stock, and also because there may be substantial cost savings with current exchange rates. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get my Chikuhodo Red 18-2 (or RC-2), MK-2 and Z-1 soon to replace/augment my too soft Suqqu cheek, my too hard Hakuhodo B210, my too large/pointy Hakuhodo B103 and my too airy Suqqu face brush. They are all excellent brushes…but somehow don’t quite hit the sweet spot for me. It’s weird how I’ve become so picky in the past 4 years since I started using/collecting brushes.
BTW, do you think the Z-9 would be a good replacement for the Hakuhodo Kokutan finishing LAG? I still like the LAG (the brush shape and wooden handle are gorgeous!), and it functions well even though the tips of the synthetic hairs have curled into little hooks (which I expected). I don’t use bronzer so would have no use for it for bronzer application. Sometimes I use the LAG to apply powder to set my foundation when I’m in a rush. Not very elegant, but four strokes and I’m out the door!
I totally understand you, that’s why it’s difficult to use one brush for everything -not that you need a hundred- but one brush does not fit all.
The 3 you chose, I’d say are exactly what you should pick (if I refer to your descriptions of the B210, B103, Suqqu face, gosh you will be delighted with these new ones).
The Z-9 for me it’s like Heaven, funny because I wasn’t that tempted when I first saw it but it has become a staple, it’s dense and firm but not like it will alter anything, 4 strokes and you will be out of the door but it will probably also be great in summer when you are going for a glow/bronzer/perfecting powder… I could not recommend you enough to go for it. Actually it will be featured in my top 10 brushes, most loved, most used π
Happy New Year! Wish you all good health!
And it will be amazing in 2014 to see a Suqqu S generation2.
thank you Gladys !! all the same to you my dear!
… hmmm working hard on that π
Wow! Thank you Sonia! I was just going to ask you to give us a detailed tips on how to order online and what are the websites we could order from.
I also learned that we could order from chikuhodo but by email and bank fund transfer.
Thank you so much for all your effort and sharing this post to us.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Ann !
I heard it was possible to do bank transfer but I haven’t tried it and not sure how much the shipping costs. Do you know?
Hakuhodo Japan also do something like that but the shipping cost is out of reason unfortunately so that is not an option π
Its 5,000 JPY inclusive of transfer fee and shipping. I think its a fixed rate.
Hi sonia, do you know whether i could email koyudo in english?
sure you can π they have somebody speaking english around.. not always but no worries. they’ll understand!
Thank you, and happy new year ^ ^
This is amazing information! Thank you so much for sharing it. Also I am excited because I se that LM de Laduree is available via ichibankao, which I had been wanting to buy but had no idea how to or where to purchase their items. This is fantastic!
Hi Jay! fantastic it is! I don’t know where you live but now Laduree is also available at sephora.fr… π
You rock!!!! i really appreciate you taking the time and making such detailed directions and the pictures really helped make this super easy, i often have trouble …. to make an orders π
BUT it’s also EXtremely dangerous, my wallet is starting to tremble in fear….lol
——-
Houkodou orders can be placed via email hun, ( at price excluding tax ) and they accept paypal as the payment method. π
I really, really want the Houkodou BZ-1 foundation brush and I don’t know which would be cheaper, ordering directly front hem or using Tommy? Any idea in their shipping costs? I live in the US.
“from them”, sorry should have checked spelling before posting.
Whoops!! Sorry Carlyn. i didn’t see your post
The shipping cost it depends on which shipping option you choose (EMS, Airmail, Registered Airmail ) , where you are located and package weight , if i recall correctly, i think just about 700 – 1’500 Yen
@ Midnitedesire: Thank you dear, I went with Tommy to make some purchases and was very happy all the way around. I wish I had bought 2 Houkodou while I was at it.
You can order engraving via Hakuhodo USA too. π You just cannot engrave brushes that cannot be imported. (tamage or kolinsky // ηζ― or γ³γͺγ³γΉγγΌ)
[…] love Sonia over at Sweet Makeup Temptations, and her absolute and epic dedication to Japanese makeup […]
Thank you so much for introducing buying brushes on Japanese websites! Have you heard of a forwarding company called JShoppers? Its shipping is slightly cheaper than Tenso (I’m in USA BTW). Or do you usually go find your familiar agent?
Could you talk a little bit more about engraving in Chikuhodo and Hakuhodo website? I know I can choose between English and Japanese characters, but not exactly how they work. Engraving is not available on eyeshadow brushes right? Thank you thank you!
Hi! Thank you so much for this π Truly informative, I just received my brushes from Hakuhodo Japan today via Tenso π soooooo excited!
yeah!!! π
I noticed that you didn’t add yojiya to the list of things. I’m having trouble ordering. -___-
Has anybody order any brushes from there site? A little help would be nice… Thanks.
left you a reply in the other one, try Tommy http://bringblingjp.blogspot.ch/
let me know if he can help π
Dear Sonia
Long time reader (and lurker) in awe of your beautiful brush collection!
I have so many times nearly taken the plunge and ordered from sites such as now eproject, CDjapan and bonboncosmetics but (aside from the hideous import/cusomts/vat charges to pay to clear customs in the UK) I have never had the confidence to follow it through.
Price doesn’t stop me, it’s the worry that these sites might be sourcing fakes to pass on. I know they say they are official distributors, but my mistrusting and cynical brain stops me from believing!
I work 10 mins away from Selfridges in London so I can buy a genuine suqqu brush (when they are in stock!) with confidence, but I do not share that confidence ordering from unknown sources.
Can anyone help reassure me?
Hi Tracey,
For having met them, I know that CDJapan order directly to Koyudo, I spoke with the person in charge of their communications so they do order from Koyudo directly.
I did order from Bonbon also and never had a problem so far… but I did not had a personal contact with them.
I ordered from noweproject and their packages are shipped directly from Chikuhodo (that was the sender when I received my parcel…)
Beautylish also sell Chikuhodo and I talked to them this week, please stay tuned because there is going to be a surprise very soon! π
Gosh if only I could live 10 mins away from Selfridges… I am very jealous ^_^
A way around this is to get a japanese buying service. Tenso has their own purchasing service. You can google it and a few will pop up. Hope this helps.