Business in Japan.

[valis2]

I just finished doing a show with my friends in WI, our biggest of the year.

We've just been approached by a gentleman from Japan who is holding a show in our medium in Japan.

I WANT TO DO THIS SHOW SO BADLY OMG.

Of course, now we have to research about expenses, Customs fees, etc.

If anyone has any helpful hints or thoughts, please let me know.

Comments

[atdt1991.livejournal.com]

hint: I wanna go!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee!

Unfortunately, it's only barely supported that I go.

[julian-black.livejournal.com]

I have nothing helpful to say. But OMG Japan! That would be so cool...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am foaming at the mouth right now!! yarg, I want to go so badly.

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

They have a word in Japanese that means second stomach, which only women use and describes the extra room one saves for dessert.

Helpful?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha! Oh yes, of course. *snorts again*

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

of course it would be more helpful if I could remember what the actual word was. Something like mashi-mashi. Will have to get back to you, but you will want to tell your waiters about it. :-)

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

Wow, go if you can. I was there 20 years ago, and unless things have changed drastically, it is not only a fascinating place but easy to travel around. How much cargo would you be hauling around? Might be worthwhile to ship it ahead and then back home, instead of trying to shlep it on a passenger flight. (I shipped most of my souvenirs home, and it was worth every cent.) If you had enough lead time, you could send it sea mail, which is (relatively) inexpensive. A good friend was just visiting from Japan; I recall that she said the airline weight limit for luggage was 80 pounds (though I could double-check if you need to know).
Can I ask what city this show would be in?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

We need to ship ahead of time, definitely. I don't know the city yet, either, but it has to be a major one.

I really do want to go, very very badly, and I'm really crossing my fingers that I can find some sort of guide to doing trade shows in Japan with merchandise, so we can figure out taxes, Customs expenses, etcetera.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

The US Dept. of Commerce publishes the Japan Country Commercial Guide. I wonder if artwork receives an exemption from some of the regulations. When I sent back my purchases from Japan, I recall that artwork and hand-crafted articles were exempt from duties. (So the nice customs man was classifying everything possible as handicrafts.)
Branwyn

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is terrific. I did find it, but couldn't get it to download properly. This link worked just fine, and I am so glad that I have it to look over.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

You might want to take a look at FedEx's guide to international shipping.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

If you go, be sure to bring business cards and lots of them. I didn't travel there on business, but I still was given a number of business cards when I met people and I wished I had brought my own.

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

No helpful hints, alas, but the best of luck to you! I imagine that deepforestowl would have a lot of useful advice for you...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much for the luck-wishing! And I really am hoping that owl chimes in here as well. ;)

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

That would be so very cool. I hope you get to go. Do you have supersaiyaginny friended? (I'm too lazy to check), she just finished a tour in Japan in the service last year, I'm sure she could tell you alot.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I don't have her friended. I'll look her up! Thanks!

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's great! I've never been to Japan, but I would love to go. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your plans will work out fine. *hugs*

A girl in my aikido dojo has a friend in Japan, so if you have questions about the country or the culture in general, I could try to ask her. She has just returned from a trip some weeks ago.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful! I will try to think of some. ;)

I so want to go! I'm jumping around and hoping that it works out.

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

No helpful advice to give, I'm afraid; just wanted to say, I really, really hope you get to go! Sounds fantastic :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I hope I can go too! I'm really crossing my fingers here.

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so envious and happy for you if you do get to go! If it's in Tokyo, be sure to visit the plastic food district: http://www.stoneschool.com/Japan/Kappabas/ . Tee hee!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Totally hilarious! And so very, very Japanese. I'm in awe.