Mercari, the Japanese online shopping platform, announced that its global app, designed for the global market, officially launched at the end of September this year. The company emphasizes attracting consumers who love Japanese goods and anime products with more localized services. It also stated that it will start in Taiwan and Hong Kong and expand into more than 50 countries and regions around the world through the global app.
Taiwan users exceeded 300,000, and the total global cross-border transaction volume reached 100 billion yen
Mercari's Taiwan business head, Yu Ishikawa, announced the growth data of its global cross-border business. Its cross-border gross merchandise volume (GMV) has grown 15 times in the past three years, reaching 100 billion yen (about NT$20 billion) in the fiscal year ending June 2025.
The Taiwanese market has been particularly popular, attracting over 30 registered users in just one year. Mercari analysis suggests that the platform's success in gaining traction with Taiwanese users stems from its diverse and rare product offerings (particularly entertainment and hobby items listed by Japanese sellers), as well as its intuitive and secure payment interface.
Regarding future development plans for the Taiwan market, Ishikawa Yu stated that he will continue to cooperate with Uni-President Enterprises Group's 10P Convenience Store, but will also increase its own freight system and strengthen product return and exchange services to make it easier for consumers to consume and receive corresponding shopping protection.
The global version of the app was first launched in Taiwan, with the introduction of inspection, appraisal, and bidding functions.
The Mercari Global App debuted in Taiwan, aiming to address the pain points Taiwanese users previously faced with cross-border shopping, including platform reliability, cumbersome processes, and high shipping costs. The new app offers a more intuitive interface, content translation, and localized financial transaction capabilities, making it easier for consumers to purchase products from both individual sellers and Japanese retailers.
In addition, a 2026 update is expected to allow Mercari users to place orders, pay, and track delivery progress directly within the app. In terms of functionality, features such as pre-sales, bidding, and official certification badges are expected to be rolled out starting in early January 2026.
To strengthen its core value of "peace of mind and safety," Mercari will introduce two key services: an official inspection service in which Mercari will confirm the details of all shipped products, and a professional authentication mechanism for high-priced items.
On the other hand, Ishikawa Yuya explained that the biggest difference between the global version of the app and the original app is that it provides more localized services, allowing consumers who love Japanese products and anime products to make purchases through Mercari more easily. It is also expected to enter the markets of more than 50 countries and regions including Europe and the United States in the next three years, and the target is also the consumer group with a high interest in Japanese products.
As for whether Mercari is in direct competition with Amazon Japan, which is also frequently used in Taiwan to purchase Japanese goods, Ishikawa Yu believes that Mercari's strength lies in its cooperation with many individual sellers and brand owners, and its large and rich product sales. Therefore, compared with Amazon Japan, which mainly sells brand stores and new products, it has the advantage of being closer to the purchasing needs of ordinary consumers.
Huashan Special Exhibition Launches to Promote "11.11 Unboxing Festival"
To deepen local connections and promote the fun of "treasure hunting", Mercari will hold a special exhibition "Unboxing! MERCARI Secret Base" at Huashan Cultural and Creative Park from 11 am to 6 pm every day from October 24 to October 28, and the exhibition will be free of charge.
In addition to inviting celebrities like singer Chi-Hsiu, entertainers Patrick, and Li Yue to showcase their personal collections, the event also featured hundreds of display cabinets. Visitors who completed the treasure hunt and stamp collection quest and downloaded the app could redeem limited-edition blind boxes and try out interactive devices like the photo-sticker machine.
In conjunction with the global app launch, Mercari is also launching its "11.11 Unboxing Festival" promotion. From October 23rd to November 11th, coupons offering 30% off sitewide (excluding some items) will be distributed. A daily "Unboxing Secret Treasure Box" raffle will be held during the event, with winners receiving coupons worth 11111 yen (approximately NT$2300). From November 9th to 11th, free shipping will be offered for a limited time, with orders of 5000 yen (approximately NT$1000) or more from the site receiving free international shipping from Japan to Taiwan.
