Japanese Fishing Tackle & JDM Gear Shipped Worldwide

Most frequent question

Do nothing.

This status means your package has already left Japan. It is NOT in Japan.

In Italy especially, it is common for tracking to show no updates for 14+ days during domestic transport or customs processes.

Once a package leaves Japan, we cannot contact Japan Post or FedEx on your behalf.

If your package is stopped in this status, please contact your local post office / courier in your country.

Final Please do not contact us about this tracking status.

Yes. We operate 7 physical stores in the Kanto region of Japan. Proshop Otsuka was founded in 1998 by professional angler Shigeru Otsuka.

Our retail stores started in 1998, and our online shop opened in 1999 as one of Japan’s first bass-tackle e-commerce sites. That’s why we could secure the domain bass.co.jp. In Japan, a .co.jp domain can be obtained only by a registered corporation.

In March 2026, we consolidated all our shop domains under www.fishing-otsuka.co.jp to improve security and support the latest payment systems.

Yes. We have shipped internationally for nearly 20 years. As of Aug 2025, we have served 13,750 overseas customers across 95 countries.

About 20,000 unique SKUs for bass tackle, 15,000 for trout tackle, and over 80,000 fishing items in total.

Every item listed on our website is actually in stock at our physical stores. Unlike shops that list unavailable items and order them after receiving purchases, we only sell what we physically have—backed by 25+ years of history.

PayPal and credit cards via Stripe. Choose your preferred option at checkout. You do not need a PayPal account to pay by card via Stripe.

Final This policy is final.

No. We cannot accept orders by email. Please place your order using our website cart system.

No. We do not offer discounts to any customers.

We basically sell in-stock items listed on our website. If you need special requests, please see special orders.

We sell in-stock items only and do not have accurate arrival schedules for every product.

Final Please do not ask for individual arrival forecasts.

Yes. Once your package is shipped, we email a FedEx or EMS tracking number.

Normally within 2–5 business days after payment.

• Weekends and holidays are not included.
• We do not provide individual shipping schedules.

Final Please do not ask “when exactly” your order will ship.

Usually up to 2–3 rods per box, depending on length and packaging requirements.

Yes. Free shipping applies only within Japan. International orders require shipping fees.

Yes. Due to contracts with manufacturers, we cannot export certain brands such as SHIMANO and Megabass.

Final This restriction is not negotiable.

We can handle inquiries in any language using translation tools.

We do NOT overcharge for shipping.

Shipping fees are set by FedEx and EMS (Japan Post).

We may add a small box fee (around 100 JPY) because special custom-made boxes can cost several hundred yen. That’s it.

EMS Shipping Fees

⚪ EMS fees depend on weight and destination.

⚪ The price is fixed for all companies using EMS.

EMS Price List

FedEx Shipping Fees

⚪ FedEx fees depend on box size, weight, and destination.

⚪ Prices are revised slightly every January.

⚪ Discounts vary by store, so shipping costs may be different from other stores.

⚪ If shipping was cheaper at another store, that is due to their discount, not because we overcharge.

⚪ Some areas are classified by FedEx as “Remote Areas”. In such cases, FedEx adds a high extra fee.

Other stores offer free shipping.

⚪ That is their business strategy.

⚪ We do not match other stores’ shipping prices.

⚪ If we offered free international shipping, we would go bankrupt.

Large Items & FedEx Pricing

⚪ Tackle bags, rods, clothing, landing nets → Large boxes = higher FedEx costs

⚪ 3-piece or 4-piece rods → If longer than 120 cm, FedEx charges extra.

Final Note

✅ We do not overcharge for shipping.

✅ We do not charge extra handling or packaging fees.

✅ The only additional costs are small box fees and rounding adjustments (less than 200 JPY total).

Final No exceptions.

Some destinations are classified by FedEx as “Remote Areas”. In such cases, an additional fee will be charged, even if the country is geographically close (e.g. Italy vs. Bosnia).

You can check this yourself using the official ZIP code list provided by FedEx.

👉 Download the FedEx Remote Area ZIP Code List (PDF)

How to use:

• Open the PDF file.
• Use Ctrl+F (or Command+F on Mac) to search for your country and ZIP/postal code.
• If your ZIP code is listed, it means FedEx will charge a Remote Area Surcharge.

If you are not sure, please contact your local FedEx customer service and ask:
“Is this ZIP code considered a Remote Area?”

Yes, in most countries.

All customs duties, VAT, import taxes, and clearance fees are determined solely by the laws of your country.

Except for US import duties collected in advance at checkout, you must pay all customs duties, VAT, import taxes, customs clearance fees and other import-related charges. Our store does not pay or absorb these charges on your behalf.

No. Customs rules, tax rates, thresholds, and exemptions differ by country and change frequently.

Please follow your country’s import rules.

No.

Customs clearance is a domestic matter of your country.

We cannot intervene or advise, and we do not know payment methods, deadlines, or procedures in your country.

Please contact your local customs office or courier.

Final We cannot interfere with internal procedures of your country.

No. Once the package enters your country, it is under the authority of your customs and courier.

Final Please contact your courier / customs directly.

No. We do not use IOSS, and we do not collect EU VAT at checkout.

When your order arrives in the EU, VAT (and any applicable import fees) will be collected by your courier / customs according to your country’s rules.

• For orders under the EU threshold, VAT is still generally due on import (collected by courier/customs).
• For higher-value orders, import duty may also apply depending on product category and value.
• Couriers may charge additional clearance/handling fees.

Final We cannot reduce, refund, or negotiate EU VAT / import charges.

No. Absolutely not.

Under Japanese law and international customs regulations, all international shipments must be declared at the full and actual transaction value. We strictly comply with these laws.

We do not change declared values, reduce amounts, split values, or mark shipments as “gift”, “sample”, or any similar description — without exception.

There are no exceptions and no room for negotiation. Requests of this nature will not be accepted.

Important Please do not email or contact us with requests to alter customs declarations. Such requests cannot be discussed or approved.

Final If you cannot accept this policy, please do not place an order.

We do not accept returns, refunds, or exchanges for customer convenience, including ordering the wrong item or changing your mind. We do not offer exchanges for international orders.

If an item has an initial manufacturing defect, was damaged during international shipping, or is not the item you ordered, please contact us within 7 days of delivery and provide clear photos or videos.

After reviewing the evidence, we may provide a full or partial refund. Do not return any item unless we authorize the return in advance. In most confirmed cases, no physical return will be required, and we will ask you to dispose of or keep the item after the refund is issued.

Please see our full return, refund, and exchange policy.

We ship to the delivery address provided during PayPal or Stripe checkout. Please check your shipping address before completing payment.

We check orders multiple times before shipment. However, in the unlikely event that items are missing, please contact [email protected].

Important Please do not open a PayPal dispute. A dispute will freeze the payment and delay resolution.

No. Warranty and insurance do not apply outside Japan.

One-piece rods cannot be repaired. You must replace it with a new rod.

Any shipping costs (and any related costs) are the buyer’s responsibility.

Overseas warranty does not apply. A broken rod cannot be repaired like new; it will be replaced with a new section (if available).

If the tip section is broken, you must send both the tip section and the butt section to our store.

Repair flow:
(1) You ship the rod section(s) to our store
(2) We send them to the manufacturer
(3) The manufacturer adjusts the connection between butt and new tip section
(4) The manufacturer sends the parts back to our store
(5) We ship them back to you

Important notes:

• Repair cost is roughly 30% of the original price.
• You must pay all shipping costs for multiple shipments.
• We do not sell tip sections only.
• We accept repair requests only for rods purchased from our store (not other shops / auctions).

Parts sales are not profitable for our shop and are provided mainly for customers who purchased from us.

If you pay a 1,000 JPY service fee, we may be able to order parts from the manufacturer (if available).