#Japan #Tokyo #Digital Marketing #unbot #Ocean Tax Refund

Ocean and unbot Collaborate to Transform Tax Refund Experience

In an important development for the Japanese retail industry, Ocean, the company behind the innovative tax refund platform known as "Ocean Tax Refund," has partnered with unbot, a leading player in digital marketing in East Asia. The collaboration aims to provide comprehensive support to retail businesses ahead of Japan's major tax exemption system transformation scheduled for November 2026.

The Future of Tax Refunds in Japan

As of November 2026, Japan's tax exemption system will shift from an immediate in-store exemption to a refund-based model. This significant change requires retailers to adapt in various ways, including system updates, operation overhauls, and effectively informing inbound customers of the new procedures. Ocean, headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, has established itself as a strong contender in the refund tax space, while unbot brings valuable insight from its extensive experience with inbound marketing in East Asia.

By combining their strengths, Ocean and unbot intend to create a seamless system that supports retail businesses as they navigate this change. Their alliance will enhance the retail landscape by providing joint services that streamline the implementation of the "Ocean Tax Refund" system, as well as bolster customer attraction strategies.

A Comprehensive Approach to Retail Support

The partnership offers retail businesses a full suite of services, ensuring support from the moment potential customers become aware of the shopping experience all the way to post-purchase follow-ups. These services will cover:

• - Pre-Visit: Attracting inbound customers through targeted digital marketing strategies tailored for foreign tourists visiting Japan.
• - During the Visit: Facilitating smooth tax refund procedures and aiding sales efforts at stores using the "Ocean Tax Refund" platform.
• - Post-Visit: Generating ongoing sales opportunities via cross-border e-commerce strategies that engage customers long after their experience.

Ocean aims to improve the operational efficiency of partner retailers while enhancing the shopping experience for international visitors. The collaboration will accelerate the adoption of "Ocean Tax Refund" across more stores, ensuring that both the companies can drive growth and enhance the purchasing experience of inbound customers.

Statements from Company Leaders

Hoshino Ryo, CEO of Ocean, expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, stating, "The introduction of the new tax exemption system in November 2026 marks one of the most significant shifts in Japan's inbound market. At Ocean, we have always aimed to offer exceptional experiences for both merchants and travelers with our mission to enhance cross-border shopping. Thus, partnering with unbot, which excels in attracting inbound customers, provides us with an encouraging foundation to blend our strengths and deliver smooth value from pre-visit to post-purchase for Japanese retailers."

Nakamachi Hideki, President of unbot, added, "We have been delivering digital marketing solutions leveraging social media, KOLs, cross-border e-commerce, and more, specifically aimed at the inbound market in East Asia. The upcoming tax exemption reforms present a critical transition point for our supported businesses. By collaborating with Ocean, the leading company in the refund tax space, we are establishing a comprehensive service flow that extends from customer attraction to facilitating tax procedures and promoting repeat purchases. Our partnership will significantly enhance the purchasing experiences for inbound visitors and support the growth of our partner retailers."

About "Ocean Tax Refund"

The "Ocean Tax Refund" service is a next-generation tax exemption platform, fully compliant with the new refund system beginning November 2026.

Key Features

• - Zero Implementation Cost: No initial fees or monthly overhead costs enable participating retailers to transition to the new system without financial burden.
• - Global Support for Visitors: With multilingual support and the world’s first "Tax-Free LINE Mini-App," it provides a seamless tax refund experience regardless of visitors' nationalities (according to Ocean research).
• - Simple and Secure Operation: Utilizing AI and OCR technology to automate the management of purchase information and creation of application data, it establishes a reliable and straightforward refund process for the new system.

To explore more about "Ocean Tax Refund," visit here.

About unbot

Unbot is a digital marketing firm specializing in supporting e-commerce operations targeting the Chinese market and executing promotional strategies aimed at inbound customers in East Asia. Further, they handle IP entertainment content projects to promote the appeal of Japanese manga and anime to international audiences.

With a mission to create the most beautiful memories globally, unbot believes that the creation of memorable experiences can bridge distances between people and countries. Utilizing digital technology, they aim for corporate growth and further development.

For more details about unbot's services, click here.