Yamato Holdings Invests in Ocean's Innovative Tax Refund Platform
Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chuo, Tokyo, has officially announced its investment in Ocean, a startup that is developing a next-generation tax refund platform known as "Ocean Tax Refund." This move was executed through the "KURONEKO Innovation Fund 2" (KIF2), managed by Global Brain Corporation.
Starting from November 1, 2026, a significant shift will occur in Japan's tax exemption system for inbound tourists and tax-exempt retail operators. The existing system, which applies tax exemption at the time of purchase, will transition to a refund-based scheme. This change necessitates that various stakeholders prepare their systems and establish operational frameworks to comply with the new regulations.
Ocean's innovative platform, "Ocean Tax Refund," allows inbound tourists to complete their refund processes online through Ocean's website or popular social media platforms used in their respective countries. This streamlined approach will lessen the burden on retailers, enabling them to adopt this new refund system without incurring initial or running costs. The system seamlessly processes everything from sending tax exemption application data to the National Tax Agency to refunding the tourists, making it easier for businesses to implement these services in their operations.
Many businesses in Japan have already started to adopt Ocean's platform, underscoring its effectiveness and ease of use. Future plans for Ocean include the expansion of its services into a marketing platform based on purchasing data from inbound tourists, further enhancing its value proposition for retailers.
The KIF2 has recognized Ocean's advanced solution, which rapidly responds to the revised tax exemption rules, and its potential for growth in the expanding inbound market. By investing in Ocean, Yamato Group aims to explore opportunities for sharing insights and creating synergies in the inbound sector, ultimately supporting the growth of Ocean's business.
About Ocean, Inc.
For more information regarding this investment and its implications in the tourism sector, please visit the official press release released by Yamato Holdings here or explore the KURONEKO Innovation Fund website.
For inquiries from corporations, please contact:
Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. Innovation Promotion Department
Email: [email protected]
Starting from November 1, 2026, a significant shift will occur in Japan's tax exemption system for inbound tourists and tax-exempt retail operators. The existing system, which applies tax exemption at the time of purchase, will transition to a refund-based scheme. This change necessitates that various stakeholders prepare their systems and establish operational frameworks to comply with the new regulations.
Ocean's innovative platform, "Ocean Tax Refund," allows inbound tourists to complete their refund processes online through Ocean's website or popular social media platforms used in their respective countries. This streamlined approach will lessen the burden on retailers, enabling them to adopt this new refund system without incurring initial or running costs. The system seamlessly processes everything from sending tax exemption application data to the National Tax Agency to refunding the tourists, making it easier for businesses to implement these services in their operations.
Many businesses in Japan have already started to adopt Ocean's platform, underscoring its effectiveness and ease of use. Future plans for Ocean include the expansion of its services into a marketing platform based on purchasing data from inbound tourists, further enhancing its value proposition for retailers.
The KIF2 has recognized Ocean's advanced solution, which rapidly responds to the revised tax exemption rules, and its potential for growth in the expanding inbound market. By investing in Ocean, Yamato Group aims to explore opportunities for sharing insights and creating synergies in the inbound sector, ultimately supporting the growth of Ocean's business.
About Ocean, Inc.
- - Established: May 2024
- - Headquarters: 2-6-5 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo, FUJIYA Building, 5th Floor
- - CEO: Hoshino Ryo
- - Business Activities: Tax refund services and inbound marketing platform
- - Website: Ocean Inc
For more information regarding this investment and its implications in the tourism sector, please visit the official press release released by Yamato Holdings here or explore the KURONEKO Innovation Fund website.
For inquiries from corporations, please contact:
Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. Innovation Promotion Department
Email: [email protected]
Topics Business Technology）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.