Shopping Guide
HELP / FAQs
By onemall 
TL;DR
To buy Japanese figures in the US, use a Japan-based proxy like OneMall to purchase from Amazon JP, Mercari, Suruga-ya or Yahoo Auctions, then consolidate and ship home. For US buyers the only routes are DHL or ECMS — Japan Post (EMS/Sea Mail) is discontinued to the US — and duties now apply on every order.
- US-only shipping: DHL (insurable) or ECMS (US only, no insurance, ¥200,000 value cap per package).
- Customs: the US de minimis exemption is gone — duties apply regardless of order value.
- OneMall fee: a flat ¥300 handling fee per order, plus 90 days of free warehouse storage.
- Consolidation: your first 6 packages combine for free, then ¥100 per package.
- Authenticity: figures have no batteries, so both DHL and ECMS accept them — buy from Good Smile, Suruga-ya and other verified sellers.
As of August 2026, US collectors face a fully duty-bearing import landscape after the $800 de minimis exemption ended in 2025 — so choosing the right platform and consolidating smartly matters more than ever.
How to Buy Japanese Figures in the US
Figures from anime and manga are cherished by fans worldwide — from Nendoroids and Figma to stunning 1/7 scale statues. But for collectors in the United States, buying them straight from Japan can feel daunting at first. This guide explains exactly how to buy Japanese figures in the US safely and affordably, whether you are hunting the latest release or a rare limited edition, and how a proxy service like OneMall handles the parts that stores in Japan will not.
Where to Find Japanese Figures
Most of the best prices — and nearly all rare or exclusive figures — live on Japanese marketplaces that do not ship to the US. Each platform has its own strengths, from brand-new preorders to deeply discounted second-hand pieces. Here is how the main options compare.
| Platform | Best For | Typical Price | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon JP | New releases & preorders | Retail (mid) | Brand new |
| Mercari JP | Casual second-hand deals | Low–mid | Used, varies |
| Suruga-ya | Discounted & out-of-print figures | Low | Used & new, graded |
| Yahoo! Auctions | Rare, vintage & bulk lots | Variable (bid) | Used, varies |
None of these ship directly to the United States, which is where a proxy service comes in. A proxy buys the figure on your behalf in Japan, receives it at their warehouse, and forwards it to your US address. With OneMall you simply paste the product link, pay in your currency, and let the platform handle domestic delivery, inspection, and international shipping. This unlocks the full Japanese market — including Animate exclusives, event-limited Nendoroids, and long-discontinued scale figures that never reach US retail shelves — at Japanese prices instead of the inflated import markups you see on domestic import stores.
Understanding Your Total Cost
Before you commit, tally the full landed cost rather than the sticker price alone. For a proxy order to the US that typically means four line items:
- Item price in JPY on the source marketplace.
- Handling fee — a flat ¥300 per order with OneMall.
- International shipping via DHL or ECMS, based on weight and box size.
- US import duty, which now applies regardless of order value.
Consolidating several figures into one shipment is the biggest lever here: combining orders spreads the courier cost across multiple items, and OneMall’s first 6 packages consolidate for free before the ¥100-per-package rate kicks in.
Shipping to the US: DHL vs ECMS
This is the single most important section for US buyers. Because Japan Post suspended EMS and Sea Mail to the United States, the only two courier options are DHL and ECMS. Figures contain no batteries, so both couriers accept them without restriction — your choice comes down to insurance, speed, and package value.
| Method | Coverage | Insurance | Value Cap | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL | Worldwide incl. US | Yes (insurable) | Standard limits | High-value scale statues & fragile pieces |
| ECMS | US only | No insurance | ¥200,000 per package | Lower-cost Nendoroids & everyday orders |
Customs matters for every parcel. The US ended its $800 duty-free de minimis exemption, so US-bound orders may be charged import duties regardless of value. Budget for this before you check out, and check current tariff rates for collectibles. For an expensive 1/7 scale statue, DHL’s insurance is usually worth the extra cost; for a stack of cheaper blind-box figures under the ¥200,000 cap, ECMS keeps things economical.
Verify Authenticity Before You Pay
Counterfeit figures are unfortunately common online, so a few checks protect your money:
- Buy from trusted sellers and established platforms only.
- Look for official manufacturer marks (Good Smile Company, Alter, Kotobukiya, Bandai).
- Cross-reference the figure on MyFigureCollection.net to confirm sculpt, colorway, and release details.
- Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true — genuine figures include a JAN barcode and clean, logo-marked packaging.
One advantage of a proxy is the middle step: OneMall staff receive the item in Japan and can photograph the actual box before it ever ships, so you catch a bootleg or a damaged package early.
How to Buy Japanese Figures Through OneMall: Step by Step
- Find the figure. Locate it on Amazon JP, Mercari, Suruga-ya or Yahoo! Auctions and copy the product link.
- Order via OneMall. Paste the link into OneMall and pay in your currency; a flat ¥300 handling fee applies per order.
- Consolidate. Let items collect in your free warehouse space (up to 90 days), then combine them — your first 6 packages consolidate for free, then it is ¥100 per package.
- Inspect / unboxing photos. Request inspection photos of the box and contents to confirm authenticity and condition before it leaves Japan.
- Choose shipping. Select DHL (insurable) for high-value or fragile statues, or ECMS (US only, ¥200,000 cap) for lighter, lower-cost orders.
- Receive. Pay any applicable US import duty on delivery, track your parcel, and enjoy your new figure when it arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use EMS to ship figures from Japan to the US?
No. Japan Post’s EMS and Sea Mail services are discontinued to the United States. Your only options are DHL or ECMS.
Will I pay customs duty on a Japanese figure?
Yes. The US ended its $800 de minimis exemption, so duties can apply to US-bound orders regardless of the declared value. Factor this into your total cost.
Should I pick DHL or ECMS?
Choose DHL when you want insurance for an expensive or fragile scale figure. Choose ECMS for lower-cost orders — it ships US-only, carries no insurance, and caps each package at ¥200,000 in value.
How much does OneMall charge?
OneMall applies a flat ¥300 handling fee per order and gives you 90 days of free warehouse storage. Consolidation is free for your first 6 packages, then ¥100 per package.
Do figures count as batteries or restricted goods?
Standard figures have no batteries, so both DHL and ECMS accept them without special handling.
Final Thoughts
Buying Japanese figures in the US has never been more accessible, even in a fully duty-bearing import landscape. The winning approach is simple: source from the platform that fits your figure — Amazon JP for preorders, Suruga-ya and Mercari for discounts, Yahoo! Auctions for the rare stuff — verify authenticity, consolidate through a proxy, and pick DHL or ECMS to match the value of your order. Do that and you will bring your favorite characters home to your shelf without overpaying. Start your collection today with OneMall as your bridge to the Japanese market.
References
- Good Smile Company. https://www.goodsmile.info/ [1]
- Mercari Japan. https://www.mercari.com/jp/ [2]
- Amazon Japan. https://www.amazon.co.jp/ [3]
- Suruga-ya. https://www.suruga-ya.jp/ [4]
- Yahoo! Auctions Japan. https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/ [5]
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/ [6]
- DHL Express. https://www.dhl.com/ [7]
Last updated: 2026-08-04.