How to Find Your Ideal Items on Mercari and JDirectItems Auction: Search Tips for Proxy Shopping Success [2025 Guide]

Looking for that rare anime figure, limited edition TGC cards, or Japan-only game? Shopping from Japanese marketplaces like Mercari, JDirectItems Auction, or Suruga-ya can be a goldmine—but only if you know how to search effectively.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to refine your searches using simple strategies—and how J-Subculture’s AI Keyword Helper can give you an edge, even if you don’t speak Japanese.

Most Japanese sellers list items in native scripts—kanji, katakana, or hiragana—not English. That means if you search “Gundam limited edition” or “Sailor Moon figure” in English, you’ll miss the majority of listings.

Even small differences impact your results:

• anime figure (in English) = A few results

• アニメ フィギュア (anime figure in Japanese) =  dozens of relevant listings

To access the full range of available items, using the right Japanese keywords is essential. That’s where J-Subculture helps—not just with purchases, but with smarter search tools.

Here’s how to improve your search results across Mercari, JDirectItems Auction, and other platforms:

• Using katakana for foreign items (e.g. レゴ = LEGO, ガンダム = Gundam, Pokémon = ポケモン)

• Add Common Search Modifiers (e.g. 限定 = limited edition, 初回盤 = first press, 非売品 = not for sale (promotional items), 未開封 = unopened, 帯付き = with obi strip (for CDs/books), 動作確認済み = Operation confirmed (electronics))

• Combine Product + Condition on Mercari: 新品 (new), 中古 (used), 美品 (excellent condition)

J-Subculture’s AI Keyword Helper takes your search phrase in English or any other language and instantly generates accurate Japanese keywords.

How it works:

1. Click “AI Keyword Helper”

2. Enter what you’re looking for (e.g. "Gundam figure 90s")

3. Let AI suggest the most relevant Japanese terms

4. Copy, paste, and start searching

With the right keywords—and help from J-Subculture’s AI Keyword Helper—you’ll discover more listings, better deals, and exclusive Japanese items that are easy to miss.

Start searching now with J-Subculture