TSE:4385
Mercari turned Japan into a nation of resellers and is now exporting that marketplace model to the US and beyond.
From Tokyo flea market to national habit
Founded in 2013, Mercari built Japan’s largest consumer-to-consumer marketplace — a smartphone app that made it effortless for ordinary people to sell what they no longer need. It listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (4385) in 2018 and added Merpay, a mobile-payments arm, turning a flea-market app into a commerce-and-fintech ecosystem used across the country.
Cracking the US — finally profitably
Mercari’s long bet has been the United States. After years of investment, its US marketplace recently posted its first-ever full-year profit, with quarterly GMV around $196 million, up roughly 12% year on year. To push further, Mercari is rolling out a cross-border ‘Mercari Global App’ and partnering on payments infrastructure so shoppers worldwide can buy Japanese goods directly — entertainment, hobbies and fashion lead the way.
Why it represents the next generation
Mercari shows that a Japanese consumer-internet company can build a category-defining product at home and then export the model — something Japan’s earlier tech giants rarely managed. Its blend of marketplace plus fintech is a template other Japanese startups now follow.
Why it matters for global partners and investors
- For global buyers, Mercari’s cross-border app opens direct access to Japanese second-hand and niche goods.
- For investors, a newly profitable US arm plus a domestic marketplace-and-fintech base is a rare Japanese consumer-internet growth story.
- The trend to watch is cross-border C2C commerce connecting Japanese sellers with worldwide demand.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mercari?
Mercari is Japan’s largest consumer-to-consumer marketplace app, founded in 2013 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (4385). It lets individuals buy and sell second-hand and new goods from their phones, and also operates the Merpay mobile-payments service.
Is Mercari available outside Japan?
Yes. Mercari operates a marketplace in the United States, which recently turned profitable, and is launching a cross-border ‘Mercari Global App’ to let international shoppers buy Japanese goods more easily.
Why does Mercari matter?
It is one of the few Japanese consumer-internet companies to build a category-defining product at home and successfully export the model abroad, combining a marketplace with fintech.
Explore related companies
This profile is part of Japonity’s next-generation Japanese companies series, spotlighting the startups and challengers redefining Japan’s new economy.
Looking to partner with, invest in, or source from a Japanese company? Contact Japonity — we connect international businesses with Japan’s best companies, products, and technologies.
Interested in Japanese business opportunities?
Whether you're looking for technology partners, engineering talent, or market insights — we can help connect you with the right Japanese organizations.
Get in Touch →
