To travelers around the world, "I'm glad I shopped in Japan"! Ocean challenges to change inbound shopping with a Japan-born platform

Ocean Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Hoshino; hereinafter "Ocean") is developing and providing "Ocean Tax Refund," a next-generation tax refund shopping platform that fully supports the tax exemption system revision (refund method) in November 2026, with the mission of "making the inbound shopping experience more free." In this release, through its endorsement of April Dream, Ocean will announce the dream it aims to realize as a company. There is no "representative platform" yet in the shopping domain. In 2025, inbound consumption reached a record high of approximately 9.5 trillion yen, with "shopping expenses" accounting for about 30% of that. While there are representative platforms for hotel reservations and activities, there is no platform yet that connects travelers and stores in the shopping domain. In November 2026, Japan's tax exemption system will undergo a major shift from "tax exemption at the time of purchase" to the "refund method (post-purchase refund)." While there are concerns in the industry about this revision, Ocean sees it as a "golden opportunity to update Japan's tourism experience." This is because the refund method will create a new digital touchpoint with travelers, as inbound visitors will always need to "apply" for a refund. >> Click here for an article explaining the new tax exemption system. Ocean's dream is to change the entire experience beyond tax exemption. Ocean aims to redesign the inbound shopping experience itself, not just to streamline tax exemption procedures. Eliminating information disparities in shopping and connecting stores across Japan with travelers around the world. Completing everything from travel planning to purchase, tax exemption procedures, and post-return follow-up on a single platform. That is the world Ocean envisions. There are not many internet platforms born in Japan that are used globally yet. However, in 2025, over 42 million inbound visitors will visit Japan. Ocean will first become the service of choice in this inbound market, and eventually grow into a global platform that Japanese people will say, "If I go abroad, I'll use Ocean." "Ocean Tax Refund" technology infrastructure supporting the realization of the dream. As the first step in this vision, Ocean provides "Ocean Tax Refund," which maximizes the use of technology. It is characterized by a product design that fully supports the refund method in November 2026, as well as anticipating the experience of both stores and inbound visitors after the system revision. Service Features: Details Initial cost/monthly fee 0 yen: Can be introduced without changing existing operations. A model where no cost burden is incurred by member stores. World's first (*) tax exemption LINE Mini App: On LINE, which boasts a high penetration rate in major inbound markets such as Taiwan, Thailand, and Korea, refund procedures and progress confirmation can be completed without new registration (*According to our research). Utilization of AI, OCR, and data infrastructure: Streamlines the management of purchase information and the creation of application data, resolving the burden on the ground caused by system revisions through technology. Over 30 currencies and various refund methods: Provides refund methods optimized for the usage habits of each country. ▼ Click here for the "Ocean Tax Refund" service page. https://service.ocean.inc/ Future Outlook: Towards a "Shopping Platform" beyond tax exemption. Ocean is accelerating the expansion of its member store network and product development towards the system revision in November 2026. Starting with the LINE Mini App, we aim to expand cooperation with platforms routinely used in various countries, and create a service that inbound visitors can use with the same feeling as in their home countries. Furthermore, we will sequentially expand inbound marketing and customer referral support functions for member stores. Japan has many local specialties and businesses that are not yet known overseas. Ocean will build customer referral channels to local areas and contribute to the revitalization of regional economies. Recruiting colleagues to realize Ocean's dream! Ocean is looking for colleagues to take on the challenge of creating a "Japan-born global platform" at the intersection of Fintech and inbound tourism. Under a culture that encourages challenges and fairly evaluates growth, it is possible to be involved in the business with the speed and discretion unique to a startup. We are currently actively recruiting for sales positions. Please see our career page and doda for job requirements. ▼ Ocean Career Page https://ocean.inc/careers ▼ doda/Ocean Inc. "Surpass your past self in the promising Fintech domain" https://doda.jp/DodaFront/View/JobSearchDetail/j_jid__3014625849/-tab__pr/-fm__jobdetail/ About Ocean Tax Refund "Ocean Tax Refund" is a next-generation tax exemption service that fully supports the new tax exemption system (refund method) starting in November 2026.

Introduction cost 0 yen: No initial fees or monthly fixed fees. Member stores can respond to the new system without incurring costs. Supports inbound visitors worldwide: Multilingual support and the world's first (*) "tax exemption LINE Mini App" provide a smooth tax exemption experience regardless of nationality. (*According to our research) Simple and secure tax exemption operation: Utilizes AI and OCR technology to automate everything from purchase information management to application data creation. It is a simple and secure tax exemption operation platform under the new system. ▼ Click here for the service site https://service.ocean.inc/refund About Ocean Inc. Ocean Inc. is a company that contributes to improving the value of Japanese tourism by building a next-generation inbound tax refund and shopping platform with the mission of "making the inbound shopping experience more free." We also partner with major overseas media, OTAs, and SNS to provide tax exemption/tax refund services and inbound customer referral services to Japanese tourism businesses. Company Profile Company Name: Ocean Inc. Representative Director: Ryo Hoshino Location: Fujiya Building 5F, 2-6-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Established: May 2024 Capital: 138,040,000 yen (including capital reserve) Tax Exemption Approval Transmission Business Number: 1-0100-0124-5294-0140-0001 URL: https://www.ocean.inc Ocean Inc. Public Relations E-Mail: pr@ocean.inc