To Travelers Worldwide: 'Glad I shopped in Japan!' Ocean Challenges to Transform Inbound Shopping with a Japan-Born Platform

## Press Release Information Title: "Glad I shopped in Japan!" To Travelers Worldwide! Ocean Challenges to Transform Inbound Shopping with a Japan-Born Platform Subtitle: Company Name: Ocean Inc. Industry: Internet Services/Apps, Enterprise Systems/Communications/Equipment Our company endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to announce dreams. This press release represents the dream of "Ocean Inc." Ocean Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Hoshino; hereinafter "Ocean") is developing and providing "Ocean Tax Refund," a next-generation tax refund and shopping platform fully compliant with the tax exemption system reform (refund method) scheduled for November 2026, under the mission of "Making inbound shopping experiences more free." In this release, through our endorsement of April Dream, Ocean announces the dream it aims to achieve as a company. ## There is still no "definitive platform" in the shopping domain Inbound consumption in 2025 is projected to reach approximately 9.5 trillion yen, a new record high, with about 30% of that attributed to "shopping expenses." While there are definitive platforms for hotel bookings and activities, there is still no platform connecting travelers and stores in the shopping domain. In November 2026, Japan's tax exemption system will undergo a major shift from "point-of-purchase tax exemption" to a "refund method (post-purchase refund)." While there are concerns in the industry about this reform, Ocean sees it as a "golden opportunity to update Japan's tourism experience." This is because the refund method will require inbound visitors to "apply" for a refund, creating a new digital touchpoint with travelers. >> Click here for an explanatory article on the new tax exemption system ## Ocean's dream is to change the entire experience beyond tax exemption What Ocean aims for is not just the efficiency of tax exemption processing, but the redesign of the inbound shopping experience itself. Eliminating information disparities in shopping and connecting stores across Japan with travelers worldwide. 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 are expected to visit Japan annually. Ocean will first become the preferred service in this inbound market, and eventually grow into a global platform where Japanese people will say, "If I travel overseas, I'll use Ocean." ## The technological foundation of "Ocean Tax Refund" supporting the realization of the dream As the first step towards this vision, Ocean provides "Ocean Tax Refund," which maximizes the use of technology. Its product design is characterized by full compliance with the refund method in November 2026, as well as anticipating the experience for both stores and inbound visitors after the system reform. - Service Features: Zero initial and monthly fees - Details: Can be introduced without changing existing operations. A model where no cost burden is incurred by member stores. - Service Features: World's first (※) tax-free LINE Mini App - Details: Refund procedures and progress checks can be completed on LINE, which has a high penetration rate in major inbound markets such as Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea, without new registration (※According to our research). - Service Features: Utilization of AI, OCR, and data infrastructure - Details: Streamlines the management of purchase information and the creation of application data, resolving the burden on staff caused by the system reform through technology. - Service Features: Over 30 currencies and diverse refund methods - Details: 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: Beyond Tax Exemption to a "Shopping Platform" Ocean is accelerating the expansion of its merchant network and product development towards the system reform in November 2026. Starting with the LINE Mini App, we aim to expand partnerships with platforms commonly used in various countries, striving to provide a service that inbound visitors can use with the same familiarity as in their home countries. Furthermore, we will sequentially enhance 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 routes to refer customers to local areas, contributing to the revitalization of regional economies. ## Join us in making Ocean's dream come true! Ocean is looking for colleagues to join us in 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, you can be involved in the business with the speed and autonomy unique to a startup phase. 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. "Future-oriented Fintech field, surpassing your past self" 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 fully compliant with the new tax exemption system (refund method) starting November 2026. - Zero introduction cost - No initial fees or monthly fixed fees. Member stores can adapt to the new system without incurring costs. - Supports inbound visitors worldwide - Multilingual support and the world's first (※) "tax-free 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 purchase information management and application data creation. It is a simple and secure tax exemption operation platform under the new system. ▼ Click here for the service website https://service.ocean.inc/refund --- ## About Ocean Inc. Ocean Inc. is a company that contributes to the enhancement of Japan's tourism value by building a next-generation inbound tax refund and shopping platform, with the mission of "Making inbound shopping experiences more free." The company partners with major overseas media, OTAs, and SNS to provide tax refund services and inbound customer referral services to Japanese tourism businesses. ◾️ Company Profile Company Name: Ocean Inc. Representative: Ryo Hoshino Location: Fujiya Building 5F, 2-6-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Established: May 2024 Capital: 138.04 million 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 Keywords: Tax exemption, Tax refund, Retail, Inbound, AI, DX, Startup, Recruitment, April Dream