FAQ

KAISHU VINYL is a Tokyo-based record brand that introduces Japanese music culture to listeners overseas through vinyl.

Starting from Kayokyoku, we curate Japanese records across genres, from rock and pop to techno. Our selections are guided by two perspectives: a listener-first view that values what the music gives you, not market price or rarity, and a record-shop perspective shaped by hands-on experience with Japanese vinyl and how Japanese products are received overseas.

Kayokyoku means Japanese popular music, especially the broad world of records from the Showa to early Heisei era.

City Pop is part of that world, and we do carry City Pop records. But we don’t use “City Pop” as our main label because it only describes one specific sound. KAISHU VINYL looks more broadly at Japanese music, including pop, rock, folk, techno, ballads, and other records that may not fit neatly into the City Pop category.

In short: City Pop is included, but Kayokyoku gives us a wider and more honest way to introduce Japanese records.

KAISHU is named after Katsu Kaishu, a Japanese historical figure who crossed the Pacific by ship in the 19th century.

We believe Japanese music deserves to cross the ocean too, so we send it across, one box at a time.

Every box is selected through the two perspectives behind KAISHU VINYL: one that values music beyond market price or rarity, and one shaped by hands-on experience at a long-established Tokyo record shop and firsthand knowledge of how Japanese products are received overseas.

Read their full story here → Our Story

OBENTO BOX is our full OBENTO experience — box-in-box packaging, an English “Obi” artist guide, Spotify QR codes, incense, and a sticker.

OBENTO PACK keeps the guided music discovery experience, including English notes and Spotify QR codes, in a more compact format.

SIMPLE OBENTO PACK is the most straightforward option: 5 Japanese LPs, simple packaging, and a focus on the records themselves.

Each OBENTO BOX includes 5 selected Japanese LPs, English “Obi” artist guides, Spotify QR codes, 5 incense sticks, and a KAISHU VINYL sticker.

The concept is inspired by a Japanese bento box: the records are the “gohan” rice, and the incense is the “hashi” chopsticks. Every record is visually checked, cleaned when needed, and play-checked before shipping. We also track your purchase history to avoid duplicates for returning customers.

Learn more here → OBENTO BOX

We keep track of the records we’ve sent you, so returning customers won’t receive the same record from KAISHU VINYL twice.

For your first order, if you already own Japanese records, you can share your list before we prepare your box and we’ll do our best to avoid them. Please note that this applies only to the list shared before your first order.

All records are used Japanese vinyl, carefully selected and checked before shipping. Some normal signs of age may be present, but each record is visually inspected, cleaned when needed, and play-checked, with extra attention given to any visible wear.

You can see the full quality-check process here → OBENTO BOX

We don’t just want to send you records. We want you to experience Japan with more than your ears.

That’s why every OBENTO BOX includes 5 incense sticks. It’s inspired by the Proust effect: the way scent can bring back memories and emotions. When you play the record and the room fills with fragrance, the whole moment becomes something you remember, not just something you hear.

Not currently. Each OBENTO box follows KAISHU VINYL’s own selection process rather than individual custom requests.

We’d love to offer more dedicated themes in the future, such as Japanese jazz, once we can source them consistently.

We currently ship to Australia and the United States.

If you’re somewhere else and would like to order, please email us at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com. We’ll check the available shipping options for your country.

We accept Shop Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.

Yes. All payments are processed securely through Shopify's checkout, and we never store your card details ourselves.

We usually prepare orders within 3 business days.

After dispatch from Japan, delivery typically takes around 2 weeks, though it can take longer during busy periods, customs processing, or local postal delays.

For U.S. orders, shipments may go out on a weekly dispatch schedule, so please allow up to an extra week before your order ships.

Yes, every order comes with a tracking number.

For U.S. orders, we currently cover the customs duties ourselves, so you should not be charged extra on arrival. If a carrier asks you to pay import duties for your KAISHU VINYL order, please contact us before paying.

For Australian orders, customs duty typically does not apply to our boxes, as they are low-value personal imports.

We don’t offer special gift wrapping, but every OBENTO BOX already comes in its full designed box and is packed safely inside an outer shipping carton.

It arrives ready to be opened and enjoyed, making it a great gift for someone who loves records, Japan, or discovering new music.

Yes. Every 3rd purchase automatically includes a bonus EP or single record as a thank-you for coming back.

Please contact us right away at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com with photos of the damaged record, packaging, and outer shipping carton.

We take transit damage seriously and will work with the postal carrier to file a claim. Once we’ve confirmed the situation, we’ll do our best to arrange a replacement.

If your tracking stops updating for an unusually long time, please contact us at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com.

We’ll investigate with the postal carrier using your tracking number. If the shipment is confirmed lost, we’ll take care of the situation with either a reshipment or a refund, depending on the order and available stock.

We don’t offer returns or exchanges for change of mind, since each box is prepared specifically for your order.

If your order arrives damaged, is lost in transit, or there is a clear issue with what you received, please contact us at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com and we’ll review the situation.

Email us at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com as soon as possible if you entered the wrong shipping address.

If your order has not shipped yet, we’ll do our best to update it. Once it has shipped, we can no longer redirect it on our end. After arrival in the destination country, address changes may need to be handled through the local postal carrier, such as USPS in the U.S. or Australia Post in Australia.

You can contact us through the chat button on our website, email us at vinyl@kaishu-japan.com, or reach out on Instagram at @kaishu_vinyl.

We typically reply within 1 business day.