How Instagram Influencers in South Africa Can Collaborate with Japanese Brands

As an Instagram influencer in South Africa, you might have noticed the growing popularity of Japanese brands worldwide. With their unique aesthetics and dedication to quality, these brands are becoming the go-to choice for many consumers. 

Thus, if you want to stay relevant as an influencer and reach a wider audience, collaborating with Japanese brands is a great way to do so. 

In this article, we’ll reveal how to contact Japanese brands to get sponsored, the platforms to use, and some examples of Japanese brands you can work with. 

So, let’s dive in. 

📩 Effective Ways to Contact Japanese Brands

Japanese brands receive a lot of sponsorship requests from influencers worldwide. Thus, getting noticed by these brands can be quite challenging. 

Therefore, to increase your chances of getting noticed and collaborating with some of these brands, you need to use an effective strategy to reach out. Here are a few proven ways to get in contact with Japanese brands for influencer sponsorship requests. 

1. Email Them Directly

Reaching out via email is one of the best ways to contact brands and request sponsorship. Most brands have business emails listed on their websites, and even if they don’t, you can always use Google to find them. 

When reaching out via email, ensure that you personalize your email to increase your chances of getting a response. Here’s how to personalize your email to a Japanese brand. 

• Use Their Brand Name in the Subject Line: Using the brand name in the subject line shows you take your request seriously and are not sending out mass emails. 

• Request Their Local Language Email: If you suspect that the brand may not understand English very well and you can speak Japanese, ask them for their local language email. This will increase your chances of getting a response. 

• Explain Why Working with You Will Benefit Them: Instead of highlighting your metrics such as follower count and engagement rate, list all the reasons why working with you will benefit the brand. 

2. Use Influencer Marketing Platforms

Influencer marketing platforms connect influencers with brands looking for sponsorship. Brands post their campaigns, and influencers apply to participate in them. 

Many influencer marketing platforms cater to different markets and niches, including those that focus more on Japanese brands looking for influencers. 

To get started, create a profile on the platform, highlight your metrics, and apply for campaigns that match your niche. 

Here are some influencer marketing platforms that connect influencers with Japanese brands. 

• BAOLIBA: Baoliba is a global influencer marketing platform that connects influencers with brands looking for sponsorship. The platform is reputable for connecting influencers with Japanese brands looking for sponsorship 

• Tribe: Tribe is an influencer marketing platform that allows influencers to connect with brands directly. Brands create campaigns, and influencers apply to participate in them. Tribe features many Japanese brands looking for influencer sponsorship 

• My Influencer: My Influencer is an influencer marketing platform that focuses on connecting influencers with Japanese brands looking for influencer sponsorship. 

3. Contact Them Via The Contact Form on Their Website

Many brands have a contact form on their websites for business inquiries. 

Reaching out via the contact form is very similar to reaching out via email, except with the contact form, you won’t have to search for the email. 

Most brands check their contact form regularly, so you are likely to get a response. However, ensure you personalize your message when reaching out via the contact form. 

4. DM Them on Social Media

Most brands are active on social media, especially Instagram. Thus, reaching out via social media DM is a great way to contact brands. 

When reaching out via DM, ensure that you personalize your message to increase your chances of getting a response. 

You can also post stories tagging the brand and requesting sponsorship. This will increase your chances of getting noticed. 

5. Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform where you can connect with professionals and business owners in your niche. 

You can search for the brand or representatives working for the brand on LinkedIn and send them a connection request. 

Once they accept your request, you can send them a DM and request sponsorship. 

🏯 Examples of Japanese Brands You Can Collaborate With

Here are some Japanese brands looking for influencers to work with. 

1. Kawaii Pen Shop

Kawaii Pen Shop is an online stationery shop based in Japan that sells cute stationery and craft supplies. The shop not only features products from Japan but also cute stationery from around the world. 

Kawaii Pen Shop has worked with several influencers and is always looking for new influencers to work with. 

2. Kawaii Box

Kawaii Box is a subscription service that ships cute Kawaii products from Japan to subscribers worldwide. The box is packed with 8-10 of the cutest Kawaii products every month. 

Kawaii Box has worked with many influencers and has several campaigns on influencer marketing platforms looking for influencer sponsorship. 

3. Kinokuniya

Kinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore chain with locations in Japan, the U.S., Australia, and a few other countries. The chain specializes in Japanese books and magazines but also features English books and magazines. 

Kinokuniya has worked with several influencers and has several influencer marketing campaigns looking for influencers to sponsor. 

4. TokyoTreat

TokyoTreat is a Japanese snack subscription service based in Japan. The service ships authentic Japanese snacks to subscribers worldwide every month. 

TokyoTreat has worked with many influencers and is always looking for new influencers to work with. You can find several of its campaigns on influencer marketing platforms. 

🌍 Conclusion

Collaborating with Japanese brands is a great way for Instagram influencers in South Africa to reach a wider audience and stay relevant. 

To find Japanese brands to work with, you can use influencer marketing platforms, email them directly, reach out via social media, and send a request via the contact form on their website. 

Some Japanese brands looking for influencers are Kawaii Pen Shop, Kawaii Box, Kinokuniya, and TokyoTreat. 

At Baoliba, we will continue to update influencer marketing trends in South Africa. Feel free to follow us for more updates.