Born from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)’ internal new business proposal program, MOL CART is an international shopping and forwarding service designed to deliver Japanese products to customers living overseas.
We are pleased to announce that system maintenance has now been completed and new member registrations have officially resumed.
In this article, we will take you behind the scenes of how the new business venture MOL CART came to life through an internal open-call initiative. To commemorate the restart of the service, we are also launching a New Member Registration Campaign.
(Further details are provided at the end of this article.)
MOL CART is a shipping and forwarding service that enables individuals living overseas to receive products purchased in Japan easily and securely. Acting as a dedicated virtual warehouse for each customer, the service stores items purchased in Japan for up to eight months and delivers them to a designated overseas address at the customer’s preferred timing.
MOL CART is available not only to individual users but also to corporate clients. We welcome requests from companies seeking assistance with shipping items overseas or sending packages to employees stationed abroad.
While MOL CART was created with a strong focus on convenience, behind its launch lies a passionate story of employees who ventured into uncharted territory at a maritime company with a history of more than 140 years.
Photo Left: Ms. Min Sai / Project Manager of New Business Creation Team in the Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business Div., Right: Ms.Natsuki Baba / Tanker Planning and Project Team in the Carbon Solution Business Group Tanker Unit 1
In January 2025, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines set sail on a new challenge with the launch of MOL CART, a cross-border e-commerce support platform designed to make it easier for people living overseas to purchase products from Japan.
At the heart of this project was the enthusiasm of Min Sai, who proposed the business through the company’s internal new business proposal program at the milestone of her tenth year with the company. Through her long experience in sales and administrative roles supporting the transportation of raw materials that underpin Japanese industry, Min developed a strong desire to “support Japanese industry in a more direct way.”
The inspiration for this business came from scenes she witnessed before the COVID-19 pandemic, where visitors to Japan eagerly purchased niche and uniquely Japanese products.
However, for a company that has traditionally focused on BtoB operations, entering the BtoC market targeting individual consumers was an entirely new and unfamiliar challenge. Despite concerns and risks arising from the lack of internal precedents, Min was encouraged by friends from other industries and by the words of her manager—“Even failure becomes valuable experience”—and decided to move forward.
Joining this “zero-to-one” voyage as a strong and trusted partner was Natsuki Baba, who was then in her first year as a new graduate employee. Assigned to the project just four months after joining the company—an unusually early appointment—Baba built the customer service foundation from scratch, anticipating the questions and issues that users around the world might encounter. Leveraging the fresh perspective of a young professional unconstrained by industry conventions, she worked closely with Min to bring the service to life.
This carefully crafted service embodies their sincere desire to make life more convenient and comfortable for people living overseas around the world.
Below, we are pleased to introduce the convenient features of MOL CART, along with some special deals available only for now!
With a user-friendly design and simple navigation, MOL CART can be used smoothly even by first-time users.
Items purchased from multiple online stores can be consolidated and shipped together, helping to reduce shipping costs. It is also possible to split shipments and send items to different destinations as needed.
MOL CART adopts a clear and easy-to-understand pricing system. The basic fee consists of international shipping costs, a handling fee of JPY 2,000, and any applicable optional service fees.
Customers can select the most suitable shipping carrier based on their individual needs.
Customer support is available in Japanese, English, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
We carefully address customer inquiries and concerns to provide reliable and trustworthy service.
For oversized packages, support may be available upon prior consultation.
MOL CART supports people living overseas around the world by helping make their daily lives more convenient and comfortable. In addition to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of important packages from Japan, we offer a virtual warehouse service with long-term storage options, allowing us to flexibly meet a wide range of customer needs.
Stationery, Books, and Collectibles：Stationery, books, anime merchandise, and items for fan activities
Food Products：Limited-edition snacks, popular instant noodles, and Japanese food items that are difficult to obtain locally
Cosmetics：Skincare products and cosmetics
Fashion：Clothing, bags, and footwear
For Expatriates and International Students：Shipment of personal belongings, musical instruments, and other valued items from home.
We are planning to release a dedicated mobile application.
We are also planning collaborations with leading Japanese e-commerce sites and retail stores.
Special Offer: 50% Off Coupon
Campaign Period: January 26, 2026 – March 31, 2026
Eligible Customers: New members who register with MOL CART by March 31, 2026
Coupon Expiration：Within 6 months from the date of distribution
On this special occasion, we encourage you to make use of MOL CART as a convenient service to enhance your overseas lifestyle, as well as a way to send heartfelt gifts from Japan to your loved ones living abroad.
Instagram「molcart.official」
(Introducing MOL CART services and disseminating campaign information）
（Introducing MOL CART services and disseminating campaign information）
（Dissemination of information on Japan in a wide range of fields）