Ocean Secures Funding from Global Brain to Lead Japan’s Shift Toward Post-Purchase Duty-Free Refunds

Funding Overview

KURONEKO Innovation Fund 2, managed by Global Brain Corporation, has announced a strategic investment in Ocean Corp., a startup developing a specialized refund-based duty-free platform. With this capital injection, Ocean aims to accelerate its system development and strengthen its operational framework in preparation for Japan’s major tax-free system overhaul scheduled for November 2026.

About Ocean Corp.

Established in May 2024 and headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Ocean Corp. provides a digital duty-free platform and inbound marketing support. Led by CEO Ryo Hoshino, the company focuses on digitizing tax-free procedures to deliver high-convenience inbound solutions for both international tourists and retail operators.

Strategic Background and Future Outlook

In November 2026, Japan will transition its tax-free system from the current "point-of-purchase" exemption to a "refund-at-departure" (export-validation) model. This large-scale regulatory shift requires duty-free retailers nationwide to implement entirely new systems and operational structures. Ocean is developing a dedicated platform tailored to this new mandate, aimed at streamlining administrative workflows for retailers while offering multilingual support and integrated payment guidance for travelers. Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage its accumulated purchase data to expand into a comprehensive inbound marketing platform.

About the Investors

KURONEKO Innovation Fund 2 is a venture capital fund managed by Global Brain, with Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. as a limited partner. Through this partnership, Ocean expects to generate synergies with the Yamato Group and benefit from their deep expertise in the logistics and inbound tourism sectors.