Direct Imported Japan operates under International Auto Select Japan LLC (short name IAS Japan), a fully licensed automobile dealer based in Japan. While operating under our independent LLC structure, we retain the Direct Imported website as our dedicated purchasing storefront, as we have for over 25 years.
Our operations are managed by Phil Cathcart, a trade-qualified Automotive Technician who completed his technical schooling in 1992 and has been a resident of Japan for over 25 years.
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Direct Imported Japan was established to fix a major flaw in the vehicle export industry: reliance on commission-driven salespeople. Most export agents act purely as sales staff chasing monthly quotas, creating a hit-or-miss, 50/50 chance of buyers receiving a rusty, misrepresented car just so an agent can hit a target. As a licensed Japanese motor vehicle dealer, we operate without sales targets, providing accurate vehicle descriptions, honest condition reports, and true technical assessments.
Auction inspectors in Japan process hundreds of cars daily and frequently miss critical details, factory options, or aftermarket modifications—sometimes failing to even note a turbo attached to an engine block.
Combining our export operations established in 1997 with formal automotive trade qualifications, Phil personally conducts physical inspections at the auctions we attend. Having worked as a vehicle assessor for nearly 30 years, his strict attention to detail ensures he spots misaligned panel gaps, concealed body repairs, rust, and mechanical issues before you place a bid or commit funds.
Direct purchasing access across Japan with full logistics support
Direct access to bid on thousands of vehicles passing through Japanese wholesale auctions daily.
Direct purchasing of hand-picked stock from dealership yards across Japan.
Complete handling of Japanese export documentation, international shipping, and port logistics.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Licensed Dealer Status | Fully registered and licensed motor vehicle trader in Japan. |
| Direct JPY Pricing | Vehicle listings display actual auction or dealer prices in Japanese Yen (JPY). |
| Expertly Assessed Listings | 25 years of experience, along with his technical qualifications, means Phil has a keen eye for good cars. He will tell you to think twice about buying certain vehicles—an insight that only comes from many years of hands-on experience. |
| Flat Service Fees | We charge a clear handling fee to manage the purchase, paperwork, and transport, with zero vehicle price markups. |
| Global Export Specialists | We specialize in exporting vehicles to Australia, USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. |
While we happily source commercial vehicles, SUVs, and reliable daily drivers for our clients, our true passion and absolute specialty lies in high-performance and modified vehicles. We don't just export these cars; we live and breathe JDM and Euro performance culture.
Japan is the birthplace of some of the most iconic sports cars in automotive history. We have a deep-rooted love for the golden era of Japanese performance. Our true specialty is hunting down the best Nissan Skylines, Toyota Supras, and Nissan Silvias. Whether it’s a pristine, low-kilometer factory classic like a 1994 GT-R V-Spec II or a heavily modified track weapon, our technical expertise means we know exactly what to look for—and what to avoid—when evaluating these legendary machines.
The Japanese market is a hidden goldmine for impeccably maintained European luxury and high-performance vehicles. We have a massive appreciation for the precision engineering of BMW M Cars and European classics. Because high-end Euro models are status symbols in Japan, they are often garaged, meticulously serviced, and driven sparingly. We leverage our years of experience on the ground to source the absolute best examples of European performance available.