The Tokyo Shelf is written and edited by Aki, a Japanese writer based in Osaka, Japan. This page explains how this site makes money, so you can judge every recommendation for yourself.
Affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase or sign up, I may earn a commission from the retailer or provider. This never changes the price you pay. Affiliate relationships currently include (or may include) Amazon, Stylevana, YesStyle, Dokodemo, Japanese Taste / Admitad, MATCHA DIRECT, JapanesePod101, Rocket Japanese, italki, Preply, Klook, Viator and Travelpayouts. This list is updated as programmes are joined or left.
Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How recommendations are chosen
Products and services are selected because they are genuinely used, rated or discussed in Japan — for example, winners of @cosme’s Best Cosmetics Awards, which are based on reviews by Japanese consumers. A commission never decides whether something is recommended, and where a well-known option pays no commission (for example, WaniKani and Bunpro on Untextbook Japanese), it is covered on the same terms as everything else. Where I have not personally used a product, the article says so and explains what the recommendation is based on (ingredients, specifications, or Japanese review data).
No medical or health claims
Japanese cosmetics include a legal category (“quasi-drugs”) that does not exist in the US or EU. Articles on this site explain that system as a fact about Japan; they do not promise that any product will whiten skin, remove wrinkles, or treat any condition. Japanese sunscreens contain UV filters that are not approved in every country; if you import one, you do so under your own country’s rules for personal imports.
Sponsored content
If a post is ever sponsored, it will be labelled “Sponsored” at the top. Most content here is not sponsored.
Contact
Questions about this policy: use the Contact page.
Last updated: November 9, 2026
