A cocktail garnished with lime
Annin Miru Tanshin Ranman bottle and packaging
Grand Place, Brussels
Minato Mirai, Yokohama
Taipei skyline
A bar interior lit by lanterns

WAIN99 TRADING · SINCE 2019

From the maker to a wider world.

What we do ↓

WAIN99 / BELGIUM TASTING

WAIN99 · Japan & Taiwan

Our company, our places, our drinks. A presentation of our drinks and food-pairing ideas.

WAIN99

WAIN99

Japan · Taiwan · Europe

1 / 29Belgium guide ↗
Photo credits & product sources

Product and scenic photography is real. Food pairings are WAIN99 suggestions, shown with generated illustrations; they are not manufacturer endorsements. Scenic images illustrate the places; they do not identify producers’ premises. Photos are cropped and overlaid with text.

Tokyo: ╬ಠ益ಠ), CC0. Taipei: JamesPHR, CC0. Yokohama Bay Bridge: Syced, CC0. Jiufen: lumoplank, CC0. Kyoto: Roméo A.; Tainan: Ricky LK — Unsplash License. Ise: Zairon, CC BY 4.0. Hualien: Ken Marshall, CC BY 2.0.

Ise original · Hualien original · Kyoto · Tainan · Jiufen

Product photographs: Meiri Shurui, Hokoen, Rachel’s WAIN99 Belgium brief, KIX Duty Free (SHOGUN Gold). Company photographs: WAIN99. Original synthesized gagaku-inspired soundtrack created for this presentation. Not an acoustic performance.

TAKAZO the First · TAKAZO Pure Malt · Sakura Mau · Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor

Umegae Yuzu · AOI Densetsu · SHOGUN Red · SHOGUN Gold · YUSHAN tasting notes

Premium Kishu Roman: Producer information · Wakayama Umeshu catalogue & product photograph.

01 / OUR PURPOSE

Bridging the world. Our founding purpose.

Yokohama Bay Bridge illuminated at night

Founded in Yokohama in 2019, WAIN99 works from Japan and Taiwan across alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, IP-based products and apparel, bringing products and brands to new markets.

Taiwan and other overseas markets: Japanese alcoholic beverages, IP-based products and European alcoholic beverages.

In Japan: Taiwanese alcoholic beverages, IP-based products and European alcoholic beverages. Our business also includes non-alcoholic drinks and apparel.

Trade is a meeting of people and cultures. We listen to makers and work with local partners to find a meaningful place for their products.

02 / TWO HOME MARKETS

Two companies of our own — one in Japan, one in Taiwan.

We have our own bases on both sides of the trade. Buying in Japan, and selling, stocking and following up in Taiwan, are all carried inside the same company.

Yokohama (head office)
JAPANYokohama (head office)From Japan to the world
Tokyo
TokyoFrom Japan to the world
Kyoto
KyotoFrom Japan to the world
Ise, Mie
Ise, MieFrom Japan to the world
Kagoshima
KagoshimaFrom Japan to the world
Mito
MitoFrom Japan to the world
Miyakojima
MiyakojimaFrom Japan to the world
Nagasaki
NagasakiFrom Japan to the world
Photo credits

Japan — sourcing and product development

Our head office is in Yokohama. We deal directly with breweries and distilleries across Japan and handle selection, original-label projects and export arrangements. Supervision in Japanese and terms with the maker are settled here.

  • Head office: Yokohama, Kanagawa
  • Direct dealings with breweries and distilleries
  • Original product planning and supervision
Taipei (base, Xiao Jiu Wu)
TAIWANTaipei (base, Xiao Jiu Wu)From Taiwan to new markets
Jiufen, New Taipei
Jiufen, New TaipeiFrom Taiwan to new markets
Keelung
KeelungFrom Taiwan to new markets
Taichung
TaichungFrom Taiwan to new markets
Tainan
TainanFrom Taiwan to new markets
Kaohsiung
KaohsiungFrom Taiwan to new markets
Hualien
HualienFrom Taiwan to new markets

Taichung cityscape: michael spadoni / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Taiwan — selling and the shop floor

We are based in Taipei and run our own shop, Xiao Jiu Wu. Product copy in traditional Chinese, accounts with stockists, bars and restaurants, and introductions at events are handled by people standing in the Taiwanese market.

  • Base: Zhongshan, Taipei / our own shop Xiao Jiu Wu
  • Accounts with stockists, bars and restaurants
  • Traditional Chinese copy and events

It works the other way round too: Taiwanese products into Japan, through the same structure. Either direction, just ask.

OUR STRENGTHS

A small team. A world of understanding.

With bases in both Japan and Taiwan, WAIN99 brings together Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian team members, each contributing their understanding of language and culture.

Support in Japanese, Chinese, English, Cantonese and Malay.

A person wearing a WAIN99 logo shirt and holding an IP rum bottle and presentation box, seen from behind
Turning passion into connections across borders.

From the first idea to its audience.

Our bases in Japan and Taiwan connect producers and creators with local customers through one coordinated process.

Producers & creators
WAIN99
Japan–Taiwan bases × multilingual team
Stores · online · events · fans
  1. Plan & select
  2. Coordinate & approve
  3. Localize & trade
  4. Distribute & sell

We combine the steps needed for each product and market, bringing local feedback into the next idea.

03 / OUR PRACTICE

Select. Connect. Go further.

TAKAZO REBORN bottle and gift box on a cask01

Trade & sourcing

From Japanese, Taiwanese and European alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic drinks, IP-based products and apparel, we connect sourcing, international trade and distribution for each market.

Explore our work
Local distribution & retail02

Local distribution & retail

Bringing products to local audiences through bars, restaurants, specialist venues and our Xiao Jiu Wu store in Taiwan.

Explore our work
Akatorii Chocolate Gin Pan Piano edition bottle in its gift box with character artwork03

Product concepts & IP collaborations

We develop products and IP collaborations across alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, merchandise and apparel, connecting products with creative worlds.

Explore our work
Guests meeting and discovering products at a WAIN99 event04

Events & cultural exchange

Sharing craft and context through exhibitions, tastings and learning sessions that bring makers closer to their audience.

Explore our work
05

Services for bars

Venue listings, multilingual features, bartender interviews, guest shifts and original cocktail stories. Find the right way to work with us.

Explore services for bars ↗

WAIN99 FOR BUSINESS

Business services & enquiries

For retailers, restaurants, bars and hotels. Ask us about sourcing, stocking, collaborations or custom bottle labels.

Explore our business services ↑

Submitting this form is an enquiry, not a confirmed order or contract.

Let’s discuss a partnership

VTubers, illustrators and other creators, alongside producers, rights holders, venues, bars and event organisers. Bring what you do well and let’s build something together — from an original-label bottle to getting stocked in Taiwan.

Kyuuna and Shuin, our own characters. They can appear on labels and merchandise too — just ask.
Kyuuna and Shuin, our own characters. They can appear on labels and merchandise too — just ask.

04 / PLACES & PEOPLE

Distinctive places. Connections across borders.

Minato Mirai, Yokohama

Japan — At the source

Our work begins with the craft, ingredients and sense of place behind each product.

Taipei 101 and Xinyi District at night

Taiwan — Meet us at Xiao Jiu Wu

Xiao Jiu Wu is our meeting point with local customers, connecting Taiwan with the cultures of Japan and Europe.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Southeast Asia — the Philippines & Malaysia

Our regional scope includes the Philippines and Malaysia. We consider local language, culture and the right approach for each product and brand.

The Grand Canal in Venice

Europe — Craft & culture

From Italy and Belgium, we build connections with Japan and Taiwan through a shared appreciation of food culture and craft.

05 / OUR JOURNEY

Built through real encounters.

Guests meeting and discovering products at a WAIN99 event
Guests meeting and discovering products at a WAIN99 event
  1. 2019

    Founded in Yokohama

    Wain 99 Trading LLC was established on 13 May, beginning its work connecting Japan and Taiwan.

  2. 2025

    A local home: Xiao Jiu Wu

    Xiao Jiu Wu in Taipei serves as our directly operated space for discovering products and culture in Taiwan.

  3. Today

    Across Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Europe

    Continuing the exchange through trade, local distribution, product concepts and IP collaborations.

06 / OUR VALUES

What stays with us.

People & families first

Respecting our people and their families as the foundation of a lasting business.

Act today, build tomorrow

Listening carefully and turning ideas into practical action, one step at a time.

Civility & trust

Treating every relationship with respect through our words, attitude and actions.

Yusuke Inoue at an exhibition

MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER

A wider audience for undiscovered value.

The idea began while studying in the United States and seeing how Japanese products were appreciated abroad. Experience in customs brokerage, manufacturing and trading followed, leading to WAIN99. The wish to connect Japanese makers with overseas audiences remains at the heart of our work.

Yusuke Inoue · Representative

07 / COMPANY PROFILE

Company profile

Company
Wain 99 Trading LLC
Established
13 May 2019
Representative
Yusuke Inoue
Japan office
4-152-2 Ushiodacho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0041, Japan
Taiwan location & store
Xiao Jiu Wu · 小九屋
No. 15, Lane 16, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan
View map ↗

WAIN99 / EDITORIAL PARTNERS

Take part in the series

An invitation to bartenders and bars in Taiwan: help us introduce the people and ideas behind the counter, in Traditional Chinese, Japanese and English.

Take part in the series →

LET’S CONNECT

Start a conversation.

For trade, market development, product ideas and collaboration enquiries, we would love to hear from you.

Email our team ↗

Please include your name, company, target region and enquiry.

WAIN99 / BUSINESS LINE

For trade and business partners

Restaurants, bars, hotels, retailers and distributors can contact our dedicated business LINE account about sourcing products and becoming a stockist.

After adding us, please send your company or venue name, business type, location and the products you are interested in.

Add our business LINE account ↗

LINE ID: @wain99pro

Photo credits

WAIN99 / IP COLLABORATIONS

IP Collaborations

Planning, making and selling licensed products

We create alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise under licence for titles and characters. WAIN99 handles planning, production at breweries and distilleries, approval coordination, launches in Japan and Taiwan and follow-up events, all through a single point of contact.

01

Concept and drink selection

We start by learning about your title's world and its fans, then look for drinks that suit them. Working with the breweries and distilleries we already deal with, we propose options such as sake, umeshu, gin, whisky and liqueurs. Where alcohol isn't the right fit for a title, we build the project around non-alcoholic drinks or merchandise.

02

Brewery production and label approvals

We work directly with breweries and distilleries on production. For labels, gift boxes, product names and announcement copy, we agree the review order and number of rounds at the outset, and move to the next stage once you have given your approval.

03

Launch and sales in Japan and Taiwan

With our own bases in both Japan and Taiwan, we can also plan a launch timed for both markets. In Japan, we sell through our online store and stockists; in Taiwan, mainly through our own shop, Xiao Jiu Wu, as well as stockists and events. Alcohol is sold subject to age verification and in line with the labelling rules of each market.

04

Events and fan experiences

Tastings, pop-ups and in-store displays give fans the chance to see and handle the products in person. In Taiwan, our own team handles product presentation in Traditional Chinese and appearances at events.

We also buy in IP products made by other companies and sell them in Japan and Taiwan. What we learn from selling through our online store in Japan, our Xiao Jiu Wu shop in Taiwan, wholesale to stockists and events goes into planning our own projects.

For rights holders Talk to us