Chinese short video platform TikTok is making waves globally, and after successfully expanding in the European market, it is now setting its sights on the Japanese e-commerce landscape. According to the Nikkei, TikTok plans to launch its e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, in Japan within the next few months and is recruiting sellers to enter this market.

Insiders familiar with the operations revealed that TikTok is actively preparing for this venture, with platform recruitment expected to start within this year. TikTok Shop is known for selling discount products ranging from sneakers to eyeshadow and everyday items, combining live streaming sales, allowing sellers to interact with viewers and earn commissions.

Currently, TikTok's development in the U.S. faces uncertainties, especially after legislation requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. assets or face risks of being banned. However, TikTok is shifting focus to European and Asian markets, having entered France and Germany in March this year and launching TikTok Shop in Italy this month, now targeting Japan.

Statistics indicate that TikTok has a vast young user base in Japan, with impressive consumer potential, and the e-commerce opportunities could surpass hundreds of billions of yen. If TikTok Shop successfully penetrates the Japanese market, it could become a new leader in East Asian live commerce, potentially reshaping the local e-commerce ecosystem and posing a significant threat to existing platforms like Rakuten and Amazon Japan.