Otaku! my new iOS app to easily search Japanese online stores

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I hope a little self-promotion is OK here as it is directly relevant to our hobby.

Otaku! is my new iOS app that enables you to easily search for the same thing across multiple Japanese shopping websites: Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, Fril, Suruga-ya, CD Japan, Yes Asia, Buyee, FromJapan, HOYOYO, etc…

Set the search term once then each site shows you search results—feels like magic!

Perfect for crazy import gamers, X68000 hounds, PC-98 die-hards, MSX nuts …people like us.

Try it now on TestFlight, App Store listing will happen after testing is complete: Join the Otaku! beta - TestFlight - Apple

Android version will depend on success (or not) of iOS version.

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Does the app also facilitate connecting with a proxy service?

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Awesome idea, definitely will check it out. Makes me wonder if other countries around the world would be interested in an app like this for English or Chinese storefronts

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This is just a funky browser with assisted searching, and you use the websites as normal.

So yes you can use proxy sites, I’ve added support for a handful.

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If there’s enough uptake on this, that is my plan.

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Hey! My phone’s algorithm fed me news about this and I thought it was cool (can’t check it out at the moment as I’m on Android), but had no idea it was made by an IC person – how cool. Big ups @gingerbeardman. Love this place.

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Cheers! Where did you see it mentioned?

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I think it was just my little Android side panel that uses my algorithm to push news/stuff that it knows I’m interested in/have browsed before because I’ve sold out to Google? I believe it pushed me a Resetera thread?

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Cool! They shut that thread down. :grimacing:

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You making too much trouble over there?

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I didn’t realise they don’t allow self-promotional threads. Somebody else other than me would have to start the thread. I’ll sort that out when I launch this on.the App Store soon.

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don’t worry, we aren’t narcs over here at Insert Credit

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nice dude! I’ve got a few things I’ve been looking for lately that are real hard to find so this could be a huge help!

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Latest update is out, 240915, hopefully fixing the one crasher.

Also added some availability notes that some sites only display in Japanese, and some sites are not available in the EU.

Small usability improvements. Will test on iOS 18 this coming week.

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No crashes for a while now, it seems to have been when people were force-quitting the app by swiping it up on the iOS multi-tasking interface.

A few things on my to do list, when I have a bit more time. Meanwhile I’m really enjoying using it every day.