Founded in Tokyo in 2004 by Hironori Yamakawa, this company was among the first in Japan to offer online shopping for used cars for international export. With its cross-border eCommerce site developed exclusively for the firm, the company entered into the global eCommerce business market, selling and exporting used cars.

Their selection is versatile: from Japanese-made vehicles to American / European imports that have been used in Japan, from 4-door sedans to buses, trucks, tractors, and motorbikes. The sale of auto parts to expand their range of products and services was added in April 2015.

BE FORWARD’s cross-border eCommerce site marks 56 million page views per month (as of May 2015), an overwhelming number for a used car exporter in Japan, which places the company within the top 15 of Most Frequently Searched companies after Google and Yahoo (often exceeding Wikipedia’s ranking) in the dominant African markets including Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

Additionally, the company is aiming for diversified practices by offering the “Consultancy for Japanese Entities to Venture into African Markets” program and sponsoring the professional football team (“BE FORWARD WANDERERS”) in the Republic of Malawi.

Currently BE FORWARD is ranked within the top 10 online eCommerce sites in Japan, with Total Annual Revenue of 49.2 billion JPY for the ’14 – ’15 fiscal year.

CORPORATE SLOGAN
The name, BE FORWARD, reflects our pride and spirit: no matter how many obstacles we encounter in our way and how severe they are, we will overcome them and proudly take steps forward because our goals are always ahead of us, not behind.



The name of the company, BE FORWARD, was derived from a phrase by a renowned Rugby football coach, the late Chuji Kitajima. The man who led the herd at Meiji University, one of the best college teams, for 67 consecutive years as their Head Coach, was -- and still is – the most well-known man ever in the history of Rugby in Japan.

Automotive

E-Commerce

beforward.jp

Mr. Yamakawa

John W. Mutahi

This department is responsible for driving revenue through customer acquisition, relationship management, and sales strategy execution.

Sales Department

This department focuses on identifying and pursuing growth opportunities, building relationships, and expanding the organization's market presence.

Business Development

This department is responsible for driving sales and managing customer relationships in international markets.

International Sales

The Sales and Business Development team at BE FORWARD is responsible for driving growth by identifying and pursuing new market opportunities, both domestically and internationally. They focus on building relationships with potential clients, managing key accounts, and developing strategic initiatives to enhance sales performance. Through their efforts, they aim to expand BE FORWARD's reach in the global eCommerce landscape, particularly within emerging markets, while also supporting the company's diverse offerings in used vehicles and auto parts.

Sales and Business Development

This department oversees the management and support of franchise businesses to ensure successful operations and brand consistency.

Franchise Operations

The Marketing Team at BE FORWARD focuses on driving brand awareness and sales through innovative digital marketing strategies tailored for the global eCommerce landscape. They employ data-driven campaigns, video marketing, and targeted outreach to engage customers in key markets, particularly in Africa. By leveraging market trends and consumer insights, this team aims to enhance the company’s online presence, promote its diverse vehicle offerings, and support initiatives like consultancy for Japanese businesses entering African markets.

beforward.jp

Org chart

Teams

Sales Department

Business Development

International Sales

Sales and Business Development

Franchise Operations

Marketing Team

Offices

beforward.jp

Org chart

Teams

Sales Department

Business Development

International Sales

Sales and Business Development

Franchise Operations

Marketing Team

Offices

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