BE:FIRST made their US debut on September 18 with the five-track global EP “WATCH ME,” produced under SKY-HI with American producers ATL Jacob and Tommy Brown and featuring Flo Milli and BIA. Here’s the part that matters for fans outside the country: the EP was released physically in the United States only, while Japan and the rest of the world get it digitally. For a fanbase that collects packaging and photocards, that turns the disc itself into an import.
🛍️ What’s Driving the WATCH ME Import Rush
- A Physical Edition That Exists Only in the US: Streaming is worldwide, but the CD, photobook, LP-size sleeve, and poster package shipped to American shelves alone. There is no domestic edition to pick up in Japan, so the only way to own the physical release is to buy it from a US retailer.
- Retailer-Exclusive Versions and Photocard Sets: US stores each carry their own version of the EP—different packaging sizes, covers, and exclusive photocard sets—so completing a collection means buying the same release more than once, from more than one retailer. The version-exclusive model that drives K-pop album sales in the US now applies to J-pop releases too.
- Release-Event Photocards and Showcase Goods: The launch came with US release events offering exclusive photo cards and photo zones, plus mini live and talk events in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and the WORLD SHOWCASE 2026 run reaches New York in October. Event-only goods like these rarely surface anywhere outside the country they were handed out in.
🛍️ Where to Buy WATCH ME from Outside the US
Buy it new from an American retailer while stock lasts—and once a version sells out, the US resale market is where it turns up.
Target (US)：Stocks the WATCH ME physical EP at select stores nationwide.
eBay (US)：Sold-out versions and event photocards, new and used, from US-only sellers.
Mercari (US)：A US resale app where fan merch and collectibles are the top category.
💡 Why This US-Exclusive Release Is Hard to Get from Outside the US
- The Physical Release Is US-Only by Design: This is not a stock shortage that a later restock will fix. The physical edition was issued for the American market, and everywhere else the release is digital, so importing is the only route to a copy.
- US Retailers Don’t Ship Overseas: American chains sell to US addresses, and a good share of album stock sits on store shelves rather than online. Either way you need a US address—such as our Oregon warehouse—to receive it.
- Exclusive Versions Sell Out Quickly: Version-specific photocards are what collectors are chasing, and those editions clear out well before general stock does, leaving resale as the remaining option.
📦 Shop US Online – Seamlessly with Our Proxy Purchase Service!
Want US-exclusive merchandise but unsure on international shipping? Our proxy shopping service makes it easy to complete your collection!
- Easy Ordering: Simply paste the URL of the item you want into our search bar, and we’ll take care of the rest.
- Cost Estimator: You can check the estimated total cost of your shopping on our estimate tool (https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/estimate).
- Check Service: Before shipping abroad, we inspect your item based on the product description and images to ensure there are no damages or incorrect items.
- Free Consolidation: We can package multiple orders from different e-commerce sites into a single shipment. Collector tip: ordering several versions together under one order also helps keep handling fees down compared with placing them separately.
A US debut only happens once, and the physical edition marking it is staying on that side of the ocean. Whether you’re after a sealed copy, a specific version’s photocards, or event goods from the showcase run, let us handle the purchase and forwarding from the US to your door! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [info@fromjapan.co.jp]
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