Rakuten Global Express has a system where you register with them and get a Japanese address, then order your stuff to be sent to that address, and they take your order and ship it to you. Seems convoluted but it may be an option. It looks like all they've really done is un-bundled the "Package Forwarding" option to a stand-alone subsidiary that will accept and forward shipments from other Rakuten e-tailers. It sounds more like a way to streamline intl shipping for their affiliates/subsidiaries, and it may encourage customers to shop at the other Rakuten sites since packages are consolidated into one by RGE. Their most likely isn't any actual domestic "free" shipping going on either. I haven't used Rakuten before, but for those off you that have, it will be interesting to see if there is any appreciabe change in the intl shipping rates.