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Tokyo investment company cold called me, do I invest?
So far I can't find any reviews, I see the websi… It's a bit of a random post considering I don't really post, but I got called from Japan about an investment opportunity. It's called Stafford Thorpe.
So far I can't find any reviews, I see the website has been up since 2022, but the owner is hidden by a Whois anonymisation service.
I expect them to call me back tomorrow to continue the conversation.
If anyone can help with some recon (there is a Tokyo address, but don't see any result by searching the name in google maps).
Another thing is to check if it's registered anywhere as a company in the Japanese system?
They said I can prepare some questions to ask him on the spot when he calls back. I'll take any suggestions on this, as well as any feedback if anyone can do any digging.
If there's any interest I'll update after the next call!
You can also check if they're listed on the FSA's list of unregistered investment firms. Japan's financial regulator publishes a running list of companies they've warned about for operating without a license, and it gets updated regularly. Stafford Thorpe might already be on there.
When they call back, ask for the name of the bank they use for client funds. Real firms in Tokyo keep client money segregated at a major Japanese bank like MUFG or SMBC. If they can't name one or say it's overseas, that's your answer.
Also ask what exchange or brokerage they actually execute trades through. If they can't give you a specific name like SBI Securities or Rakuten Securities, they're not doing real trades.
honestly trust your gut on this one. japan's financial watchdog publishes a list of companies operating without registration and it updates pretty frequently, stafford thorpe sounds like the type of name that shows up there eventually. i'd check the kanto local finance bureau's website directly, they have a searchable database of registered firms in japanese
when they call back ask for their kinyu shohin torihiki gyosha number, that's the financial instruments business registration. any legit firm in tokyo will have one and it'll be on their business cards. also ask which securities exchange they're members of, tokyo stock exchange memberships are public record
the marunouchi address thing is a classic setup, that area is full of shared offices and virtual mailboxes. i walk through there sometimes and half the buildings have those little lobby directories with names that dont match any real tenant. if they can't tell you which floor and which specific room number, it's a mailbox
ngl that second reply nailed it with the fsa registration check, that's the real test. one thing i'd add - when you ask for their office location, be specific about the building name and floor number. lots of these fake firms rent virtual offices in places like the shinjuku center building or the pacific century place in minato, but they'll say something vague like "marunouchi area" and hang up if you push for the exact suite number.
also, real japanese investment firms will never cold call foreigners in english like this. if they were legitimate they'd be working through a referral network or existing client base. the whole "prepare questions for our next call" bit is a pressure tactic to make you feel like you're doing due diligence when you're really just being groomed. save yourself the time and just don't pick up.
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.