Getting the New Balance 990v7 Grey/Silver in Japan has a few unexpected hurdles

The design evolution of the 990v7 in 2026

The sneaker community has been buzzing since the first leaks of the New Balance 990v7 appeared earlier this year. Now that it is April 2026, the 'Grey/Silver' colorway has officially launched in the United States, and it is a significant departure from the v6. The silhouette is slightly more streamlined, but it retains that chunky aesthetic that defined the previous iterations. The 'Made in USA' craftsmanship is evident in the premium pigskin suede and the updated mesh panels that offer better breathability than any previous model.

Start Your Buy For Me Request for New Balance 990v7 'Grey/Silver' (Made in USA - 2026 Launch)

Merchant New Balance US KITH Bodega

Ship To Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten (Dutch part) Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

Your Email

Product Url ^*

Product Name ^*

Unit Price (USD)^*

EST Service Fee: $21.0 $10.5

Quantity ^*

Color

Size

Instructions

Submit your proxy shopping order now and enjoy 50% OFF the service fee.

Plus, get 10% OFF international shipping on your first shipment.

Submit Order

Just a moment, securing your connection...

The comfort level is also a step up. New Balance introduced a refined FuelCell foam blend specifically for this 2026 release, providing a more responsive feel underfoot. For those of us in Japan, the appeal of the 990 series remains its versatility. It looks just as good with a pair of wide-leg trousers in Daikanyama as it does with athletic gear. However, getting your hands on a pair directly from a US store requires knowing a few tricks about how a freight forwarder can simplify the process.

The availability gap in Japan retail

It is a common story for sneakerheads in Tokyo or Osaka. The most desirable colorways, especially the iconic Grey/Silver, often sell out instantly in local boutiques or are listed at prices significantly higher than the US retail price. Because the 990v7 is part of the 'Made in USA' line, the production volume is limited. US-based stores often get the bulk of the inventory, making it much easier to find your specific size if you shop US store sites directly.

By using a tax-free US address provided by comGateway, you can access the same stock as American buyers. This is often the only way to avoid the massive markups found on the Japanese secondary market. If you are curious about how the whole process works from start to finish, you can check this step-by-step guide.

The payment barrier at major US retailers

The most frustrating part of buying the 990v7 isn't finding it in stock; it is actually checking out. Many popular US retailers like Nike, Sephora, or Apple are notorious for having strict security filters. These stores often block international credit cards or automatically decline orders that are being sent to known package forwarding addresses. Even if you have the funds, your order might get cancelled within minutes of placing it because you aren't using a US-issued payment method.

This is the "hidden barrier" that stops most international shoppers. These retailers want to prevent reselling and ensure that their stock stays within the domestic market. For a high-demand drop like the New Balance 990v7, these filters are set to their highest sensitivity. If you try to use a Japanese credit card, there is a high probability the transaction will fail before it even reaches the shipping stage.

How to use a proxy shopping service for sneakers

The most reliable solution to this problem is using an assisted purchase option. Through the BuyForMe service, a dedicated team buys the items on your behalf using a US domestic credit card. This effectively bypasses the international card block and ensures that the store sees the transaction as a standard US purchase.

This proxy shopping method is the safest way to guarantee your order doesn't get cancelled during a busy launch week. Once the team secures your 990v7 'Grey/Silver', the shoes are delivered to your US suite, and you are notified as soon as they arrive. This takes the stress out of the checkout process, especially when you are competing with thousands of other buyers for a limited 2026 release.

Understanding shipping and customs for Japan

Once your shoes are safely at the warehouse, you need to think about getting them to Japan. Before you ship, it is always a good idea to check the shipping calculator to see what the total cost will be. Shipping a single pair of sneakers is usually straightforward, but if you've bought multiple items, you can consolidate them to save on international shipping rates.

You should also be aware of the rules regarding what can be sent. While sneakers are generally fine, you can check the list of prohibited items if you are planning to add other goods to your shipment. For example, certain leather cleaning chemicals or aerosols often sold with shoes might be restricted.

Customs and tax breakdown

When the 990v7 arrives in Japan, you will likely need to pay import duties. Japan has specific thresholds for personal imports, and footwear can sometimes carry higher rates than other apparel. Check our guide on customs tax to understand how these fees are calculated for 2026. Knowing the potential import tax upfront prevents any surprises when the courier arrives at your door in Tokyo.

To keep your shipping fees low, always look at the various international shipping options available. Some methods are faster, while others are more budget-friendly depending on how quickly you want to lace up your new New Balances. Most enthusiasts find that even with shipping and duties, the total cost of importing from the US is still more favorable than paying the inflated 2026 prices in Japan.

Getting the latest drop doesn't have to be a headache if you have the right tools. By navigating around the payment blocks and using a reliable US address, you can ensure your 2026 sneaker collection stays ahead of the curve.