Jul 28, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Pak Mail's international growth continues with the opening of its fourth location in Japan located in Gunma Prefecture in Isesaki. With one location in Nagoya and two in Osaka, Mr. Sadao Sawada, Pak Mail's master franchisee in Japan, says his next target market for expansion will be Tokyo. Franchise development has been a priority for Mr. Sawada although he admits growth can be slow in Japan. From the time an introduction is made to a potential investor, it can be 6 months to a full year before an agreement can be signed. Also, real estate is at a premium in Japan and finding the right retail location, with rents that most times exceed 3 times the average rate in the United States, can serve to slow down the franchise agreement finalization process. However, Mr. Sawada maintains an aggressive goal to eventually establish 50-60 Pak Mail stores throughout Japan. Pak Mail's newest international franchise owner, Mr. Osamu Nagaoka, was in the moving and storage business in Japan prior to investing in the specialty packing and shipping business. He was inspired to add the Pak Mail system to his existing business in response to the need for professional packaging and crating services for both his domestic and international moving and storage customers. With other master franchises located in Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and Venezuela, international franchise development is an important part of Pak Mail's overall business development plan. "We train our master franchisees in the complete operation of a Pak Mail center and then allow them to modify the system to fit their own culture. Since they will be responsible for developing a franchise system within their own country, we also provide franchise sales training," says Pak Mail Chief Operating Officer, Alex Zai. Pak Mail is a premier specialty packaging, shipping and business support franchise with more than 400 centers in North America and 60 international locations in six countries.