Beyond Standard
Recovery
Data Recovery for Overseas Customers
We specialize in the failure most labs call unrecoverable: physically scratched platters. Using firmware control instead of polishing, we recover data from surfaces that standard tools and other labs give up on — with a ~70% recovery rate.
If a local recovery shop told you your HDD is unrecoverable, our lab in Tokyo is often the next step. Ship your drive to us from anywhere in the world, or, if you are visiting Japan, bring it to our lab in Akihabara, where English-language support is available in person.
- Location
- Akihabara, Tokyo, JapanWalk-ins welcome, with English support in person
- Platter Scratch Recovery
- ~70% success rate on scratch-damaged platters
- Policy
- No Data, No Charge
Visiting Tokyo? See our Akihabara location and opening hours
Who We Are
One team, in Japan
This overseas desk is operated by the same engineers behind our Akihabara data recovery lab. Domestically we operate as media-sos; internationally, our specialist recovery work is run under the Akihabara lab (Scratch Lab / FIX inc.). Same engineers, same cleanroom, same equipment.
Our physical recovery work is led by a Chief Engineer who previously served as a forensic technical official at Japan's National Police Agency.
- 100% in-house. Zero outsourcing. Every step from diagnosis to delivery is handled in our own lab.
- Full PC-3000 series and an in-house cleanroom on-site.
- 100% offline recovery environment, 24/7 security monitoring, CCTV, and access control.
- NDA available on request. Oversight by a Japanese Government-Certified Information Security Specialist (RISS).
What We Handle
The cases others decline
- Physically scratched platters — recovered by firmware control, without polishing or burnishing the surface.
- Failed or degraded read/write heads.
- Drives not detected, not spinning, or making abnormal noise.
- Firmware-level corruption.
- Drives previously opened or attempted by another lab — no surcharge for prior work.
We provide a file list of recoverable data before you commit. If your priority data is not recoverable, there is no service fee — No Data, No Charge.
Please note: This guarantee has limited exceptions. In extremely severe cases, or in cases where we assess the chance of recovery to be minimal, a fee may apply even if data cannot be recovered — for example, when you ask us to attempt a recovery we have already flagged as very unlikely to succeed. We will always explain this and obtain your agreement before any chargeable work begins.
How It Works From Abroad
Sending your drive from outside Japan
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Tell us about your case.
Submit the details of your drive and failure.
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Ship your media to our lab in Tokyo.
We will confirm the safest way to send it from your country.
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Diagnosis and file list.
We diagnose the drive and send you a list of recoverable data.
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You decide.
Approve the recovery only if your data is there.
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Return of your data.
Recovered data is returned to you on new media.
- Shipping
- We accept drives from anywhere in the world, as long as they can be physically shipped to us — there are no country restrictions. Pack the drive unpowered and do not attempt further repairs before sending — repeated power-ups can turn a recoverable case into an unrecoverable one.
- Payment
- We accept credit card payments via Stripe, as well as Wise and international bank transfer. Payment details are provided when you proceed.
- Confidentiality
- Your data is handled in a fully offline environment under strict access control. NDA available on request.
Visiting Japan
Bring your drive to our lab in Akihabara
Coming to Japan for travel or business? You can hand your drive to us in person at Scratch Lab Akihabara, our main location in Tokyo. English-language support is available here, so you can explain what happened and ask questions face to face.
Bringing the drive yourself means no international courier, no customs paperwork, and no knocks in transit for a drive that is already damaged. Diagnosis is free, and you see the list of recoverable files and the price before you decide.
- Location
- Scratch Lab Akihabara (Main Location)スクラッチラボ 秋葉原店（本店）
- Address
- Spacia Akihabara B1, 4-9-7 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan〒101-0021 東京都千代田区外神田4-9-7 スペーシア秋葉原B1Ring intercom 001 to enter.
- Opening Hours
- 10:00–19:00, Monday to FridayClosed on Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese public holidays.
- Appointment
- Not required. Walk in any time during opening hours.
- Languages
- English and JapaneseEnglish-language support is available at this location only. Please come directly here rather than to our other reception counters.
- Access
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- 6-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station (Electric Town Exit)
- 7-minute walk from Akihabara Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (Exit 3)
- 7-minute walk from Akihabara Station, Tsukuba Express (Exit A1)
- Payment
- Cash (Japanese yen), credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Discover, Diners Club) and PayPay
Planning around your trip
- Get in touch before you fly. Send us your case details and travel dates, and we will tell you what to expect before you arrive.
- Carry the drive with you, unpowered. Keep it in your carry-on luggage, and do not power it on or run recovery software before your visit. Each power-up can make a damaged drive harder to recover.
- Plan a weekday visit. The lab is closed on weekends and Japanese public holidays.
- Allow time for severe damage. Some cases can be completed the same day, but severe physical damage takes longer. If the work is not finished before you leave Japan, we can send your recovered data to you abroad. International shipping is charged to the customer.
Languages
Write to us in your own language
We communicate directly in English and Russian. For all other languages, we use AI translation. As you may already know, today's AI translation is highly accurate, so communicating with us in your own language should present no problem — please write to us in whatever language you prefer.
If you would like to talk to us in person, English-language support is available at our main location, Scratch Lab Akihabara. See Visiting Japan for the address and opening hours.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
QCan I send my drive from another country?
Yes. We accept drives from anywhere in the world, as long as they can be physically shipped to us — there are no country restrictions. Contact us first and we will confirm the safest shipping method from your location.
QDo you take cases other labs said were unrecoverable?
Yes — those are our specialty, especially physically scratched platters. We also accept drives that another lab has already opened or attempted, with no surcharge for prior work.
QWhat if my data cannot be recovered?
In most cases, if your priority data cannot be recovered, there is no service fee. This guarantee has limited exceptions: extremely severe cases, and cases we assess in advance as having minimal chance of recovery that you still ask us to attempt. In those situations a fee may apply regardless of the result — and we always explain the risk and get your agreement before starting any chargeable work.
QHow do I pay from outside Japan?
We accept credit card via Stripe, Wise, and international bank transfer. We provide the payment details once you decide to proceed.
QWhat language can I contact you in?
We communicate directly in English and Russian, and use AI translation for all other languages. Today's AI translation is highly accurate, so please feel free to write in your own language. In person, English-language support is available only at our main location, Scratch Lab Akihabara.
QCan I bring my drive to you while I'm in Japan?
Yes. Bring it to Scratch Lab Akihabara, our main location at Spacia Akihabara B1, 4-9-7 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo — a 6-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station. We are open 10:00–19:00, Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and Japanese public holidays), and no appointment is needed. English-language support is available at this location. If your schedule is tight, contact us with your travel dates before you arrive. See Visiting Japan for details.
QIs my data kept confidential?
Yes. Recovery is performed in a 100% offline environment with 24/7 monitoring and access control. An NDA is available on request.
Individuals, businesses, and data recovery labs and B2B partners are all welcome. If you have a case you can't take, refer it to us. Start by sending us your case details — there is no charge to get a diagnosis.