Methodology
Data structure — products and prices are separate
We never store "one price on one product". Data is held in four layers: Product Family → Variant/SKU → Offer (store × SKU) → Price Observation (dated). The 100g and 300g of the same chocolate, or the supermarket and airport prices of the same SKU, are separate records — every price carries a source URL and check date.
Souvenir Score
A 0–100 composite whose weights differ by category (bulk food rewards per-piece price and wrapping; premium food rewards quality and maker; crafts reward cultural evidence; beauty rewards ingredient clarity; airport picks reward availability). All weights are published in config. Missing data scores a neutral 60 and is penalised separately via Confidence — evaluation and information volume are never mixed.
Authenticity
To avoid rating something highly just because it is sold in Malaysia, we track eleven Malaysian Connection types (brand, manufacture, design, ingredients, craft, regional tradition, cultural icon, artist collab, MY-only, airport-only, merely-sold) and compute Authenticity from them. Words like "traditional" or "artisan" require evidence.
Confidence
Official product info 20 / official price 15 / SKU identified 10 / store confirmed 10 / price freshness 10 / ingredients 10 / independent sources 10 / field check 10 / package image 5. Listing needs ≥40, rankings ≥60, top-20 ≥75; below 60 goes to "New & Notable".
Stock and price wording
Without official inventory feeds we never say "in stock" — only "observed on [date]". Prices are dated observations, with promo and normal prices stored separately.
Travel rules
Japan-bound rules cite only official pages (Animal/Plant Quarantine, Customs, MHLW, METI, MLIT), each with URL and check date. Traveler anecdotes are never used as legal evidence. Final decisions rest with the authorities.
Currency & independence
JPY uses Bank Negara Malaysia's official daily middle rate (data.gov.my, CC BY 4.0), cross-checked with the ECB, refreshed daily on our own machine — no external calls from your browser. Rankings are never influenced by sponsors.