venture-jp.com

Our consultation fee is ¥11,000 per 30 minutes. We can provide online consultations via Skype or Zoom, and we gladly accept requests for consultations from individuals located outside of Japan.

There are no nationality requirements for establishing a Japanese corporation. Therefore, foreign nationals and companies with foreign capital can establish and set up Japanese corporations or Japanese branches in Japan.

Yes, it is possible.

No, it is not necessary. Even if all the representative directors reside abroad, it is possible to apply for a company registration in Japan.

It is recommended that you incorporate the company around the date of your graduation ceremony and apply for a Business Manager Visa thereafter.
After establishing a company but before operating that company, you must acquire a Business Manager Visa. (If you fail to complete this required process, it is possible that your actions would be considered “Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted”.)

By establishing a business base in Japan, there is the advantage of ensuring credibility and making it easier to do business in Japan.

You heard correctly: Japan does allow for various forms of corporations. For example, there are stock companies (Kabushiki Kaisha), limited liability companies (Godo Kaisha), general incorporated associations, and incorporated nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Each form has its own characteristics; thus, we will ask you the purpose or target of your business and propose the appropriate form of corporation.

Both are forms of limited liability companies, but there are some key differences. One important distinction is that the costs (both to set up and to maintain a K.K. versus a G.K.) differ. The costs associated with a Godo Kaisha are lower than those of a Kabushiki Kaisha.

There are three possible methods: (i) establishing a Japanese corporation, (ii) setting up a Japanese branch (sales office), or (iii) setting up a representative office.

• ①In the case of establishing a Japanese corporation, it is possible to start the business smoothly as it acquires a legal personality. In addition, official documents are issued to show the existence of the legal entity, which increases its credibility. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that it is expensive to establish and operate.
• ②In the case of setting up a Japanese branch (sales office), a certain degree of creditworthiness can be obtained as official documents are issued to show the existence of the office. There is a disadvantage in that it costs some money to set up.
• ③In the case of setting up a representative office, the advantage is that no registration is required and therefore no costs are incurred. On the other hand, it has the disadvantage that it lacks credibility as there is no official documentation to prove its existence. In addition, it is not possible to open a bank account in the name of the corporation.

Even merely 1 incorporator is acceptable.

There is no requirement for a minimum amount. You can invest merely ¥1 to set up a company if you wish.
However, the amount of capital represents the strength of the company. In the case of a newly established company, the amount of capital is directly used as an indicator of the size and credit of the company, so a certain amount is required.
If the capital is ¥10 million or more, consumption tax will be levied from the first year of establishment. Therefore, many companies are established with a capital amount of less than ¥10 million.
Besides, please note that a certain amount of capital may be required depending on the purpose of establishing the company. If you plan to obtain a Business Manager Visa, ¥5 million or more in capital is necessary. If you are going to start a recruiting and dispatching business/agency for temporary personnel, ¥20 million or more in capital is required. If you are planning to start an employment placement business/agency, your amount of capital must be ¥5 million or more.

Yes, fortunately, you can.

Even merely 1 director is acceptable.

Yes, you can. It is permissible to not only use Japanese but also the alphabet in a company name.

It is necessary to create a representative’s seal. The representative’s seal must be registered with the registry office.

Articles of Incorporation are articles or clauses that describe the essential points of a company. Listed together in a single document (called the Articles of Incorporation), they cover such matters as the company’s name, the corporate purpose, and the like.

It must be done at a notary public office in the prefecture where the company's head office is located. For instance, if you plan to set up your head office in Tokyo, you must have the articles of incorporation certified at a notary public office in Tokyo.

Documents must be submitted to the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau.

You must apply to the Legal Affairs Bureau that has jurisdiction over your company's head office location. For example, if you plan to set up your head office in Minato-ku, Tokyo, you will need to apply to the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau Minato Branch.

You must pay at least the following expenses to set up a company in addition to our legal fee:

• 1 Registration Tax ¥150,000
• 2 Certification of the Articles of Incorporation ¥50,000
• 3 Revenue Stamp ¥40,000

The process usually takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

Yes, you do. It must be reported to the tax office and city office.

When you open an account at a financial institution in Japan, you need to submit a certified copy of the company registration. Therefore, you cannot open a bank account for your company until the entire registration procedure is completed.

No registration is required. As representative offices are not expected to conduct business activities in Japan, there is no need to register with the tax office.

Since the representative office does not have a legal personality, it is impossible to open a bank account in the name of the representative office.

It is possible to obtain a business manager visa either by establishing a Japanese corporation or by setting up a Japanese branch.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. If you want to obtain a Business Manager Visa, we recommend investing at least ¥5,000,000.

Not necessarily. If you have one of the following visas, you do not have to acquire a Business Manager Visa:

• ① Permanent Resident Visa
• ② Spouse of Japanese National
• ③ Spouse of Permanent Resident
• ④ Long Term Resident (Japanese Descendant and his/her spouse, Child of Japanese National, and Permanent Resident)

Yes, you do. Your visa should be changed to a Business Manager Visa in order for you to become a director and start your own business.

The examination will be quite strict if you plan to turn part of the property you are using as a residence into an office. For a greater chance of approval, we recommend that you establish your office in a separate location from your home residence.

Yes, it would be possible. A post-secondary degree is not a prerequisite for obtaining a Business Manager Visa.

The best option is to establish a Japanese corporation. There are two main types of Japanese corporations: joint-stock companies and limited liability companies, but there is little difference between the two in terms of financing in the early stages of incorporation.

Yes, you do. You can apply for a loan from Japan Finance Corporation, which is a bank established by the Japanese government.

The loan amount depends on the case. The average amount is between ¥3,000,000 and ¥10,000,000.

It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks from the date of the interview.

There are several types of taxes imposed on a company established in Japan. These include corporate taxes, enterprise taxes, consumption taxes, and the like.

Yes, it is possible to do so. We can provide support to you not only in finding and buying property but also in obtaining a loan from a bank.