Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
What Happens to Your Japan ACP Appointment If You Incorporate a Local Entity Mid-Engagement? (2026)
Incorporating a Japan entity ends your ACP appointment, because the structure only exists for a non-resident importer under Customs Act (関税法) Article 95. Once your company has a registered office...
How Long Does Japan's Startup Visa Last, and How Do You Renew It? (2026)
Japan's Startup Visa, formally Designated Activities (特定活動) under 特定活動告示44号, runs for a maximum of two years of business-preparation activity, up from 18 months before January 1, 2025. It is...
Does an Agricultural Spray Drone Need Special MLIT Permission to Import Into Japan? (2026)
Yes, in almost every real-world case. Importing an agricultural spray drone into Japan only requires aircraft registration (機体登録) with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism...
Does a Button Cell Battery Need a Dangerous Goods Declaration to Ship to Japan? (2026)
No, usually not. A lithium coin or button cell, such as a CR2032, installed inside a consumer device is excepted from a Shipper's Declaration under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) Packing...
What Happens to a Japan KK or GK When Its Sole Representative Director Dies or Becomes Incapacitated? (2026)
The company does not dissolve, but its authority to act stops cold. A sole representative director's (代表取締役) signing authority ends on death, unlike on resignation, where authority can carry over...
Does Japan Charge Antidumping Duty on an IOR-Cleared Shipment, and Who Is Liable for It? (2026)
Yes. If the imported goods fall within an active Japan antidumping duty order by HS code and country of origin, the duty applies at the border regardless of the import structure used. Under an...
Does Shipping CKD/SKD (Disassembled Goods) Change the Japan HS Code in 2026?
No, not by default. Under General Rules for Interpretation (GRI) Rule 2(a), goods presented unassembled or disassembled are classified under the same heading as the finished article, provided the...
Does a Warranty Replacement Unit Need Its Own IOR Appointment in Japan? (2026 Guide)
No. The Importer of Record (IOR) engagement itself does not need to be re-signed when a warranty replacement unit ships into Japan. What does need to happen again is the import declaration (輸入申告)...
How Do You Reduce Registered Capital in an Existing Japan KK or GK? (2026 Guide)
A Japan KK (株式会社) reduces registered capital by passing a shareholder resolution (ordinary or special, depending on purpose), running a creditor protection procedure (債権者保護手続) that includes an...
Can a Japan-Resident Collaborator's Personal Bank Account Receive Your Company's Capital Payment?
Yes. When every founder and every director of the new company is a non-resident of Japan, a Japan-resident collaborator, who does not need to be a founder, director, or shareholder, can receive...