Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Can You Net Seller and Buyer Payments in a Japan IOR Deal? (2026)
Yes. Netting the goods-value payables and receivables between an overseas seller and a Japan buyer is not prohibited under Japanese law, provided the underlying Importer of Record (IOR) purchase...
Does Running a Data Center or Hosting Service in Japan Require Telecom Business Registration? (2026 Guide)
Usually not, but it depends on what the service does, not how big the facility is. Pure server-capacity rental where a customer only runs its own website is exempt from filing under the...
Do You Need a Separate PSE Certificate for Every Product Model in Japan?
No. PSE certification under Japan's Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法) is not organized around the individual SKU. It runs on three separate units: a type-classification group...
Is Website Accessibility Legally Required for Businesses in Japan? (2026 Guide)
No single law makes private-sector website accessibility a direct legal mandate in Japan, but two related developments change the risk calculus. Since April 1, 2024, the Act for the Elimination of...
Does Changing Jobs Affect Your HSP Visa Points Score in Japan? (2026 Guide)
Yes. Your Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) status is tied to the specific employer and role you scored 70 or more points on, not to the label in the abstract, so a new job can lower your score...
Does Your Japan-Facing Contract Need an APPI Cross-Border Data Transfer Clause in 2026?
Yes, if your contract lets any party outside Japan access personal data of Japan-resident individuals, whether as a SaaS vendor, an intercompany affiliate, or an outsourced processor. Article 28...
How Does a Foreign Parent Claim Reduced Withholding Tax Under a Japan Tax Treaty in 2026?
A foreign parent claims the reduced rate by having its Japan subsidiary, as withholding agent, file an Application Form for Income Tax Convention (租税条約に関する届出書) with the subsidiary's tax office...
Why Does Your Website Need a Separate Japanese Font License From Your Global Type System? (2026)
Because the Latin web font a company already licenses for its global site almost never includes full Han (kanji) character coverage, and even when a CJK (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) variant exists...
How Should a Foreign-Owned Company Design a Business Card (名刺) for Japan? (2026)
Design the card as two single-language faces rather than one bilingual face: Japanese on one side, English (or the counterparty's language) on the other. Match the printed title to a Japanese...
Which Colors Should You Avoid in Japan B2B Branding? (2026)
No color is universally off-limits in Japan B2B branding, but several colors carry a different connotation than they do in a Western brand book and need re-testing before use. Red reads as...