Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Do You Need a Certificate of Origin to Import Into Japan? EPA Preference vs Standard Clearance (2026)
No. A Certificate of Origin is only required if you are claiming a reduced or zero tariff rate under an Economic Partnership Agreement (経済連携協定) or Free Trade Agreement, such as CPTPP, RCEP, or the...
Japan Company Fiscal Year-End: How Should a Foreign-Owned KK or GK Choose One in 2026?
Japan does not require a calendar-year fiscal year. A foreign-owned Kabushiki Kaisha (KK, 株式会社) or Godo Kaisha (GK, 合同会社) picks any month-end as its fiscal year-end and states it in the Articles...
Why Did My HS Code Get Rejected in NACCS in 2026?
NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System, Japan's customs electronic filing system) rejects a filing when the declared HS heading no longer exists in the current Japan tariff...
Does a Japan GK Have to Publish Financial Statements in 2026?
No. A Godo Kaisha (合同会社, GK) carries no statutory duty to publish its annual balance sheet. That obligation, known as 決算公告 (financial statement publication), attaches only to a Kabushiki Kaisha...
What Office Counts for Japan's Management Visa in 2026?
The Management Visa (経営・管理) requires commercial premises actually used for the business: a leased office, a dedicated room, or a co-working desk with sustained, documented use and visible business...
Can You Renew a Japan Management Visa Under Old Rules Until 2028?
Yes, but only if you already held Management Visa (経営・管理) status before October 16, 2025. The Immigration Control Act (入管法) reform tightened the standard that day, and existing holders may renew...
Proving Japanese Ability for Japan's Management Visa (2026)
Acceptable proof is a JLPT N2 certificate or CEFR B2-equivalent documentation, held by either the visa applicant or the company's qualifying full-time employee, not a self-declared claim of...
Japan Management Visa (2026): Who Counts as a Qualifying Employee?
A qualifying employee for Japan's Management Visa (経営・管理) is a Japanese national, a Special Permanent Resident, a Permanent Resident, the spouse or child of a Japanese national, or a Long-Term...
Do You Need a Separate Permit to Import High-Pressure Gas Into Japan in 2026?
Yes. Importing compressed or liquefied high-pressure gas into Japan requires clearing the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (高圧ガス保安法), on top of ordinary customs clearance under the Customs Act (関税法)....
Why Does Japan KK or GK Incorporation Involve a Separate Invoice From a Judicial Scrivener in 2026?
A separate invoice arrives because the actual registration filing is a reserved legal act. Under the Judicial Scrivener Act (司法書士法), only a licensed Judicial Scrivener (司法書士) may represent a...