Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Does Changing Employers Affect Your J-Skip Visa Status in Japan? (2026 Guide)
Yes, in two distinct ways. First, a general notification obligation under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管法) requires most work-visa holders, including status-of-residence...
Is an Electronically Signed Contract Legally Valid in Japan? (2026 Guide)
Yes. Under the Act on Electronic Signatures (電子署名法, enacted 2001), an electronic signature that meets Japan's qualification standard carries the same legal presumption of authenticity as a...
How Does Japan's HSP Visa Change Your Spouse's Work Rights in 2026?
The spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職, HSP) visa holder can apply for a dedicated status of residence that permits employment without the 28-hour weekly cap applied to an ordinary...
Does Japan's Startup Visa Guarantee You a Management Visa in 2026?
No. The Startup Visa (特定活動告示44号, Designated Activities Public Notice No. 44) buys a founder up to two years to build toward the Management Visa (経営・管理) standard; it does not lower or waive that...
Experimental Station Licence or Type Certification: Which Does Your IoT Device Need in Japan? (2026)
If your wireless device is for research, development, or a limited trial, you need an Experimental Station Licence (実験局免許) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省 (MIC)). If...
What Job Title Can You Put on a Business Card at a Japan GK or KK? (2026)
No Japanese statute requires a job title to appear on a business card (名刺) at all. The legal constraint runs the other way: which title you may print. A 合同会社 (GK) has no director seats, so its...
What Documents Prove Income Eligibility for Japan's J-Skip Visa? (2026)
Proving J-Skip income eligibility requires a coherent evidence package, typically an employment contract stating salary, corroborating tax or withholding records, and (where the applicant...
What Does Japan's 2028 Platform Tax Reform Mean for Foreign E-Commerce Sellers?
Japan's Phase 2 platform tax reform, effective April 2028, makes e-commerce platform operators the Japan consumption tax (JCT) taxpayer for cross-border B2C goods sold to Japan consumers, and...
How Do You Upgrade from HSP-1 to HSP-2 in Japan? (2026)
HSP-1 holders qualify for HSP-2 after three years on HSP-1, or after just one year if their point score reaches 80 or more (against the 70-point threshold that qualifies for HSP-1 in the first...
Who Can Certify a Business Plan for Japan's Management Visa? (2026)
Only three categories of Japan-licensed professional may certify a Management Visa (経営・管理) business plan: a Certified Public Accountant (公認会計士), a Licensed Tax Accountant (税理士), or a Small and...