Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Japan IOR for DTC Brands: How to Sell Directly to Japanese Customers Without a Japan Entity (2026)
A DTC brand shipping individual parcels straight to Japanese consumers needs a Japan Importer of Record (IOR) or Attorney for Customs Procedures (税関事務管理人) structure once volume, product compliance...
Japan IOR for Medical Devices and Healthcare Equipment: Import Compliance Beyond PMD Act Approval
No, an Importer of Record (IOR) appointment does not clear a medical device for the Japan market. Importing a medical device or healthcare equipment product into Japan requires two entirely...
Japan IOR for Lithium Battery Imports: The DG Compliance and Customs Structure Every Battery Shipper Must Get Right
A lithium battery shipment to Japan has to clear two separate compliance layers, not one. Dangerous Goods (DG) classification and documentation under IATA or IMDG rules must be correct before the...
How to Hire Your First Employee in Japan Without Setting Up a Company (2026 EOR Guide)
Yes, you can hire an employee in Japan without incorporating a Japan entity, by engaging an Employer of Record (雇用主, EOR) that becomes the legal employer on your behalf. The EOR signs the...
Japan IOR for B2B Manufacturers: How to Ship to Japanese Distributors and Buyers After the 2023 Reform
No, not automatically. Since Japan Customs' October 2023 clarification, a Japanese distributor can only be named importer of record (輸入者) if it genuinely holds disposition rights (処分権限), meaning...
How to Import from China to Japan - Duties, Compliance and Market Entry Guide 2026
From Chinese Factory to Japan Customs Clearance: What Every Exporter and Buyer Needs to Know
IOR vs ACP for Japan Imports - Which Structure Do You Need in 2026?
Two Legal Pathways for Non-Resident Importers: What Separates Them and When to Use Each
Should You Import Into Japan Via ACP or Set Up a Full Entity? (2026)
The break-even between staying non-resident with ACP and incorporating a Japan entity sits at roughly one to two employees: below that, ACP plus an Exporter/Employer of Record arrangement is...
EOR Labor Compliance - Japan's Employment Rules for Foreign Companies
What Your Employer of Record Must Get Right - And What You Need to Know
Do You Need an IOR or ACP to Sell on Amazon Japan or Rakuten as a Non-Resident? (2026)
Neither Amazon nor Rakuten will act as your Importer of Record, so a non-resident seller shipping inventory to an FBA or Rakuten warehouse needs one of two customs structures: an Importer of...