Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Does Japan EOR Cover the Probation Period? What Employer of Record Actually Handles in Your New Hire's First Months (2026)
Foreign employers frequently ask whether a probation period (試用期間) under a Japan Employer of Record (EOR) arrangement functions the way it does at home: a window in which a new hire can be let go...
The Document Checklist That Keeps Your First Japan IOR or ACP Shipment From Stalling at Customs (2026)
Most first-shipment delays into Japan are not caused by a difficult product or an obscure regulation. They are caused by a foreign company requesting a quote, receiving one, booking freight, and...
Adding New Products to Your Japan IOR: What Changes When You Expand Beyond Your Original SKUs (2026)
A foreign company that has an Importer of Record (IOR) arrangement running in Japan for one product line usually assumes the hard part is done. The importer of record is in place, customs...
Japan IOR for Musical Instruments and Professional Audio Equipment: Import Compliance for Foreign Manufacturers (2026)
Japan is one of the largest markets in the world for imported musical instruments and professional audio equipment, from acoustic guitars and orchestral instruments to studio monitors, mixing...
Employer of Record vs Haken (人材派遣) in Japan: Why Dispatch Staffing Law Doesn't Cover What EOR Does (2026)
Foreign companies scoping their first Japan hire frequently get pointed toward a 人材派遣 (haken, worker dispatch) agency, since dispatch staffing is the dominant and most familiar form of flexible...
Importer of Record vs Consignee in Japan: Why the Difference Determines Who Is Legally Liable for Your Shipment (2026)
Foreign shippers new to the Japan market often use "consignee" and "importer" as if they were interchangeable. They are not, and the gap between them is where a surprising number of first-time...
Japan EOR and the Twice-Yearly Bonus: How Employer of Record Handles Shoyo (賞与) and Total Compensation Planning (2026)
A foreign company hiring its first employee in Japan through an Employer of Record (EOR) arrangement typically anchors its budget on gross monthly salary and a handful of statutory add-ons. What...
Japan IOR for China-Made Electronics: Why PSE and the Notifying Supplier Model Break Down When the Factory Is in China
A brand sourcing consumer electronics from a Chinese contract manufacturer usually arrives at Japan market entry already holding a stack of paperwork it believes proves compliance: a China...
Japan IOR for Chinese Manufacturers: Supplier Due Diligence and Sourcing-Side Compliance Before You Ship
A brand sourcing from a Chinese factory and shipping into Japan under an Importer of Record (IOR) arrangement often assumes the compliance work starts at the port. It does not. The customs...
What Happens When Japan Customs Holds Your IOR Shipment? Detention, Inspection, and How to Respond (2026)
A shipment that was supposed to clear routinely is instead sitting at a bonded area with a customs inspection flag on it, and the factory overseas is asking why the goods have not arrived. If your...