Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Does a Multimeter or Clamp Meter Need PSE Certification to Import Into Japan? (2026)
Generally no. Battery-powered measuring instruments such as handheld multimeters and clamp meters are not enumerated in the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act's (電気用品安全法, DENAN Act)...
Is a Bicycle-Use E-Bike Battery Exempt From PSE in Japan?
No. The Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法, DENAN) excludes lithium-ion battery packs used in automobiles, mopeds, medical equipment, and industrial machinery from PSE scope,...
Sub-100g Drones in Japan: Do You Still Need MLIT Registration in 2026?
No. Under Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act (航空法), registration (機体登録) is mandatory only for unmanned aircraft with a total weight of 100 grams or more. A drone under that threshold does not need a...
PSE and Giteki in Japan: Do Wireless Devices Need Both?
Yes. A battery-powered wireless device with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, or NFC needs both Radio Act (電波法) Giteki (技適) certification and Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法, PSE)...
Do You Need a FEFTA Export License to Import a Research Balloon Into Japan?
Not for the import itself. The Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (外為法, FEFTA) licensing question for a stratospheric research balloon sits on the export and re-export side of the payload's...
Does Temporary Admission Into Japan Trigger a FEFTA Export License on Re-Export?
A temporary admission into Japan does not by itself create a FEFTA export licensing obligation. The licensing question resurfaces at the point of re-export: Article 48 of the Foreign Exchange and...
Does a Bag's Outer Material Change Its Japan Import Duty Rate? (2026)
Yes. Japan Customs (税関) classifies bags, cases and wallets under Harmonized System heading 42.02 primarily by outer surface material, not by product name or intended use. The same style of tote or...
Can a Non-Resident Be the Importer of Record for a Food Shipment Into Japan?
No. A non-resident cannot be the importer of record for a food shipment into Japan, and appointing an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP, 税関事務管理人) does not change that answer. Quarantine station...
Who Is Legally Responsible for a Japan Dangerous Goods Shipper's Declaration? (2026)
The signatory of a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) carries full legal responsibility for that shipment's regulatory conformity and must hold current IATA/ICAO dangerous goods training...
Does an Imported Food Product Need a Japanese-Language Label to Sell in Japan? Food Labeling Standards Explained (2026)
Yes. Any food product sold at retail in Japan, imported or domestic, must carry a Japanese-language label meeting the Food Labeling Standards (食品表示基準), administered by the Consumer Affairs Agency...