Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Japan ACP for Wholesale and Distribution Brands: How to Stay Named as Importer Without a Japan Entity
Your Japanese distributor handles sales. But who appears on Japan's import declaration (輸入申告) as the legal importer? If your answer is "the distributor" or "the freight forwarder," your customs...
EOR for Pharma, Biotech, and Life Sciences Companies Hiring in Japan
Hiring your first Japan-based regulatory affairs director should take weeks, not the 12 to 18 months it takes to set up a pharmaceutical entity and work through the licensing prerequisites that...
Japan Trade Show and Exhibition Imports: Temporary Admission, ATA Carnets, and When You Need an Importer of Record
You have committed to exhibiting at a major Japan trade show: CEATEC, Medtech Japan, Auto Tokyo, InterBev, or one of the dozens of annual industry events that draw global companies into Japanese...
ACP vs. Customs Broker in Japan: What's the Difference and When Do You Need Both?
Every non-resident company importing to Japan encounters two terms early in the process: the customs broker (通関業者) and the Attorney for Customs Procedures (税関事務管理人, ACP). Most companies assume one...
Japan EOR Termination: How to Exit an Employee Compliantly When Your Japan Plans Change
"What happens if this doesn't work out?" is the question no one asks before hiring in Japan. The sales cycle for an Employer of Record (雇用主) service focuses on speed, simplicity, and compliance on...
Japan Customs Post-Clearance Audit (事後調査) for Non-Resident Importers: What Triggers It and How Your IOR Structure Determines Your Risk
Imagine receiving a call from your Japan logistics contact two years after a shipment cleared customs. Japan Customs wants to review the import records. The declared value looks inconsistent with...
Japan IOR for Laboratory and Scientific Equipment Imports: What Research Institutions, Pharma R&D, and Life Sciences Companies Need to Know
Manufacturers of analytical instruments, laboratory automation platforms, and life sciences tools shipping to Japanese universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations...
Japan EOR for Consulting and Professional Services Firms: What You Must Know Before Hiring (2026)
Management consulting firms, legal and accounting practices, financial advisory boutiques, and B2B services companies face a specific problem when placing their first professional in Japan: the...
Japan IOR for Renewable Energy Equipment Imports: Solar Panels, Wind Turbine Components, and Grid-Scale Battery Systems
Renewable energy equipment shipments to Japan present a customs and import structure problem that most project developers and OEMs only discover mid-project. The equipment is large, technically...
When to Stop Using EOR and Incorporate a Japan Entity: The 2026 Transition Guide
Employer of Record (EOR) is one of the most effective tools for testing a Japan market. It lets a foreign company hire employees in Japan in weeks rather than months, without incorporating a local...