Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Does Your Japan-Facing Contract Need an APPI Cross-Border Data Transfer Clause in 2026?
Yes, if your contract lets any party outside Japan access personal data of Japan-resident individuals, whether as a SaaS vendor, an intercompany affiliate, or an outsourced processor. Article 28...
How Does a Foreign Parent Claim Reduced Withholding Tax Under a Japan Tax Treaty in 2026?
A foreign parent claims the reduced rate by having its Japan subsidiary, as withholding agent, file an Application Form for Income Tax Convention (租税条約に関する届出書) with the subsidiary's tax office...
Why Does Your Website Need a Separate Japanese Font License From Your Global Type System? (2026)
Because the Latin web font a company already licenses for its global site almost never includes full Han (kanji) character coverage, and even when a CJK (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) variant exists...
How Should a Foreign-Owned Company Design a Business Card (名刺) for Japan? (2026)
Design the card as two single-language faces rather than one bilingual face: Japanese on one side, English (or the counterparty's language) on the other. Match the printed title to a Japanese...
Which Colors Should You Avoid in Japan B2B Branding? (2026)
No color is universally off-limits in Japan B2B branding, but several colors carry a different connotation than they do in a Western brand book and need re-testing before use. Red reads as...
Do You Need a Fire Services Act (消防法) Permit to Import Flammable Liquids Into Japan? (2026)
Yes. Importing flammable liquids such as solvents, adhesives, paints, and alcohols into Japan can trigger a separate permit requirement under the Fire Services Act (消防法) once the material is...
How Do You Add a New Business Line to an Existing Japan KK or GK? (2026 目的 Amendment Guide)
Amending a Japan KK or GK's registered business purpose (目的) clause requires a shareholders' or members' resolution to change the Articles of Incorporation (定款), then a registration filing with...
HSP Visa or Management Visa: Which Should a Foreign Company Executive in Japan Apply For? (2026)
Neither is automatically the easier route. The Highly Skilled Professional visa (HSP, 高度専門職) has its own executive and management category, called 高度経営・管理活動, but it qualifies on a personal points...
Should Your Japan Contract Be Governed by Japanese Law or Hong Kong Law? (2026)
Pick Japanese law with the Tokyo District Court (東京地方裁判所) as exclusive court of first instance when the obligations, the counterparty, and any likely enforcement target sit inside Japan. Pick Hong...
What Is a Tax Agent (納税管理人) in Japan and Who Needs to Appoint One? (2026)
A Tax Agent (納税管理人) is a Japan-resident person or entity appointed under the Act on General Rules for National Taxes (国税通則法), Article 117, to act as a foreign taxpayer's domestic contact for the...