Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
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...
Japan IOR for Marine, Boating, and Watercraft Equipment: Import Compliance for Foreign Manufacturers (2026)
Foreign manufacturers of marine engines, boat hulls, marine electronics, and watercraft accessories face a recurring structural problem when entering the Japanese market: marinas, boat builders,...
Japan EOR vs. Branch Office: Which Actually Gets Your First Local Hire on Payroll Faster (2026)
Foreign companies deciding to put a person on the ground in Japan usually reach for one of two structures before they have committed to a full subsidiary: hire the person through an Employer of...
Japan IOR for Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment: Importing Membrane, RO, and Treatment Skid Systems in 2026
Foreign manufacturers of membrane filtration systems, reverse osmosis (RO) units, industrial pumps, treatment skids, and sludge or sewage processing equipment face a specific problem when a...
Japan IOR for Telecom Network and Carrier Infrastructure Equipment: What Foreign Vendors Need Before Their First Carrier Rollout (2026)
A foreign manufacturer of base stations, RAN equipment, antennas, backhaul transmission gear, or carrier-grade switching and routing hardware faces a different import problem than a consumer...
When to Switch Between IOR and ACP in Japan: The Signals Your Current Import Structure No Longer Fits
Most companies that import into Japan without a Japan entity make one structural decision early: whether Aplash takes title as Importer of Record (IOR), or the non-resident company remains the...
Japan IOR for Used and Refurbished Equipment Imports: The Compliance Layer Most New Sellers Miss
Sellers moving into secondhand, refurbished, or remanufactured equipment often assume the compliance burden is lighter than for new goods: the unit already carries a certification history from its...
Japan EOR Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Working Hours Compliance Guide: What Employer of Record Actually Enforces
Foreign companies hiring into Japan for the first time, particularly those coming from at-will jurisdictions where overtime is a matter of manager discretion, consistently underestimate one layer...