Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
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 Duty Drawback Guide: Recovering Customs Duty When Goods Are Re-Exported, Returned, or Destroyed Under IOR or ACP
Most guidance on Japanese customs duty focuses on the moment goods enter the country: what rate applies, how the HS classification is determined, and who pays. Less attention goes to the reverse...
Who Is Liable If Your Japan Customs Declaration Is Wrong Under ACP? (2026)
Non-resident importers who choose ACP (Attorney for Customs Procedures / 税関事務管理人) specifically because they want to remain the named importer on their own customs declarations sometimes assume...
Japan ACP for Indonesian Manufacturers: Non-Resident Importer Setup Under IJEPA and RCEP (2026)
Indonesian manufacturers shipping to Japan sit in an unusual position: two separate trade agreements with Japan already apply to their exports, yet most sellers still route every shipment through...
ACP vs Tax Representative in Japan: Two Different Non-Resident Appointments Importers Often Confuse
Non-resident companies setting up to import into Japan routinely assume that appointing an Attorney for Customs Procedures (税関事務管理人, ACP) covers their entire non-resident compliance obligation. It...
Japan ACP for Singaporean Manufacturers: Non-Resident Importer Setup Under JSEPA (2026 Guide)
Singapore occupies a distinct position among the jurisdictions in this series: it is Japan's oldest bilateral economic partner agreement, and it functions as a regional headquarters, sourcing, and...
Can One ACP Cover Multiple Brands or Subsidiaries? Shared ACP Arrangements for Portfolio Companies
A private-equity operator with three portfolio brands shipping into Japan, or a multi-brand direct-to-consumer group with several distinct legal subsidiaries, will naturally ask whether one...
Japan IOR and ACP Repair Re-Export Guide: Sending Equipment Back for Repair Without Losing Duty Relief on Re-Import
Equipment that has already cleared Japan Customs (税関) once does not simply sit still for the rest of its operating life. Industrial machinery, laboratory instruments, aerospace components, and...
Japan ACP Provider Transition Guide: How to Switch Your Attorney for Customs Procedures Without a Clearance Gap
Companies that appoint an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP, 税関事務管理人) in Japan tend to plan carefully for the initial setup and then never think about the arrangement again until something...
Japan ACP for Thai Manufacturers: Staying Named as Importer of Record Without a Japan Entity (2026 Guide)
Thai manufacturers shipping to Japan, particularly in auto parts, electronics components, food and agricultural products, and rubber and plastics goods, are routinely routed through a Japan-based...