Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Japan IOR for Medical Devices and Healthcare Equipment: Import Compliance Beyond PMD Act Approval
No, an Importer of Record (IOR) appointment does not clear a medical device for the Japan market. Importing a medical device or healthcare equipment product into Japan requires two entirely...
Japan IOR for Lithium Battery Imports: The DG Compliance and Customs Structure Every Battery Shipper Must Get Right
A lithium battery shipment to Japan has to clear two separate compliance layers, not one. Dangerous Goods (DG) classification and documentation under IATA or IMDG rules must be correct before the...
How to Hire Your First Employee in Japan Without Setting Up a Company (2026 EOR Guide)
Yes, you can hire an employee in Japan without incorporating a Japan entity, by engaging an Employer of Record (雇用主, EOR) that becomes the legal employer on your behalf. The EOR signs the...
ACP Registration in Japan: The Step-by-Step Setup Guide for Non-Resident Importers (2026)
Setting up an Attorney for Customs Procedures (税関事務管理人, ACP) requires three separate registrations before your first shipment: the ACP notification with Japan Customs, a Tax Representative (納税管理人)...
Japan IOR for B2B Manufacturers: How to Ship to Japanese Distributors and Buyers After the 2023 Reform
No, not automatically. Since Japan Customs' October 2023 clarification, a Japanese distributor can only be named importer of record (輸入者) if it genuinely holds disposition rights (処分権限), meaning...
Japan Cross-Border Withholding Tax in M&A: Dividends, Interest, Capital Gains, and How Deal Structure Affects Tax Leakage
Understanding gensen choshuzei (源泉徴収税) obligations on cross-border payments before, during, and after a Japan acquisition
Japan Post-Merger Integration (PMI): Managing People, Operations, and Corporate Governance After Your Acquisition
What changes at closing is the legal structure. What takes years is everything else.
Japan Business License and Permit Guide for Foreign Companies: Key Kyoninka (許認可) Requirements in Regulated Industries
Incorporating a Japanese entity is step one. In most regulated sectors, it is the easy step.
Japan Annual General Meeting (定時株主総会) Requirements: Complete Guide for Foreign-Owned KK
Timing, Quorum, Minutes, Director Re-election, Remote Procedures, and What Happens If You Skip It
Japan M&A Closing Process Guide 2026: Conditions Precedent, Pre-Closing Steps, and What Happens on Closing Day
A practical reference for foreign buyers navigating the period between signing and closing on a Japan acquisition.