Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
How Long Does It Take to Get an ACP Appointment Recorded with Japan Customs? (2026)
Once a complete document pack is ready, recording an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP, 税関事務管理人) appointment with Japan Customs typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. That covers document-pack review, a...
Can You Use One Japan IOR Arrangement to Clear Shipments Through Multiple Ports? (2026)
Yes. A single Japan Importer of Record (IOR) engagement covers shipments arriving through any number of Japanese ports, because the arrangement is a buy-and-sell structure tied to the importer's...
Can Your Children Get Dependent Status Under Japan's HSP Visa?
Yes. Children accompanying a Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) visa holder qualify for Dependent status (家族滞在), which permits residence and enrollment in Japanese schools. The HSP program also...
How Does Japan's HSP Visa Work for Academic Researchers?
Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) visa has a dedicated track for researchers, category 1号イ (academic research activities, 高度学術研究活動), covering work at universities and research...
Why Do Japan HSP Visa Applications Get Rejected?
Most Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP, 高度専門職) visa rejections trace back to five recurring causes: points miscalculation (usually overclaimed experience years or a misread income-by-age...
Do You Need a Certificate of Origin to Import Into Japan? EPA Preference vs Standard Clearance (2026)
No. A Certificate of Origin is only required if you are claiming a reduced or zero tariff rate under an Economic Partnership Agreement (経済連携協定) or Free Trade Agreement, such as CPTPP, RCEP, or the...
Japan Company Fiscal Year-End: How Should a Foreign-Owned KK or GK Choose One in 2026?
Japan does not require a calendar-year fiscal year. A foreign-owned Kabushiki Kaisha (KK, 株式会社) or Godo Kaisha (GK, 合同会社) picks any month-end as its fiscal year-end and states it in the Articles...
Why Did My HS Code Get Rejected in NACCS in 2026?
NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System, Japan's customs electronic filing system) rejects a filing when the declared HS heading no longer exists in the current Japan tariff...
Does a Japan GK Have to Publish Financial Statements in 2026?
No. A Godo Kaisha (合同会社, GK) carries no statutory duty to publish its annual balance sheet. That obligation, known as 決算公告 (financial statement publication), attaches only to a Kabushiki Kaisha...
What Office Counts for Japan's Management Visa in 2026?
The Management Visa (経営・管理) requires commercial premises actually used for the business: a leased office, a dedicated room, or a co-working desk with sustained, documented use and visible business...