Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
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...
Do You Need a Separate Permit to Import High-Pressure Gas Into Japan in 2026?
Yes. Importing compressed or liquefied high-pressure gas into Japan requires clearing the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (高圧ガス保安法), on top of ordinary customs clearance under the Customs Act (関税法)....
Experimental Station Licence or Type Certification: Which Does Your IoT Device Need in Japan? (2026)
If your wireless device is for research, development, or a limited trial, you need an Experimental Station Licence (実験局免許) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省 (MIC)). If...
Do You Need a Plant or Animal Quarantine Permit to Import Into Japan? The MAFF Step Customs Doesn't Handle (2026)
Yes, if your shipment is a plant, a plant product, an animal-origin product, or contains CITES-listed species material. This clearance is separate from Japan Customs (税関) release and from any...
Diamond PSE vs Circle PSE: How Japan Classifies Your Electrical Product for Import (2026)
Diamond PSE (特定電気用品, Specified Electrical Appliances) requires mandatory third-party certification by a METI-registered conformity assessment body, including a factory inspection, with...
MLIT Flight Permission for Drones in Japan: When Registration Alone Isn't Enough (2026)
Registering a drone under the Civil Aeronautics Act (航空法) is mandatory for almost every unmanned aircraft in Japan, but it does not authorize where or how you can fly it. A separate flight...
Japan Bonded Warehouse and 保税地域 Guide: Duty Deferral, Re-Export, and the Five Zone Types Every Importer Should Know
Storing, Processing, and Re-Exporting Goods Without Paying Japanese Duty: How Bonded Zones, Bonded Warehouses, and Bonded Manufacturing Operations Work
How to Import from the US to Japan: Japan-US Trade Agreement, US Re-Export Controls, and Dual Compliance for Cross-Border Shipments in 2026
Importing from the United States to Japan carries a compliance profile that differs from every other major trade corridor. Two features make it distinctive. First, the Japan-US Trade Agreement is...
How to Import from the EU to Japan: Japan-EU EPA, REX Origin Statements, and the Regulatory Differences Every European Exporter Must Know
Yes, EU exporters can bring most goods into Japan at reduced or zero duty under the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (JEEPA, 経済連携協定), in force since February 2019. But tariff preference and...
Japan Customs Advance Ruling (事前教示制度) - How to Lock In HS Classification, Valuation, and Origin Before Your Shipment Arrives
The Pre-Import Binding Determination Mechanism That Eliminates Classification Risk for Recurring Shipments