Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Do You Need an IOR in Japan? The Signs You're Ready (2026)
Most foreign companies find their way to an Importer of Record (IOR) conversation for one of two reasons: a shipment already got stuck at Japan Customs, or someone on the team asked "wait, who is...
Japan IOR for HVAC, Climate Control, and Industrial Cooling Equipment: Import Compliance for Foreign Manufacturers (2026)
Foreign manufacturers of HVAC systems, industrial chillers, precision climate control units, and cooling systems for data centers, cleanrooms, and manufacturing facilities are shipping...
Can You Grant Stock Options to an Employee Hired Through EOR in Japan?
A SaaS company hiring its first Japan-based engineer or salesperson through an Employer of Record (EOR) arrangement almost always asks the same follow-up question once the offer letter is drafted:...
Japan IOR for Dropshipping: Who Is the Importer When the Merchant Never Touches the Goods
Dropshipping and merchant-fulfilled e-commerce share one structural feature that marketplace-warehouse and bulk-DTC models do not: the goods never stop at an intermediate point the merchant...
Japan IOR Consignment Stock and VMI Guide: Stocking Inventory in Japan Before the Sale Is Final
A foreign manufacturer selling into Japan through a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) arrangement or a consignment stock model faces a question its standard Importer of Record (IOR) setup was not...
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 IOR Restricted and Prohibited Import Items: What Customs Will Not Let Your Importer of Record Clear
Restricted-party screening tells an Importer of Record whether it is safe to do business with a counterparty. It does not tell anyone whether the goods themselves are legal to bring into Japan....
How Foreign API and Pharmaceutical Ingredient Manufacturers Ship Into Japan Without a Japan Entity: An IOR Guide for Pharmaceutical Ingredient Exporters (2026)
A foreign manufacturer of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), excipients, or other pharmaceutical raw materials shipping into Japan is solving a narrower problem than a finished drug or...
Japan Market Entry Budget: What IOR, EOR, and ACP Actually Cost in Year One (2026)
Most companies planning a Japan launch reach the "which structure" decision before they reach the finance team. By the time a CFO or controller gets asked to approve the plan, the question has...
Japan EOR Payroll and Tax Withholding Guide: How Employer of Record Runs Payroll for Your Japan Hire
Deciding to hire a Japan-based employee through an Employer of Record (EOR) structure resolves the question of who bears legal employer liability. It does not, by itself, explain what happens...