Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
Does an Imported Food Product Need a Business Notification (営業届出) to Sell in Japan?
No. Importing a sealed, retail-packaged, ambient-stable food product and reselling it unopened does not require a business notification (営業届出) under the Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法). The Act...
Does Your Home Country Need an Apostille or Consular Legalization for a Japan Company Filing? (2026)
It depends on whether your home country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. If it is, a single apostille stamp on your notarized document is enough for the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) to...
Can You File a Japan Export Declaration Before the Goods Reach Bonded Storage? (2026)
Yes. Unlike an import declaration, a Japan export declaration can be filed before the goods enter a bonded area (保税地域), and no special approval is needed to do it. The Customs Act (関税法) imposes a...
Signature Certificate vs. Affidavit: Japan Company Registration Rules for Non-Resident Founders (2026)
A non-resident individual director or shareholder needs a signature certificate (サイン証明), and a Ministry of Justice (法務省) notice from June 28, 2016 allows it to be authenticated by an official in...
Does a PSE Certificate Expire in Japan? Diamond vs Circle Renewal Rules (2026)
Yes for Diamond PSE, no for Circle PSE, but with a catch. A Diamond PSE (特定電気用品) certificate carries a fixed validity period of 3, 5, or 7 years and must be renewed before it lapses. A Circle PSE...
Who Is the Importer of Record for a Japan Consignment-Sale Import? (2026)
For goods you sell in Japan on consignment, either you as the overseas seller or your Japan-based selling party can be the import declarant, and Japan Customs has published both as acceptable...
Is Under-Invoicing to Lower Japan Customs Duty Legal? (2026)
No. Declaring a lower value than the actual price paid for imported goods is a criminal false declaration under Japan's Customs Act (関税法), not a gray area or a negotiable discount. The dutiable...
What Is AEO Status With Japan Customs, and Does It Actually Speed Up Import Clearance? (2026)
Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status (AEO制度) is a Japan Customs (税関) authorization, administered under the Customs Act (関税法) and overseen by the Ministry of Finance (財務省), that recognizes an...
Does Product Packaging Need a Japanese-Language Label to Sell in Japan? (2026)
Yes, for most retail categories. General merchandise (textiles, plastics, household electrical goods) falls under the Household Goods Quality Labeling Act (家庭用品品質表示法), and food falls under the...
HS Code for Aircraft Parts, Drones, and Balloons in Japan: 2026 Classification Guide
A complete unmanned aircraft (drone) is classified under HS 8806, a complete balloon or airship with no independent propulsion falls under HS 8801.00, and a part or payload of an aircraft or...