We handle every element of your Japanese incorporation — structure selection, capital, Articles, seal, and Legal Affairs Bureau registration — end-to-end. Your company, operational from day one.
Subject to Japanese company law requirements and Aplash terms.
The structure you choose shapes your banking relationships, investor credibility, and administrative overhead for years to come. We help you choose correctly, then handle everything from initial planning to registration number.
Japan's most recognised corporate form — equivalent to a joint-stock company or PLC. Required for businesses seeking investment, public credibility, or eventual listing.
KK status is expected by Japanese corporate banks, enterprise clients, and government counterparties.
Foreign enterprises, investment-funded startups, joint ventures, and regulated-industry operators.
Japan's LLC equivalent — a simplified structure with flexible management and lower setup costs. Popular with foreign companies testing the Japan market.
Streamlined governance preferred by multinationals for Japan subsidiaries — Amazon Japan and Apple Japan both operate as GK.
Foreign subsidiaries, single-owner operations, and companies seeking lean governance with lower ongoing costs.
Every Japanese company requires these foundational elements before registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). Understanding each requirement upfront prevents delays and rework.
Verify uniqueness in the Legal Affairs Bureau database. Name must use Japanese characters or Latin script.
Aplash conducts pre-screening before submission.
A physical verified address in Japan. Virtual addresses are not accepted for Business Manager Visa applications.
Aplash provides address selection advisory.
Minimum JPY 1 legally. Capital amount affects corporate bank account approval and business credibility. If you also need a Business Manager Visa, a separate capital threshold applies — see our immigration page.
Aplash coordinates capital injection verification and bank account opening.
The foundational legal document defining company purpose, structure, and governance. KK requires notarisation at a Japanese notary (公証役場).
Aplash drafts and files Articles of Incorporation.
All Japanese companies must register a corporate seal (法人印鑑) with the Legal Affairs Bureau for document authentication.
Aplash handles seal creation and registration.
KK requires at least one representative director with a Japanese address. Don't have a Japan-resident director? Aplash can introduce a qualified resident representative director and arrange remote directorship structures compliant with Japan Companies Act.
Aplash provides resident representative director introduction and compliant directorship arrangement.
New companies must register with the NTA within two months of incorporation for corporate tax, JCT, and payroll obligations.
Aplash handles all NTA registration filings.
Japanese corporate bank accounts require certified representative application. Essential for capital injection verification.
Aplash coordinates with banking partners.
Requirements differ for KK and GK structures. Contact our team to discuss the most suitable structure for your business.
Every incorporation is conducted in strict compliance with Japan's Companies Act (会社法). Our judicial scriveners (司法書士) are licensed by the Legal Affairs Bureau and operate within a regulated professional framework.
End-to-end from initial consultation to registered company number — typically 4 to 6 weeks for KK, as little as 7 business days for GK on expedited service.
Determine structure (KK/GK), capital, purpose clause, and representative director arrangements.
Draft Articles of Incorporation, prepare capital injection, arrange registered office.
KK: notarise Articles at a Japanese notary office. Prepare all filing documents.
Submit incorporation documents to the Legal Affairs Bureau. Registration number issued.
Corporate seal registered. Tax registration filed. Corporate bank account opened.
We bridge Japanese corporate law with international business standards. Your incorporation is optimised for cross-border operations from day one.
Incorporation is just the start. Visa, banking, compliance, and ongoing operations — one partner, no handoffs.
No Japan-based director? We provide compliant director arrangements so you can operate remotely while meeting Companies Act requirements.
Every document, every filing, every communication — in English and Japanese. No translation delays, no lost context.
Professional bilingual consulting — more thorough than local providers, a fraction of global firm fees. Every filing, every document, in English and Japanese from day one.
Government fees of ~$1,500 included
Government fees of ~$400 included
A transparent, milestone-driven process from first contact to operational company. Each step has defined outputs so you always know exactly where things stand.
We assess your business model, visa requirements, and ideal corporate structure.
KK or GK? We provide a clear recommendation with capital and governance implications.
Aplash prepares Articles of Incorporation, capital verification, and all registration documents.
Our judicial scriveners file with the Legal Affairs Bureau and handle all official correspondence.
Tax registration, bank account, corporate seal — your company is ready to operate.
Yes. Since 2015, all directors and shareholders can reside overseas. Japanese law imposes no nationality restriction on founders of KK or GK companies. A FEFTA notification via the Bank of Japan is required for non-resident investors.
A KK (株式会社) is Japan's joint-stock corporation — higher setup cost (~$1,700 in government fees) but strongest credibility. A GK (合同会社) is Japan's LLC — lower cost (~$670), no notarisation required, flexible management. Both allow 100% foreign ownership.
Government fees alone: KK ~$1,700+ (registration tax, notary, seal). GK ~$670+ (registration tax, seal). Professional service fees vary: local scriveners $200–$1,400, bilingual specialists $2,000–$6,500, global firms $8,000–$25,000+.
No. Since March 2015, even all directors residing overseas can incorporate. However, you need a Japan bank account for capital deposit and a registered office address. Aplash provides resident representative director services for non-residents.
Typically 4–6 weeks end-to-end for a KK. A GK can be completed in as little as 7 business days with expedited service. Post-incorporation tax registration and bank account opening add 1–2 weeks.
Registration is the starting line, not the finish line. Once your 法人登記 (hojin-toki, corporate registration) is complete and your KK (株式会社, Kabushiki Kaisha) or GK (合同会社, Godo Kaisha) appears in the registry, a compressed…
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