Global expansion, via our partner network
Company Registration in Japan
Company registration in Japan is a natural next step for clients we already work with on India market entry, or anyone building a wider Asia footprint. AU Corporate's own team is licensed for India; for Japan, we coordinate registration through a network of trusted local partner firms, so you get one relationship managing the process rather than sourcing a separate advisor yourself.
Why register a company in Japan
Japan remains one of Asia's largest and most stable consumer and industrial markets, with strong rule of law, deep capital markets and a well-established framework for 100% foreign-owned companies — there is no nationality restriction on shareholders or, for incorporation purposes, on directors under Japan's Companies Act.
Choosing your entity type: KK vs GK
Most foreign investors choose between a Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) — Japan's standard corporate form, broadly equivalent to a corporation, and the structure Japanese banks, major clients and investors are most comfortable with — and a Godo Kaisha (GK), Japan's LLC-equivalent structure introduced in 2006 and used for the Japanese arms of companies including Amazon, Google and Apple. A GK is faster and cheaper to incorporate, with lower minimum registration tax (from around ¥60,000, versus ¥150,000 for a KK) and no notarisation requirement for its articles of incorporation, but a KK generally carries more standing for a business that will trade heavily under its own name in Japan.
The 2025 Business Manager Visa capital increase
If you plan to run the Japanese company yourself from inside Japan, the relevant visa route matters as much as the entity type. Effective 16 October 2025, Japan raised the Business Manager Visa's minimum capital requirement from ¥5 million to ¥30 million, and added conditions that did not exist before: at least one full-time Japanese or permanent-resident employee, three years of prior management experience, and JLPT N2 Japanese-language ability for either the visa holder or a qualifying employee. This is a significant, recent change — plans built around the old ¥5 million threshold are now out of date, which is exactly the kind of detail worth confirming before you commit capital.
How AU Corporate helps you register in Japan
We are not a Japanese law firm, and we do not represent otherwise. What we provide is coordination: scoping your Japan entry alongside your India plans (where relevant), introducing you to a vetted local partner firm for the actual Japanese-law filing, and staying involved as your single point of contact so you are not managing two unconnected advisory relationships in two countries.
Company registration process in Japan, step by step
Once your entity type and capital are decided, registration typically follows this sequence:
- Decide between a KK and a GK, and confirm your capital amount against your visa plans, if any.
- Prepare and, for a KK, notarise the articles of incorporation.
- Register a company seal and deposit capital.
- File the incorporation registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Open a corporate bank account and complete post-incorporation tax and social insurance registrations.
FAQs: company registration in Japan
Does AU Corporate register companies in Japan directly? We coordinate company registration in Japan through our network of licensed local partner firms, rather than filing directly ourselves — our own team is India-licensed. You get a single point of contact who manages the partner relationship on your behalf, which is particularly useful if you are also registering a company in India and want one coordinated relationship instead of separate, disconnected advisors.
Should I set up a KK or a GK in Japan? A Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) carries more credibility with Japanese banks, major clients and investors and is the standard choice for a substantial, long-term presence. A Godo Kaisha (GK) — Japan’s LLC equivalent, used by the Japanese arms of Amazon, Google and Apple — is faster and cheaper to set up and carries less ongoing administrative overhead, making it a common choice for smaller subsidiaries or holding structures.
Is there a minimum capital requirement for company registration in Japan? Legally, no — both KK and GK structures can be incorporated with as little as ¥1 under the Companies Act, though in practice ¥1,000,000 or more is recommended to satisfy banks and landlords. A separate, much higher threshold applies if you need a Business Manager Visa to run the company from Japan yourself.
What changed with the Business Manager Visa in 2025? Effective 16 October 2025, Japan raised the Business Manager Visa capital requirement from ¥5 million to ¥30 million, and added new conditions — at least one full-time Japanese or permanent-resident employee, three years of management experience, and JLPT N2 Japanese-language ability for the visa holder or a qualifying employee. This makes the visa route significantly more demanding than it was even a year ago, so we factor it into planning from the outset rather than as an afterthought.
How long does company registration in Japan take? Typically a few weeks from when your documents and capital are ready, covering name/seal registration, notarisation (for a KK), and filing with the Legal Affairs Bureau, before a bank account and any visa application can proceed. Exact timing depends on which entity type and visa route you need.
Looking for the India side instead?
If you are a Japanese business looking to register a company in India rather than the other way around, see our dedicated company registration in India from Japan guide.
Explore other markets
AU Corporate coordinates company registration in several markets outside India through our partner network.
Next step
Talk to us about registering in Japan.
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