Company Formation · Asia-Pacific
Japan
We form companies in Japan. The usual vehicles are a GK or a KK. A visit and a local director are required. We also advise on business banking, payment gateways, and — where it applies — business immigration.
- Entity
- GK / KK
- Visit
- A visit is required to complete the setup
- Timeframe
- Typically 4–10 weeks
- Typical cost
- Office, representative, registered seal, and share capital. Costs are higher than a simple remote company.
Country overview
About Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Tokyo is the capital and the largest city. About 123 million people live here. It faces the Korean Peninsula, China and Russia across surrounding seas. Japanese is the official language. The currency is the yen (JPY).
Japan is one of the world’s largest advanced economies, with deep manufacturing, technology and professional-services markets centred on Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. English is used in international business, but company, tax and banking files run in Japanese. The legal system is civil law. Formation is a serious operating exercise with office, representative and seal requirements.
Brikseka forms Japanese companies. The usual vehicles are a godo kaisha (GK) or a kabushiki kaisha (KK). A visit is required. A local director is required. This is not a remote starter company. Office, representative, registered seal and capitalisation are part of a realistic file. Timeframes typically run from four to ten weeks.
We then advise on a Japanese business bank account and payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal. Japanese banks work in person and typically require Japanese-language identification. Approvals are decided by the providers. If your aim is to live in Japan, company formation is not a residence permit — that is a separate immigration file, which we also advise on.
Company formation
We form a GK or a KK. A visit and a local director are required. This is not a remote starter company.
Tokyo
East Asia’s largest advanced economy, with Tokyo as the capital and the yen as the currency.
Substance
Office, representative, registered seal and in-person banking are part of a credible Japanese file.
Tax setting
National corporate tax is published at 23.2 percent, with local taxes taking the combined burden into the low thirties of percent for many companies. We confirm the live position before you proceed.
How we work
From briefing to a registered company
Briefing
We review your business, the right entity for this country, costs, and whether a visit is likely.
Company formation
Local counsel, notary where required, and the commercial register. We coordinate the documents through to a registered company.
Banking and payments
After the company exists, we prepare applications for a business account and payment gateways.
After incorporation
Statutory records, a named contact, and introductions to accounting so the company can operate.
After the company exists
Payment gateways
- Stripe, subject to Stripe’s approval
- PayPal Business, subject to PayPal’s approval
Operating stack
Business banking
- Japanese banks — in person, with Japanese-language identification
Provider lists are indicative. We confirm current availability, government fees, and account-opening requirements during consultation.
Business Tools covers payment gateways, business accounts, email, websites, and related tools after the company exists.
Consultation
Start a confidential conversation
Tell us what you are building or where you need to move. We respond within one business day.