What documents are necessary if a Chinese national were to become a shareholder of a Japan corporation? A certificate of seal impression or a signature certificate is necessary. ★ Explanation ★ 1. Documents needed to become a shareholder When becoming a shareholder of an already-incorporated stock company, one must furnish a copy of either their…

I heard that Japan and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations with each other. Will it be possible to use a seal certificate from Taiwan when incorporating a company or establishing a branch office in Japan? Will there be other documents needed? Yes, such documents can be used. However, there may be cases of…

What documents are necessary if a Korean national were to become a shareholder of a Japan corporation? A certificate of seal registration or a signature certificate is necessary. ★ Explanation ★ 1. Documents needed to become a shareholder A single copy of either a certificate of seal registration or a signature certificate would be asked…

How much time is needed for us to incorporate a corporation or set-up a branch in Japan? It would take around 1 to 2 months, from the time all information on the to-be incorporated company is confirmed to the completion of the registration process. However, the required period may vary greatly depending on the incorporator(s)…

Is it fine if our company only has a representative seal (legal seal)? Registering a company only requires a representative seal (legal seal). However, having a square seal or a bank seal would reduce corporate risks. ★ Explanation ★ There are no provisions that require a company to have either a square seal or a…

What should we be careful of when creating our company’s legal seal? The Regulation on Commercial Registration has specific provisions on the allowed size and material that seals should follow by. Additionally, it is important to be careful of the deadlines for seal certificate during the submission of seal registration. ★ Explanation ★ 1. Provisions…

Are we required to have our own a corporate seal/stamp when we register our Japan subsidiary company or branch office? A corporation can have a representative’s seal (legal seal), a square seal, and a bank seal. During registration, as a general rule, companies should have their own corporate seal. ★ Explanation ★ According to law,…

When registering the establishment of a Japan subsidiary or the opening of a branch office, is it acceptable to no longer include the building name in the address of the subsidiary or office? Not using the building name when registering is allowed. ★ Explanation ★ According to the Companies Act, the address of the head…

Will there be any problems if I register what is called a “virtual office” as the address during the set-up of my Japan subsidiary company or branch office? There are no problems with registering a virtual office as the head office establishment. However, there is the possibility where this is not accepted when opening a…

Will there be any problems if I register my home address as the address for my Japan subsidiary company or branch office? Using one’s home address as the head office address is allowed. However, if engaging in business that requires the application/approval of a “business manager” visa, one cannot use their home address as the…

I understand that we can use the Latin alphabet in registering our trade name. Does this also hold true when registering the names of our employees? The use of the Roman alphabet is not allowed when registering names of employees. ★ Explanation ★ The Roman alphabet is allowed for trade names and company title. However,…