Japan client case studies in 2024

  • American listed cloud computing company increases Asian footprint with Japan office

    Background

    • Our Client, a US listed cloud computing company that supplies a software platform to small and medium enterprises to develop powerful applications;
    • Over the years, our Client has worked closely with Kunal Fabiani engaging Healy Consultants Group for multiple business setups in Europe and the Middle East and wished to re-engaged our Firm for their business setup in Japan where they will hire local staff business development and provide after sales support;

    Engagement planning

    • Kunal and our Client agreed the appropriate entity type will be the Limited Liability Company or Godo Kaisha.
    • While discussing the corporate structure, Kunal further recommended our Client appoint a Japanese national or any foreigner who is resident in Tokyo and fluent in Japanese to act as the director or authorized company representative to ensure smooth business setup and bank account opening;
    • Our Client agreed with Kunal’s strategy, however as they had not identified any employees yet, Kunal offered to appoint our Tokyo based Japanese accountant as the interim and passive, professional resident director, for an additional annual fee. To ensure each parties interests are protected, Kunal shared an indemnity agreement to be signed by our Client and the nominee;
    • Kunal and Healy Consultants’ Japan legal team prepare the draft company incorporation documents in English and Japanese and relevant Power of Attorneys for our Client to sign, notarize, apostille and courier return to Tokyo. Given the numerous documents that need signing by different board members, Kunal prepared a detailed checklist to guide our Client with specific signing instructions;

    Company registration

    • Within 3 weeks from receipt of the complete company incorporation package from Kunal, our Client shared the signed and apostilled documents before couriering the same to our Tokyo office;
    • Healy Consultants Group’s attorneys in Japan submitted the application with the Legal Affairs Bureau. The usual processing period for this is 3 weeks, however, the company registration is approved earlier than expected within 10 days, which is half the timeframe promised to the Client. Additionally, the entity is enrolled with the Japanese Tax Authorities for National and Local tax within the following 1 week;
    • Kunal shares the Certificate of Company Registration, the Company Seal certificate, Tax Certificates and LTO and NTO credentials with our Client;

    Corporate bank account opening

    • Historically, our Client handles the local corporate bank account opening process independently from Healy Consultants. However, our client will require support in dealing with local banks in Japanese as they also require to setup interbank SWIFT network services (MT101 and MT940) between their US bank and the Japanese bank;
    • Healy Consultants Group communicates with 2 top-tier Japanese banks and recommends our Client proceed with the bank that our local office most frequently works with for other international clients;
    • Our Client agrees and Kunal emails them the schedule of banking charges as well as standard monthly bank fees for the setup MT101 and MT940 services. On receipt of approval from our Client’s Senior Director of Treasury, Kunal and our local attorney furnish the preferred bank the requisite information in an Excel format including i) expected annual turnover of the Japanese company, ii) the nature, value and volume of the expected incoming and outgoing transactions and iii) the profiles/resumes of the authorized individuals that will operate and transact the online banking platform;
    • Within 1 week from supplying the requested information, the Japanese bank representatives requested a video call with the authorized individuals that will operate the online banking platform to ensure the bank understands our Client’s needs and activates the correct SWIFT network services;
    • The Japanese bank issues multi-currency corporate bank account numbers for our Client 8 weeks following the online meeting. Unfortunately, because of the SWIFT networking services request, the bank takes longer than expected to activate simple online banking;
    • It takes an additional 7 weeks for our Client to receive a system generated email for activation, however the online credentials are mailed to our Client’s Tokyo registered office address. Consequently, Our Client liaised with the serviced office provide to have the letters express couriered to US;
    • Our Client was finally able to log in to the online banking platform immediately after receipt of the letters and their US bank was able to view their Japanese bank accounts via SWIFT 1 week thereafter;

    Engagement completion

    • To conclude the engagement, if required by our Client, Healy Consultants Group will courier original company registration certificates and the Company Seal to our Client in the United States. However, Kunal recommends this to be kept in Tokyo with the legal representative so that it is available on short notice if requested by the Japanese banks or authorities;
    • If required, in 2022, Healy Consultants Group will render further professional annual accounting and tax and payroll filing support.
  • Japan GK set up by global financial market information solutions provider

    Background

    • Our Client approached us in May 2020 with the intention of setting up a local LLC (also known as Godo Kaisha (GK)) in Japan.
    • The new entity provides i) global financial market information solutions and ii) customer support service in the country.
    • In late May 2020, our Client settled Healy Consultants Group’s engagement fees for the above setup.

    Engagement planning

    • Healy Consultants Group provided a detailed proposal, outlining the costs breakdown and expected engagement time frame. All fees were agreed upfront so there would be no hidden charges to, or surprises for, our Client.
    • Healy Consultants Group supplied weekly detailed engagement status updates to our Client throughout the engagement process.
    • Based on our Client’s proposed corporate structure, Healy Consultants Group assisted with the drafting of incorporation forms and relevant corporate documents, including constitution, for our Client’s confirmation and signature.
    • Our team then assisted our Client to submit documents to the Japanese regulatory authorities.
    • Following Japan company registration, Healy Consultants Group received, on behalf of our Client, legal corporate documents including Certificate of Incorporation (COI) and company registration numbers.
    • Thereafter, Healy Consultants Group advanced reporting of foreign investors / business owners to Bank of Japan as well as tax registration and reporting to national and local tax office.

    International corporate bank account opening

    • During the process of approaching multiple local and international bank branches to open a local corporate bank account, our Client provided additional supporting information required to proceed with the Japan bank account opening.
    • Our Corporate Banking team gave our Client several Japan banking options to consider. We sourced one quality banking solution, which offered good online banking services for new companies set up by foreign investors.
    • Healy Consultants Group assisted our Client to i) provide additional information to satisfy the bank’s queries ii) assign a local representative to visit the bank in Japan, and iii) follow up with the bank throughout the review process for the corporate bank account opening application.
    • Before our preferred bank approved the corporate bank account opening application, the bank requested a video call with the company’s bank signatory and shareholders.
    • Within one week of the video call, the bank approved the application and released bank account numbers. Issuance of the company’s bank passbook followed within one week.
    • Within four weeks, the bank also released e-banking token for the account.

    Engagement completion

    • After receiving the corporate bank account number and SWIFT code, our Client injected the registered capital of the company into the account.
    • At end-October 2020, Healy Consultants Group completed the engagement by successfully i) registering the Japan GK and ii) opening a local corporate bank account for our Client.
  • US-based Clients set up Tokyo gaming technology base

    Background

    Japan clients case study on business registrationOur Client Mr Cepeda is based in California, and has been involved in developing computer game technologies since his graduation from university in Los Angeles. During his degree, Mr Cepeda spent two years studying Computer Science as an exchange student in Tokyo, Japan, where he developed an interest in the Japanese gaming sector, as well as a useful working knowledge of the Japanese language. His interest in Japan was rekindled, when Mr Cepeda had the opportunity to work with a Japanese colleague in California, Mr Sakamoto, as part of a team to develop a new game
    . At the end of the project, the two colleagues decided to explore the possibility of setting up a gaming company in Japan on their own.

    Engagement planning

    Mr Cepeda sent Healy Consultants an e-mail via our website, and we replied immediately with a cost comparison for setting up different Japanese entities (including an LLC and joint stock company, the two most likely structures of interest to Mr Cepeda). Starting a business in Japan is challenging, with several steps involved and high levels of bureaucracy. It is also costly, with high legal fees. In addition, all documents are in Japanese (luckily both Clients knew Japanese), and due diligence supplied by our Clients would have to be translated into Japanese, adding time and expense to the engagement.

    These challenges were highlighted to Mr Cepeda and Mr Sakamoto during a conference call with Aidan Healy, managing director of Healy Consultants, who also outlined the legal, accounting and tax implications of setting up Japanese corporate structures. Following the conversation, it became clear that a Japanese limited liability company (also known as a Godo Kaisha) would be the most appropriate structure for the Client, since it required a minimal number of shareholders and directors, and has fewer obligations. And although a Godo Kaisha requires a Japanese resident representative, our Clients would be able to fulfill that role since they were planning to relocate to Japan. With the engagement costs and corporate structure agreed, Mr Cepeda and Mr Sakamoto (as the two shareholders and directors) each signed our Client Engagement Letter, and supplied our requested due diligence by courier from the US. They also arranged to settle our engagement fees by telegraphic transfer. In return, Healy Consultants sent our Clients a detailed engagement project plan for the Japanese entity, indicating incorporation procedures and likely timeframe, to avoid any misunderstandings.

    Company incorporation

    The incorporation of the Godo Kaisha began by Healy Consultants submitting a name approval application to the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, based on the name given to us by our Client. Name approval was granted within two days, allowing us to move to the next stage quickly by preparing the company’s Articles of Incorporation, which were couriered to the US for our Clients’ signature and return to us. This was achieved in 10 days. The next step for Healy Consultants was to arrange to have the three seals required for a Japanese company (representative seal, the everyday use seal and the company name seal) made at a seal shop. An application for a seal certificate was then made to the Tokyo Ward office, which also issued the certificate.

    Healy Consultants then visited the Legal Affairs Bureau to submit the Articles of Incorporation and shareholders/directors due diligence, the seal certificate, pay the ¥95,000 (US$800) notarisation and fiscal stamps fees, as well as the and ¥100,000 (US$860) company registration fee. In addition, a Godo Kaisha is legally required to rent a physical office in Japan, and to submit a lease agreement at this stage of incorporation. Since our Clients had yet to organise office accommodation in Japan, Healy Consultants agreed to provide a lease agreement to fulfill this requirement, and submitted it along with the aforementioned documents. After 14 working days the Legal Affairs Bureau approved the company’s registration in writing, and this was forwarded to our Clients for their reference. The next process was to approach the District Tax Office in Tokyo to file notice of the new company’s registration and file the notification of the start of business.

    Corporate banking

    With the company now a fully legal entity, the next step was to open a corporate bank account to allow the business to start invoicing Clients and start receiving and making payments. With this in mind, Healy Consultants prepared an account application to a well-known international bank in Tokyo. Although Healy Consultants is one of the few corporate service providers able to open a corporate bank account without the signatories needing to visit the bank in person, both Mr Cepeda and Mr Sakamoto were in Tokyo (looking for suitable office accommodation, also with the assistance of Healy Consultants) at this stage of the engagement and were therefore available to sign the bank account application forms, along with a business plan which had been prepared by Healy Consultants and translated into Japanese. The business plan contained details such as the company’s activities (and its products and services), information on the shareholders and directors, a brief market analysis and some financial projections.

    Healy Consultants submitted the complete account application pack, and accompanied our Clients to the bank for a brief interview, where they explained why they required an account at a well-known international bank in Japan. Within two weeks, Healy Consultants received approval for the Japanese corporate bank account. Over the course of the following two weeks we received (in sealed, separate envelopes) Internet banking and ATM card PIN numbers, which we kept safely for our Clients’ collection.

    Other services

    As mentioned previously, Healy Consultants also assisted our Clients to find an executive leased office premises in downtown Tokyo, using the services of a realty agent specialising in corporate real estate. Our Clients spent a full day viewing premises according to their specifications and budget, and once they had decided on a suitable office the agent liaised with the landlord to prepare a lease agreement. The draft lease agreement was sent to our clients, who were happy enough with the terms and conditions to sign it where required.

    Approximately 10 weeks after contacting Healy Consultants, Mr Cepeda and Mr Sakamoto had a fully operational company and headquarters in Tokyo, and were grateful that we were able to minimise any inconvenience to them during the process. Healy Consultants continues to provide support services to our Clients since incorporation, registering the company for value added tax (VAT) at the Japan Tax Bureau in Tokyo, and preparing and submitting a tax return to the Tax Bureau on behalf of the company.

  • Healy Consultants sets up Yokohama-based Godo Kaisha

    Background

    Our Client is a Yokohama-based information technology (IT) company providing specialist networking services to some of the leading keiretsus in Tokyo and Yokohama.

    For foreign investors, incorporating a company in Japan is challenging, not least because of the country’s complex company law and tax system, in addition to the fact that all documentation is in Japanese.

    Company incorporation

    By communicating effectively with our Client and with the appropriate bodies in Japan, Healy Consultants was able to complete the formation for a Godo Kaisha (limited liability company) in a timely and efficient manner, and also provided a range of post-incorporation support services. Areas of support for our Client in Japan included:

    1. Healy Consultants registered the Godo Kaisha with the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice in Tokyo;
    2. Healy Consultants assisted our Client to open a corporate bank account with a well-known international bank in Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo;
    3. Healy Consultants registered the company for consumption tax (VAT) at the Japan Tax Bureau in Yokohama;
    4. Healy Consultants assisted our Client to prepare corporate income tax returns to the Japan Tax Bureau, accompanied by financial statements.
  • Indian client set up Japan GK company

    Background

    Our Client George, is an Indian citizen. He wished to expand his business, and approached Healy Consultants to help him meet his goal. He plans to incorporate a company that specialized in the supply of rigging, lifting hardware, and material handling equipment.

    Healy Consultants recommended Japan as the location for George’s new company because Japan has a stable, reputable jurisdiction with a business friendly legal system. Also the fact that Japan is one of the world’s freest economies, and easiest place of doing business, it will support the company’s business activities as well as provide a strategic advantage. Healy Consultants assisted Tango GK by providing a range of professional assistance from the beginning to the end of the Japan GK Company set up.

    Engagement planning

    George approached Healy Consultants outlining the fact that he would like to start doing a new business in Japan as it is the perfect place to incorporate the new company. George explained that he would require assistance in company incorporation, and opening a corporate bank account. Healy Consultants sent George a detailed cost proposal to set up the Japan GK Company. Healy Consultants started to incorporate the company once he signed Healy Consultants’ Client Engagement Letter, provided necessary due diligence, and remitted the engagement fees to our bank account. At this point, our Japan incorporation team, in consultation with our Singapore office, prepared a detailed Engagement Project Plan, outlining the project steps, likely timeframe, and deliverables to be expected from Healy Consultants.

    Company incorporation

    In accordance with Japan Companies Act, every Japan Company needs at least one resident director. To advance the company incorporation process, George requested Healy Consultants to be the company resident director of Tango GK.

    Healy Consultants began the incorporation process after the corporate structure was agreed by George. Healy Consultants first acquired a certificate of seal registration of representative managing member at the ward office. To register the company, a certificate of seal registration must be provided to the Legal Affairs Bureau. Healy Consultants then submitted an application for company registration together with supporting documents to the legal affairs bureau. Within three weeks, George’s company was successfully registered. Healy Consultants then filed notification of the incorporation of a company, the opening of a payroll office, and application for the approval of blue tax returns with the District Tax Office. The last step, Healy Consultants proceeded to file notifications of commencement, the applied business and labor insurance, and rules of employment with the Labor Standards Inspection Office.

    Corporate bank account

    After confirming that Tango GK is now a legal entity, Healy Consultants approached a reputable international bank Japan to apply for a corporate bank account for the new company. Healy Consultants prepared a detailed business plan for George’s company, providing comprehensive information on its activities, products and services, as well as its clients and suppliers. Along with a completed corporate bank account application form, Healy Consultants couriered the business plan to George for his signature and return. Once this was received, Healy Consultants prepared a detailed bank application, including the application form, business plan, and the personal due diligence on the signatories. Bank account approval was received within three weeks by Healy Consultants along with separate packages containing a corporate cheque book with credit and ATM cards. These items were then sent to George in separately.

    Other services

    To further support George’s business engagement in Tokyo, Healy Consultants aids George in many other related tasks. For example, Healy Consultants provided: i) full recruitment support, including hiring of local staff, advertising, interviews, shortlists, etc. ii) Sourcing for contractors to furnish George’s office iii) contacts in Tokyo, e.g. suppliers, potential clients in Tokyo iv) an introduction to existing clients who operate in the same industry.

    Last but not least, to enable George to legally work in Japan, Healy Consultants assists George and his family to obtain residency and a working visa in Japan.

    Engagement completion

    The whole company incorporation, bank account opening and visa application process takes approximately three months to complete from start to finish.

    Healy Consultants provides George with a complete company kit including i) Original Business registration certificates ii) Original Tax Registration Certificates and iii) bank kits (incl internet banking token and cheque book). For our continuous improvement, Healy Consultants also emailed George an Engagement Feedback Survey for his completion.

Contact us

For additional information on our company registration services in Japan, please contact our in-house country expert, Ms. Jaya Thevathasan, directly:
Consultant at HC - jaya
  • Ms. Jaya Thevathasan
  • Client Relationship Officer
  • Contact me!
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