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Setting up a Business

There are four types of company forms in Japan as below.

Gomei Kaisha (Unlimited Partnership)
Goshi Kaisha (Limited Partnership)
Yugen Kaisha (Limited Liability Company)
Kaibushiki Kaisha (Company Limited)

Kabushiki and Yugen Kaishas are general business organizations in Japan. If you wish to set up a Kabushiki Kaisha, you need to invest at least 10 million Yen as capital. At least three directors and one auditor are required. On the other hand, you need to invest 3 million Yen as capital for a Yugen Kaisha, and only one director is required for this form of company.

In February 2003, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry enacted the Law for Facilitating the Creation of New Business. If you take advantage of this law, you are exempted from raising the minimum capital of 10 million Yen for Kabushiki Kaisha or 3 million for Yugen Kaisha at the time of startup.
This means you can set up a Kabushiki Kaisha with a capital of only 1 Yen! However, you need to increase the capital to 10 million Yen within 5 years, otherwise the company must be liquidated. However, it is possible to change the company form from a Kabushiki to a Yugen Kaisha if you raise at least 3 million Yen as capital. 

Foreign nationals with no limit in work status can set up and manage any company just like Japanese. Moreover, those who retain investor/business manager status of residence are also eligible to run a business in Japan. If you own a company overseas, you can set up a branch office in Japan. In this case, you don't have to reinvest in Japan. We can help you with your establishment of business and market entry in many ways. For instance, we can translate English Articles of Incorporation to Japanese as these need to be filed with the Office of a Notary before the establishment. We can also help you apply for various public subsidies and get a permit or license from Japanese authorities to start certain businesses.

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