Practical legal and strategic guidance
for foreign businesses expanding into Japan.
Before committing capital to Japan, HQ needs legal research that tests its actual business model, not a general overview of Japanese law. This guide explains how to scope a Japan market entry legal research mandate, what the output should look like, and how it feeds into the investment decision.
Before committing capital to Japan, HQ should test five critical assumptions: timeline, cost, operating model, people, and control. This guide explains how Japan-specific legal and operational requirements can affect the investment case — and what to do when the answers change the plan.
Are your Japan subsidiary's intercompany arrangements undocumented? Learn why "it's just intra-group" does not satisfy Japanese tax authorities, what to put in a management service agreement, and where to start.
Planning to remove or replace a director at your Japan subsidiary? Learn why a shareholder vote alone is not the full picture, what counts as justifiable cause, and what timeline and registration risks to plan for.
Think your approval matrix protects you from an unauthorized decision at your Japan subsidiary? It may not. A representative director’s authority in Japan is comprehensive by statute, and internal policy generally cannot bind third parties. This article explains what HQ can actually control — and how to build a governance framework that works.
Taking a minority stake in a Japanese company? The rights you have depend heavily on whether you clear the one-third threshold — and what you negotiate in the SHA before signing. This article covers the key ownership thresholds under Japan’s Companies Act, where the statutory framework falls short, and what minority investors actually need to protect themselves.
Should your Japan entity be a branch or a subsidiary? The answer depends on how much risk you are willing to have sit at HQ level. This article breaks down liability exposure, tax treatment, labor law implications, and exit costs — with a framework for HQ legal and finance teams making the decision.
How should foreign companies manage corporate records and governance documentation in Japan? Learn the essential corporate secretarial practices for Japanese subsidiaries.
How should foreign parents handle shareholder meetings for Japanese subsidiaries? This guide explains AGM requirements, resolutions, and governance procedures under Japanese company law.
Managing a Japanese subsidiary requires ongoing corporate, tax, labor, and immigration compliance. This guide outlines the key annual obligations for KK and GK entities and how foreign HQs can maintain proper oversight.
