A KK carries more prestige with Japanese counterparties and is required for some licences. A GK is cheaper and simpler, and is used by many foreign subsidiaries including well-known US technology groups.

Do I need a Japan-resident director?

Not legally since 2015, but in practice banks and landlords require a resident representative, so we build one into the structure.

Is there a fast track for asset managers?

Yes. The Financial Market Entry Office provides English-language registration support, and special zones offer expedited licensing for overseas managers.

Jurisdiction · APAC

Japan

The world's third-largest economy, now open to foreign asset managers.

Scope a structure here Talk to a director

Overview

Japan is a high-tax, high-reward jurisdiction. Nobody structures here for rate arbitrage; they structure here because the market is enormous, the currency has been cheap and the government has actively courted foreign asset managers through the Financial Market Entry Office and special business zones.

Company formation is bureaucratic and document-heavy, but a Japanese KK carries a level of counterparty trust that no offshore vehicle can replicate when selling to Japanese corporates.

Typical use-cases

Where Japan fits

Market entry
Asset management
Manufacturing JVs

Banking

Banking landscape

MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho and Resona serve corporate clients; SBI Shinsei and international banks handle foreign-owned entities more readily. Account opening requires a registered company seal, a resident representative and, usually, Japanese-language documentation. Expect four to eight weeks.

Tax

Tax & reporting

Effective corporate burden of roughly 30% combining national corporate tax, local inhabitant tax and enterprise tax. Consumption tax is 10%. Withholding on dividends to non-residents is 20.42%, reduced by treaty, often to 0–10%. Japan has one of the widest treaty networks in Asia.

Substance

Substance & register visibility

A Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) or Godo Kaisha (GK) requires a registered address and a representative director; a Japan-resident representative is required in practice for banking and licensing. Corporate registry data including directors is publicly available. Beneficial ownership declarations are required for notarisation.

Decision

When to pick this jurisdiction

Pick Japan when selling into the Japanese market at scale, when establishing an asset management presence under the streamlined foreign-manager regime, or for a manufacturing joint venture that requires a domestic counterparty.

The director's view

Written up as a comparative shortlist.

Every Japan recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.

Next step

Considering Japan? Get a written comparison first.

Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.

Scope a structure here Compare jurisdictions

Frequently asked

Questions we hear on every Japan intake.

KK or GK?: A KK carries more prestige with Japanese counterparties and is required for some licences. A GK is cheaper and simpler, and is used by many foreign subsidiaries including well-known US technology groups.
Do I need a Japan-resident director?: Not legally since 2015, but in practice banks and landlords require a resident representative, so we build one into the structure.
Is there a fast track for asset managers?: Yes. The Financial Market Entry Office provides English-language registration support, and special zones offer expedited licensing for overseas managers.

Relevant services