Fill in the form to receive a quote
Search a country below for company documents:
What is the company registry in Japan?
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry – Company Search / National Tax Agency
3-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8978, Japan
About Japan
The Japan Companies Registry is located in Tokyo and was founded in 2007.
Japan is an island country in East Asia. The main language of Japan is Japanese which is spoken by 98.8% of the population with other languages such as Ryukyuan and Ainu spoken by a small percentage. The local currency is the Japanese yen. The population of Japan is over 123.44 million.
Japan Economy
The Real GDP in Japan is in the region of $5.747 trillion with a GDP per capita of $46,200. Japan economy growth has been bolstered by tourism, services, construction, and private consumption. The leading export commodities for Japan are cars, integrated circuits, machinery, vehicle parts/accessories, construction vehicles.
Main Trading Partners of Japan
The leading export and import partners for Japan are:
Exports: USA 19%, China 18%, Taiwan 6%, S. Korea 6%, Hong Kong 4%
Imports: China 22%, USA 11%, Australia 8%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 5%
Japan Certificate of Incorporation
The Japan Certificate of Incorporation is issued by the local company register and we can provide a copy of this company incorporation certificate where available. A certificate of incorporation is a legal document that proves a company is registered with the local register and has met all the requirements to do so.
Japan Certificate of Good Standing
The certificate of Good standing is issued by the local Japan company registry. A Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is an official document that confirms a company's legal compliance and good standing. The availability and information provided on the certificate of good standing will vary for each jurisdiction.
Reasons to obtain company documents
An extract from the Japan register can be used for many reasons including:
Background checks on potential Japan customers / suppliers
Litigation claims
Check potential employers
Wills and Probate
Regulation for Japan Company Register
There are regulations for all company registers and in Japan the relevant laws are:
Companies Act of 2005
Limited Liability Partnership Act of 2005
Limited Partnership for Investment Act 1998, Rev.2004
What information is free to view at Japan Company Registry?
In some jurisdictions certain information is free to view and in Japan the following information can be viewed free of charge:
Japan Company Number - 法人番号
Japan Company Name - 商号又は名称
Japan Company Address - 所在地
Do you need to register / sign up at the Japan Company Registry?
No, you do not need to sign up at the local Japan register to order, obtain and download registered documents.
Number of Registered Companies in Japan
There are over 5,100,000 companies registered in Japan.
Types of Companies in Japan
Businesses in Japan can be setup with several different types of companies which include:
株式会社 (kabushiki gaisha or kabushiki kaisha, "K.K." ("Company, Limited"/"Co., Ltd.")) / "stock company", the most typical form of business corporation.
合同会社 (gōdō gaisha or gōdō kaisha, "G.K.") – lit. "amalgamated company", a close corporation form similar to the American LLC, introduced in 2006
有限会社 (yūgen gaisha or yūgen kaisha, "Y.K.") – lit. "limited company", a close corporation form for smaller businesses, abolished in 2006 and replaced by G.K. above
合名会社 (gōmei gaisha or gōmei kaisha, "GMK") – corporation similar to a general partnership
合資会社 (gōshi gaisha or gōshi kaisha, "GSK") – corporation similar to a limited partnership
Partnerships are referred to as kumiai (組合). Each of these 4 types has no legal personality though other corporations, which include "kumiai" in their name, have:
任意組合 (nin'i kumiai, "NK") – general partnership (Civil Code)
匿名組合 (tokumei kumiai, "TK") – anonymous partnership, an investment bilateral contract
投資事業有限責任組合 (tōshi jigyō yūgen sekinin kumiai) – limited partnership for investment
有限責任事業組合 (yūgen sekinin jigyō kumiai) – similar to a Limited Liability Partnership
Can you order a Japan Apostille Certificate?
Yes, Japan agreed to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Therefore, Japan accepts the Apostille Certificate for Japan Company Registry Search Documents in place of any further legalisation process.
Japan signed up to the Hague Convention on 27th July 1970.
What is the language(s) of the Japan Company Registry?
The Japan Company Register is in Japanese and English languages.
Japan Embassies, high commissions and consulates
Japan has 156 embassies abroad, as well as 154 consulates and seven other representations.
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, hosts 156 embassies, and in addition there are a total of 245 consulates and another nine representations located in Japan.
Japan Site Visits
Our network of global private investigators / process severs means we offer site visits throughout all of Japan. Our local partner is based in Tokyo which enables us to do site visits throughout all of Japan including Kanagawa, Hiroshima, Hyogo and Yokohama. Our agents can make discreet enquiries at the location to confirm if company currently trades at the address and take photographs along with any other special requests.
Japan Country Rating
The current bond ratings for Japan from the major credit bureau(s) is listed below. Rating factors include the current account balance, debt payment history and timeliness, banking and financial operations, future economic outlook, and national economic strength.
Japan Moody's rating: A1 (first obtained in 2014)
Japan Standard & Poors rating: A+ (first obtained in 2015)
Japan Debt Collection
Creditreform provides an Japan Debt Collection service on a No Win No Fee basis. All debts are pursued by our local office/partner in the country/jurisdiction where the debtor is located including Japan.
Japan Skip Tracing
We provide private investigation services for all countries/jurisdictions including Japan. Our specialist Japan skip tracing service operates through our network of PI agents worldwide where we can trace individuals current addresses.
Japan Business Credit Reports
Creditreform provides Japan Business Credit reports on all companies and businesses registered in Japan. The report will include all available information and a credit rating/score. To request a recent sample credit report please contact us.
Japan Company Document Agency FAQs
1. What documents/extracts are available in Japan?
The extracts / documents available will vary depending on the jurisdiction and company type. If you can provide details on the company we can check availability to confirm what extracts are available and provide quote.
2. What is the difference between a company extract and a credit report?
A company extract provides official information/documentation which can include where available such as a company's registration, directors, and share capital. A credit report provides information about a company's finances, ownership and credit worthiness.
3. Is shareholder information available in Japan?
The availability of shareholder information depends on the jurisdiction, company type and local legislation.
4. Are financial statements available in Japan?
Financial information is usually required to be filed at the local register but is not always publicly available. Financial information is more publicly available in Europe compared to other regions globally where there is not always a legal requirement.
5. What is the cost to obtain company extracts?
The cost of obtaining company extracts varies depending on the jurisdiction, access to the local register and the delivery speed required. We will always provide a no obligation quote before proceeding.
6. What is the delivery time to obtain company documents?
The delivery time to obtain company documents depends on the jurisdiction and access to the local register. We will always provide the documents by email where possible to speed up delivery.