Japan rewards planning but punishes improvisation. The right team links immigration law, corporate housekeeping, payroll, and banking so your Business Manager or Highly Skilled route actually works day-to-day.
Team composition
- Bengoshi/Gyoseishoshi: filings, company formation, residence status.
- Labor/social insurance: enrollment, payroll setup, statutory benefits.
- Bank liaison: account opening narrative and cash-management tools.
- Tax: blue vs white returns, consumption tax, and withholding.
RFP prompts
Ask for a month-by-month plan from incorporation to first payroll and office move-in. Request draft board minutes and HR templates up front.
What good looks like
- Directors’ meetings scheduled in Japan; lease and signage ready.
- Bank account opened with verified business plan and invoices.
- Employment contracts compliant with local law; social insurance onboarding.
Mistakes
Registering the company without a real address; visa filings that don’t match bank narratives; underestimating payroll obligations.
Pricing
Expect a bundle: incorporation, visa filing, payroll setup, and monthly retainers. Avoid hourly-only models with no deliverables list.
CTA
Demand a bilingual documentation set you can hand to landlords, bankers, and employees.
Editor’s note: In Japan, paperwork is the operating system. Build it first.