Abstract — Japan rewards planning and punishes improvisation. The right team unifies company formation, visa strategy, payroll/insurance, and banking so your Business Manager or Highly Skilled (HS) route is operational on day one.
Snapshot
- Scope: Incorporation, office lease, visa filings, social insurance, payroll, bank onboarding, tax registrations.
- Deliverables: Month-by-month plan, bilingual board minutes, HR templates, payroll/insurance setup, bank KYC pack.
- Timeline: 6–12 weeks depending on address/lease and bank selection.
- Fee model: Bundled setup + monthly retainers; avoid hourly-only with vague deliverables.
1) The operating sequence
Incorporation is the easy part. You also need a real address, signage, and employment contracts that match filings. Bankers want to see invoices and a business plan beyond a one-pager. Social insurance onboarding is not optional.
2) What “good counsel” looks like
- Provides a bilingual documentation set that landlords, banks, and HR can all accept.
- Schedules directors’ meetings in Japan; keeps contemporaneous minutes.
- Aligns visa type with payroll and corporate purposes (HS vs Business Manager).
- Holds you to a calendar, not endless email threads.
3) RFP prompts
Ask for a D-30 to D+90 Gantt chart from company seal to first payroll. Request sample minutes, sample bank letters, and a list of typical gotchas (koseki, hanko, registered address issues).
4) Red flags
Virtual address with no plan for real premises; vague bank “introductions”; no labor or social insurance partner; unwilling to provide draft minutes early.
FAQs
- Can we open a bank first? Usually after incorporation and address; some institutions insist on trading evidence.
- Is remote acceptable? Not for long. Japan values presence and paperwork.
Editor’s Note: In Japan, paperwork is the operating system. Build it before you hire.
Tags: Directory, Japan, Business Manager Visa, Highly Skilled, Payroll, Banking