Sarkar Office Japan KK

Sarkar Office Japan KK

Consulting & Administrative Legal Services
Japan "One-Stop Solution" Since 1993
Branch, Subsidiary Company (KK, GK) Registration
Statutory Compliance (Tax, Social Insurance, etc.)

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Japan Subsidiary Company Incorporation

Subsidiary Company Registration in Japan

Subsidiary Company Registration, Incorporation, Formation. Setting-up of a Kabushiki-Kaisha [KK] (Joint Stock Company), Godo-Kaisha [GK] (Limited Liability Company) [LLC] in Japan. Opening up a legal entity and business presence in Japan.

A foreign company willing to establish a subsidiary company in Japan may choose from the following options:

  • Kabushiki-Kaisha [KK] (Joint-stock Corporation) {Kabushiki Joto Seigen Kaisha – (If No Committee is Established)}
  • Godo-Kaisha [GK] Limited Liability Company (LLC) or similar entity stipulated by Japan's Companies Act.

There are also formats such as unlimited partnerships (Gomei-Kaisha) and limited partnerships (Goshi-Kaisha) under the Companies Act. Still, they are rarely chosen in practice because equity participants burden with complete(unlimited) rather than limited liability.  

A subsidiary is a separate legal entity from the foreign parent company. Therefore a foreign company will bear the liability of an equity participant stipulated by law for all debts and credits generated by the subsidiary company's activities. The minimum requirement for establishing a subsidiary co in Japan is to have a local physical address (not a PO Box) and a local “Resident in Japan.” [Please see the “Note” below re exception for a local “Resident in Japan.”] Local Resident in Japan could be either a Japanese or a foreign national, but the person must have an appropriate residence status as per immigration law for a foreign national.

Japan "One-Stop Solution" "Since 1993"

Japan Subsidiary Company Registration

Note: "No Local Resident in Japan" is required as a mandatory requirement for registration of a "Subsidiary Company" since the amendment of the Companies Act introduced in March-2015.

A foreign company can establish a Japanese Subsidiary Company in the form of Godo-Kaisha(GK) or Kabushiki-Kaisha(KK)] in Japan without a "Local Resident in Japan"(Promoter/Director) under the amendment in the Companies Act introduced in March-2015.

For further information, please contact us by mail. Contact Sarkar Office Japan KK

Japan Subsidiary Company (Kabushiki-Kaisha [KK], Godo-Kaisha [GK]) Incorporation Services

The features of Kabushiki-Kaisha [KK] (Joint Stock Company) and Godo-Kaisha [GK] Limited Liability Company (LLC) at a glance:

KK, GK Incorporation without Japan Resident

  • Capital:  1(one) yen or more. [Establishment with zero yen capital is theoretically possible, but in practice, it is impossible to incorporate without paying the capital amount]
  • Investors: 1(one) or more
  • Corporation as an Investor: Possible (the process of registration is lengthy)
  • Liability of Investors: Limited to the amount of investment/equity participation.
  • Directors / Executive officers: 1(one) or more (In case of a GK. Co. in principle, all members are executive officers, but maybe stipulated otherwise in “Articles of Association”)
  • Legally stipulated term of office of Directors / Executive officers: In KK (with capital less than 500 million and without committee [Kabushiki Joto Seigen Kaisha]) 2 years in principle and extend-able up to 10 years. In the case of GK no legally stipulated term.
  • Transfer of share/equity: In the case of KK, it can be transferred freely in principle unless it is stipulated in “Articles of Association” that it requires the board of directors' approval. In the case of a GK, unanimous consent of members (equity holders) is required.
  • Resident in Japan: Effective Mar’2015 Japanese government has allowed foreign companies and or individuals to register a subsidiary/local company without a resident in Japan.
  • Registered Office: A local address in Japan is required. (physical address and not a P.O. Box)
  • Co. Secretary: Not required 
  • Yearly Auditing of accounts: Not mandatory 

Time-frame for registration: For the procedure, please refer to the registration flowchart of Kabushiki-Kaisha [KK] and Godo-Kaisha [GK]. Upon applying to Legal Affairs Bureau for registration, it takes about 2(two) weeks to obtain the registration certificate.

Kabushiki-Kaiska (KK) verses Godo Kaisha (GK) - Comparison At a Glance

For further information, please contact us by mail. Contact Sarkar Office Japan KK

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