Section 1. Incorporating Your Business

1.5 Certificate on registered company information and company seal impression certificate

Once registration of establishment has been completed for a Japanese branch office or a subsidiary company, a certificate on registered company information can be obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau. The certificate on registered company information is a document officially certifying a company's registered information.

The principal information to be registered for a joint-stock corporation is as follows:

  • Corporate number
  • Corporate name
  • Location of head office
  • Business purposes
  • Method of giving public notice
  • Total number of shares to be issued
  • Types and numbers of outstanding shares
  • Rules on the limitation of transfer of shares
  • Amount of capital
  • Directors
  • Representative directors
  • Auditors
  • Date of company establishment

The certificate on registered company information must ordinarily be presented whenever opening a bank account, filing notifications with administrative authorities, purchasing assets for which name registration is required (real estate, securities, vehicles, telephones, etc.), and concluding important agreements with business partners.

On certain occasions, the company seal impression certificate (company seal impression certificate sample) will need to be submitted along with the certificate on registered company information.PDFファイル (158KB) The company seal impression certificate is a document publicly certifying the company seal that has been registered. This certificate is used to confirm whether or not company seals placed on applications, filings, contracts, etc., have been placed there with legitimate authorization from the company; the certificate may be obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau after completion of establishment registration. The company seal as well as the names of the persons authorized to use the seal must be applied for registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau when applying for establishment registration. The representatives of the branch office/subsidiary company are the only parties authorized to use the company seal, and their personal seal registration certificates or signature certificates must be presented when registering the company seal.

In the event of changes to the registered information or the company seal, the prescribed modification procedures must be completed promptly. Applications for registration of changes to registered information must be submitted to the Legal Affairs Bureau within two weeks of the changes for subsidiary companies, and within three weeks of the changes for branch offices.

Section1: Table of Contents

  1. 1.1

    Types of operation in Japan

  2. 1.2

    Comparison of types of business operation

  3. 1.3

    Procedures for registering establishment

  4. 1.4

    Information listed in articles of incorporation of a company

  5. 1.5

    Certificate on registered company information and company seal impression certificate

  6. 1.6

    Notifications required after registration

  7. 1.7

    Closure of branch offices or subsidiary companies

(Reference)

Consultation with specialists on business establishment

Opening of corporate bank accounts

Procedures for establishing a representative office

Section1: Notifications or reports regarding acquisition of stocks, equity, etc.

Section Industries or countries/regions subject to the regulations The competent authorities relating to these documents
1-3 Industries in which prior notification is required
*Determined from the perspective of national security and public safety 		Ministry of FinanceExternal site: a new window will open
(Japanese only)
1-3 Industries in which prior notification is required
*Determined from the perspective of public order and the smooth operation of Japan's economy 		Ministry of FinanceExternal site: a new window will open
(Japanese only)
1-3 Business Categories Subject to the Subsequent Report under the Ordinance concerning Foreign Direct Investment, etc. Ministry of FinanceExternal site: a new window will open
(Japanese only)
1-3 Listed countries/regions that are not subject to prior notification when making inward direct investment International Department, Bank of JapanExternal site: a new window will open
(Japanese only)

Section1：Documents businesses are required to submit to authorities

Section Documents Where documents are listed within the URL The competent authority or relevant organization relating to each document
1-2 Example 2 of Articles of Incorporation of Stock CompanyExternal site: a new window will open (Japanese sample only)
*privately-owned, 1 or more directors, no board of directors, no auditor 		See Examples of Articles of Incorporation⇒Articles of Incorporation of Stock Company⇒2. Small and Medium-Sized Company Japan National Notaries AssociationPDF file(248KB)
1-2 Statement of Beneficial OwnerPDF file(294KB) Japan National Notaries AssociationPDF file(248KB)
1-3 Report Relating to the Acquisition, etc. of Shares / Equity International Department, Bank of Japan
1-3 Affidavit / Written Oath StatementExternal site: a new window will open See "Registration Procedures of a Foreign Company" ⇒"[Example] Application Form for Registration of Establishment of Business Office for Foreign Company" p.12 Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of JusticeExternal site: a new window will open
1-3 Application for Registration of Establishment of Stock CompanyExternal site: a new window will open See Chapter 4-5. Matters to State⇒ "Application for Registration of Establishment of a Stock Company (Establishment of a Company without Board of Directors) Example of Description (PDF)" Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of JusticeExternal site: a new window will open
1-3 Seal (Revision Mark) FormExternal site: a new window will open See Chapter 4-5. Matters to State ⇒ "Application for Registration of Establishment of a Stock Company (Establishment of a Company without Board of Directors)"⇒ "Seal Registration Form Example of Description (PDF)" Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of JusticeExternal site: a new window will open
1-3 Application Form for Registration of Establishment of Business Office for Foreign CompanyExternal site: a new window will open See "Registration Procedures of a Foreign Company" ⇒"[Example] Application Form for Registration of Establishment of Business Office for Foreign Company" Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of JusticeExternal site: a new window will open

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