Ayano Morimoto, Shiho Shoshi Lawyer.

We provide strong support in both English and Japanese to foreign nationals and foreign companies setting up a business in Japan.

We not only prepare and register required documents for submission to the Registry office, we also prepare other related documents like share transfer agreements, reports to the Bank of Japan under Foreign Exchange laws, etc..

We strive to ensure that our assistance makes you feel more confident in your business preparations and contributes to the efficiency of your business.

Having significant experience in incorporation for both Japanese and non-Japanese nationals, we can ensure the incorporation process goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Our office has many professional connections, like accountants, attorneys, immigration lawyers, labor lawyers, translators, etc..

You can ask them about tax matters, labor services, agreements and contracts, visa applications and　support services for all your needs in Japan.

Please let us provide you with everything you need using our broad network so that you can focus on your business after setting up your company.

Please refer to Professionals!

With the growth of your business, there will be times when documents need to be registered, such as, for example, replacing officers, relocation, changing business purposes, and issuing new shares, or corporate restructuring like Mergers & Acquisitions.

A branch office of a foreign company should file registration documents when there are changes to corporate officers, the amount of capital of the head office, or representatives in Japan.

Even when registration is not required, Kabushiki Kaisha must make and keep the minutes of shareholder meetings or when the board of directors approves financial statements every business year. Kabushiki Kaisha and Godo Kaisha keep the minutes for decisions regarding dividends, remuneration of officers, or changing your business year, etc..

We will prepare these required documents and register them in both English and Japanese on behalf of your company.

Since most of our clients are foreign corporations, your staff at the head office can contact us in English and receive prompt and clear answers regarding your Japanese legal issues.

In cases where decedents or their heirs are foreign nationals, or where decedents or their heirs live in foreign countries, you will need a law firm capable of completing complex procedures such as research on governing laws, searching for heirs you may not know or be aware of preparing documents requiring a certification from foreign governments or other authorities, communicating with foreign lawyers, etc..

As we have had significant experience with international inheritance cases over the past 17 years, we are able to complete all the necessary documentation with great care while dealing with complicated cases quickly and efficiently.

Also, where necessary, we can introduce an accountant or foreign attorney at law who will be familiar with the relevant tax issues for international inheritance cases when overseas property is an issue.

After the successful completion of inheritance procedures, it is a great joy for us to see a client smile with relief. It is also a great encouragement for us in our work!

Please let us know if you have an international inheritance problem for which we can provide our services.

<Wills>

We highly recommend that all couples have wills, but it is particularly important in cases where one or both people are foreign nationals or have property in foreign jurisdictions.

Leaving a properly drafted and executed will reduce the chance of having complicated international inheritance issues that may be very costly and time consuming to resolve.

Since there are issues and considerations that require careful attention specific to international inheritance when a foreign national is going to make a will, we provide expert legal advice.

Furthermore, we can assist Japanese couples with properties overseas.

We set your mind at ease and eliminate the anxiety resulting from overseas real estate transactions with professional and courteous service including preparing all necessary documents for the transactions such as affidavits, signature certificates, reports to Bank of Japan and so on.

Do not hesitate to ask questions regarding real property transactions.

We protect your property and ownership rights through filing registration with our expert knowledge and significant experience.

In addition, we can complete closings and do identity confirmation in English.

★Your cooperation for “identity confirmation” is appreciated!

We will confirm the identity and willingness of the client to the requested information by face to face contact or in other ways prescribed under the Judicial Scrivener Act, by laws of the Judicial Scrivener Association and the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds. These procedures shall be recorded at our office.

Flow of Purchase of Real Properties(From Conclusion of Purchase and Sale Agreement to Closing)

Conclusion of Purchase and Sale Agreement

A purchase and sale agreement shall be completed by and between purchaser(s) and seller(s) when you purchase real property.

You affix your signature to the agreement after the agent gives you the explanatory statement, "Property Disclosure Statement of Important Issues".

You usually pay a deposit at the time of execution of the agreement then pay the balance in full on the date of closing.

If you use a bank loan, you need to adjust the schedule for the closing with the bank.

Appoint a Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer

The purchaser can appoint a Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer to handle the transaction. The Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer confirms the Property Disclosure Statement of Important Issues, Purchase and Sale Agreement, information of the real property, identity of parties and prepares the necessary documents for the transaction.

On the date of Closing

On the date of closing, the purchaser, the seller, the real estate agency, a person in charge from the bank (if you use a loan) and the Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer meet to execute all documents required to complete the transaction.

The Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer explains the process then the parties involved affix their signatures and seals to the documents.

After confirming all of the documents have been signed and sealed, the Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer gives the green-light for the settlement of transaction funds.

• Bank1
• Loan
• Purchaser
• Payment
• Seller
• Settlement of debt
• Bank2

Filing registration

After confirming the settlement, the Shiho-Shoshi Lawyer goes to the Registry office (Legal Affairs Bureau) or uses an online application then files the registration; cancelation of mortgage (if any), transfer of ownership from the seller to the purchaser and registers the new mortgage (if any)

Report to Bank of Japan

When a non-resident acquires real property in Japan from a resident, he/she must report to the Bank of Japan within 20 days after the date of the acquisition in accordance with Foreign Exchange Laws.