Answers to common questions about company formation, visas, bookkeeping & tax, office, talent matching, and more
Key changes:
Existing holders, until October 16, 2028 renewals before then are still covered by transitional measures. For details, see Related articles。
Typically prepare:
The exact documents required vary by case; WINNER BUSINESS CONSULTING offers a one-on-one document review.
The usual review period is 1–3 months. During peak seasons (Apr–Jun, Oct–Dec) it can extend to 4 months. There's no express lane, but submitting complete documents in one go greatly shortens the back-and-forth.
Holders of work visas such as "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services"In principle, you may not do paid work outside what your visa permits. To serve as a director of your own company on the side, you must first obtain work permission or switch to a "Business Manager" visa.
Handling it wrong can lead to a denied renewal — consult us first.
Main options:
Most Business Manager visa applicants choose a stock corporation.
Yes.The Commercial Registration Rule reform effective February 2, 2026 allows Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and the year-end/New-Year period to be registered as the incorporation date. The application must be filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau within the reception hours (08:30–17:15) of the "last open business day" (the previous weekday) before that holiday.
Example: to set Feb 11 (National Foundation Day) as the incorporation date → file on Feb 10 (a weekday).
You can start operating once registration is done, but before actually doing business you'll need to complete:
Service fees depend on case complexity and generally include Drafting & notarizing the articles, registration procedures, tax-office registration, and bank-account support. Book a free consultation on our website for a specific quote.
By annual sales (tax-incl. prices):
Billing period for the first contract: the contract date On/before the 15th: includes that month、After the 15th: starts the next month, counting to the fiscal year-end. If the period is under 6 months, it's billed as 7 months.
The Invoice (qualified invoice) system is Japan's new consumption-tax regime that began in October 2023.
WINNER GROUPS provides Qualified Invoice registration on your behalf and support implementing the Electronic Bookkeeping system.
Year-end tax filing is the annual closing return that every company must file Within 2 months of the fiscal year-end File with the tax office:
Example: March fiscal year-end → file by end of May.
Since January 2024,Invoices and contracts received by email or online must be stored electronically. Printing to paper for storage is no longer accepted. Storage requirements include:
WINNER GROUPS provides guidance on implementing an electronic bookkeeping system.
Immigration usually requires Private office space (not a hot desk). You must be able to provide:
Both W.SHARE locations (Ginza and Kitahama, Osaka) offer visa-ready private office plans.
Typical packages include:
For exact prices and plans, see w-sharegroups.com for details.
Two main tracks:
"Employment for Skill Development" will April 1, 2027 Replaces the current Technical Intern Training system. Key changes:
The corporate hiring process will change significantly — consult and prepare early.
Main changes effective April 2026:
Two ways:
Provided Traditional Chinese / Simplified Chinese / Japanese / English / Vietnamese Full service in five languages. Available languages vary slightly by location — let us know your preferred language in advance.
WINNER GROUPS uses E-contract system. After the client confirms online, the three parties (A, B, C) sign electronically in sequence and it's concluded. The contract PDF is automatically sent to all three — fully paperless, with no office visit needed.
Varies by service type:
The exact refund policy is governed by the signed engagement contract.
Feel free to contact our advisory team directly — Chinese, Japanese, and English all welcome