The short answer
A foreign individual or foreign company can own 100% of a Japanese company. There is no nationality quota, no local-shareholder requirement, and no minimum capital — ¥1 of paid-in capital is legally sufficient for an ordinary KK or GK. What Japan regulates is not who owns the company, but where it is registered, who represents it, and whether you personally have the right to live here while running it.
What 100% ownership actually means in Japan
For a 株式会社 (KK), ownership is measured in shares. A single shareholder can hold all issued shares, and a company can be incorporated with one director and no board of directors. For a 合同会社 (GK), ownership is measured in 出資 (capital contributions) and the owner is typically the 代表社員 who executes the business.
In both cases the shareholder’s liability is limited to the amount subscribed. The company is a separate legal person: it owns the assets, signs the leases, employs the staff, and owes the tax. That separation is why a 100%-owned subsidiary is the normal structure for a foreign parent — the Japanese entity’s problems do not automatically become the parent’s.
No nationality test — but four practical tests
The legal test is easy. The practical test is where most incorporations stall. These are the four things a foreign-owned company has to solve, and each is separate from company law.
| Requirement | Applies to | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| A registered address in Japan | Every KK and GK | The registered office goes on the commercial register. A PO box is not enough; a virtual office may work for registration but often fails for a bank or a visa. |
| A representative with a verifiable identity | Every company | A Japanese resident signs with a 印鑑証明. A non-resident director signs with a signature certificate legalised in their home country, plus a Japanese translation. |
| A corporate bank account | Every company that trades | Banks apply their own KYC. Most require the representative to be resident in Japan and will decline a company whose director lives overseas. |
| A status of residence | Only if you live in Japan | Owning shares does not create immigration status. Managing the business in Japan requires 経営・管理 or another work visa. |
KK or GK for a sole foreign owner?
Both permit 100% foreign ownership. The choice is commercial rather than legal. A KK is the default when you will sell to Japanese enterprises, raise from Japanese investors, or hire at scale; a GK is faster, cheaper, and has no notarisation requirement for the articles of incorporation.
| 株式会社 (KK) | 合同会社 (GK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | ¥1 | ¥1 |
| Registration and licence tax | ¥150,000 minimum (0.7% of capital) | ¥60,000 minimum (0.7% of capital) |
| Articles of incorporation | Notarisation required (¥0 electronic / ¥40,000 paper stamp) | No notarisation required |
| Governance | Director(s); board optional | Representative member(s); no board |
| Market perception | Standard for enterprise clients and banks | Common for subsidiaries and small ventures |
| Typical setup cost | ¥220,000–¥400,000 | ¥100,000–¥250,000 |
| Typical registration time | 2–4 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
The bank account is the real gate
A company can be registered in two weeks and still be unable to open a bank account two months later. Japanese banks are conservative with newly formed companies, and more so when the representative is not resident in Japan. They typically ask for the certificate of incorporation, the articles, the company seal certificate, the representative’s identification and residence card, a description of the business, and an explanation of why the account is needed.
The workable patterns are: (1) a Japanese-resident representative director who can attend the branch and sign; (2) a resident business manager employed by the company; or (3) an international business account for receipts and payments while the Japanese account is being arranged. What does not work reliably is applying to a mega-bank immediately after registration with no office, no website, and no trading history.
If you want to live in Japan while owning it
This is the part that changed. Since 16 October 2025, a new Business Manager visa (経営・管理) requires at least ¥30 million in paid-in capital for a corporation, at least one qualifying full-time employee, Japanese ability at B2 level held by the applicant or a full-time employee, and three years of management experience or a relevant master’s degree — plus a business plan signed off by a qualified professional.
That is an immigration rule layered on top of company law. You can own 100% of a Japanese company from overseas without ever qualifying for the visa. Conversely, a visa does not require you to own 100% — a company with several shareholders can still sponsor a manager. The mistake is to incorporate first and discover the immigration requirement afterwards.
A clean structure, in order
The sequence that avoids rework is: decide whether you will reside in Japan; choose KK or GK against the bank and customer you are targeting; secure a registered address that the bank will accept; confirm the representative’s documents (resident 印鑑証明 or legalised signature certificate); file the incorporation; register the company seal; then open the bank account. If a visa is part of the plan, confirm the capital and staffing position before the filing, because the business plan and the company’s capital must tell the same story.
Frequently asked questions
Can I own 100% of a Japanese company without living in Japan?
Yes. Shareholders and directors are not required to reside in Japan. You will need a Japanese registered address, a representative whose signature can be verified, and a bank arrangement — the last of which is the usual constraint.
Do I need a Japanese partner or nominee?
No. Nominee arrangements add legal risk (the nominee is the registered owner) and are unnecessary for ownership. If a bank requires a resident signatory, appoint a resident director or employee properly rather than using a nominee shareholder.
Can a foreign company be the 100% shareholder?
Yes. A foreign corporation can own a Japanese subsidiary. That is different from a branch: a subsidiary is a separate Japanese legal entity, while a branch is the foreign company itself registered in Japan. See [subsidiary vs branch](/guides/subsidiary-vs-branch-office-japan).
Does 100% ownership give me a visa?
No. Ownership and immigration status are separate. To live in Japan and manage the business you need 経営・管理 or another status of residence, and the Business Manager criteria were tightened on 16 October 2025.
What documents does a non-resident shareholder sign?
Typically a passport copy, a signature certificate issued by a notary or your country’s embassy and legalised (apostille or consular authentication), a Japanese translation, and a power of attorney if a representative files on your behalf. Requirements vary by filing and by country.