Jurisdictions Hub ❯ Japan Japan Verification & Risk Requirements

Understand what information, documents, and official sources are used to verify companies in Japan. This page outlines key verification considerations, risk factors, and KYB requirements relevant to due diligence and compliance processes.

Overview

How company verification works in Japan

Commercial registry framework and core corporate records.

See Overview

Challenges

Key verification constraints to consider

Ownership visibility, registry scope, and off-registry risk signals.

See Challenges

Requirements

Information commonly required for KYB checks

Corporate identifiers, registry extracts, and statutory filings.

See Requirements

Resources

Official sources and reference material

Public authorities and guidance for verifying Japanese companies.

See Resources

Overview Japan KYB Jurisdiction

Japan operates a formal and centralised framework for company registration and statutory compliance. Corporate registration records are maintained by the Legal Affairs Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, which manages the national commercial registry.

Official registry records confirm a company’s legal existence and core details, including registered name, registration number, address, capital, and directors. However, public records focus on legal structure and governance, with limited visibility into ownership and no publicly accessible beneficial ownership register. As a result, KYB checks in Japan often require combining registry data with supplementary documentation and additional sources.

This jurisdiction profile summarises the key factors relevant to verifying companies in Japan.

Challenges When Verifying Companies In Japan.

Despite a well-established registry system, several jurisdiction-specific considerations may affect KYB and due diligence workflows.

Limited Beneficial Ownership Transparency

Japan does not maintain a public beneficial ownership register. Registry records do not disclose ultimate beneficial owners, requiring additional analysis beyond official extracts.

Complex Ownership Structures

Corporate groups, layered ownership, and cross-shareholdings may obscure ownership and control when relying solely on registry data.

Timeliness of Registry Updates

Companies are required to register changes to key details, but updates may not be reflected immediately in publicly accessible records.

Language and Interpretation of Filings

Corporate registry records and statutory documents are maintained in Japanese, often requiring translation or interpretation for non-domestic compliance teams.

Availability and Scope of Corporate Filings

Commercial registry extracts confirm legal status and governance but do not typically include shareholder registers or financial disclosures.

Risk Signals Outside the Registry

The commercial registry does not surface litigation history, regulatory enforcement actions, or adverse media, which must be identified through supplementary sources.

Requirements For Japan KYB

Essential Identifiers for Companies in Japan

Japan uses defined identifiers to link companies to the official registry and government records.

Corporate Registration Number
Issued through the commercial registration process and used as the primary reference for registry searches.

Corporate Number
A unique 13-digit identifier issued by the National Tax Agency, used across government systems to identify legal entities.

Registered Company Name
The legal entity name as recorded in the commercial registry. Verification typically requires an exact match.

Legal Entity Type and Registration Status
Common entity types include joint-stock companies, limited liability companies, and branches of foreign companies. Confirming entity type and current status is essential for KYB.

Registered Office Address
The registered address forms part of the official record and supports jurisdiction and service-of-notice checks.

Directors and Representative Directors
Registry records disclose directors and representative directors, supporting governance and authority checks, but do not identify beneficial ownership.

Common Public Documents Available in Japan

Document availability depends on the entity type and its filing history.

Commercial Registry Extract
An official extract confirming legal name, registration number, registered address, capital, directors, and current status.

Certificate of Registered Matters
Confirms registration and legal existence.

Articles of Incorporation
Documents outlining the company’s purpose, governance framework, and internal rules.

Historical Registry Records
Registry extracts may reflect historical changes to directors, address, capital, or company status.

Official Sources of Corporate Information

Corporate information in Japan is published and maintained by national authorities and supplementary sources.

Legal Affairs Bureau

Primary authority for company registration and commercial registry records

National Tax Agency

Issuer of the Corporate Number

Judicial and regulatory databases

Supplementary sources for litigation and enforcement checks

Resources Compliance insights, explained

Guides, updates and analysis to support KYB and risk decisions.

Featured

How to Verify a Japanese Company: A Step-by-Step Guide

3 August 2023

Recent Resources

Game-Changing Technology for Japan and Taiwan Company Check

AsiaVerify introduces OCR tech to streamline document processing and enhance APAC compliance accuracy

Real-Time Japan & Taiwan Company Checks Powered by AsiaVerify

Step-by-step guidance to verify companies in Japan and Taiwan for compliance and trusted business deals

Solutions How AsiaVerify Supports KYB in Japan

Verifying companies in Japan relies on commercial registry data that confirms legal existence and governance but provides limited visibility into ownership and off-registry risk signals. AsiaVerify supports Japan-specific KYB workflows by enabling structured use of official registry data alongside supplementary sources to support ownership analysis, risk assessment, and ongoing monitoring.

Japan Registry & Key People Instant official data

Real-time Registry Connection

AsiaVerify connects to authoritative sources to retrieve key company information and filing updates, helping teams validate entities using current, source-backed data.

Directors & Shareholders Data

Access structured data on key people and ownership where available, supporting clearer review of decision-critical relationships and changes over time.

Auto Docs & AI Translation Fast retrieval, no manual work

Automated Document Retrieval

Retrieve supporting documents and filing records from the official sources, when available, to reduce back-and-forth and speed up evidence collection.

AI-assisted Translation & Normalisation

AsiaVerify uses AI to structure, normalise, and translate the registry data where required, aligning disparate inputs into a consistent, review-ready format for reliable KYB decisions.

UBO Mapping & AML Checks See owners and screen risk

UBO Mapping & Ownership Analysis

AsiaVerify reconstructs ownership layers using disclosed shareholder information and historical filings, helping teams identify controlling individuals and entities even in complex, multi-tier structures.

AML & Sanctions Screening

Entities, shareholders, and legal representatives are screened against sanctions and enforcement lists, as well as adverse media, to support AML and CTF obligations across APAC.

API Access & Live Monitoring Scale KYB and track changes

API, Portal and Bulk Access

Teams can integrate real-time verification via the API, run checks on-demand in the portal, or process high volumes via bulk upload, ensuring KYB workflows align with operational needs.

Ongoing Monitoring & Alerts

AsiaVerify continuously monitors changes to business status, registered details, shareholders, scope, and penalties, alerting teams when regulatory or structural changes occur.