KYB Japan Japan KYB, UBO, Verification & Risk Requirements

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.

Japanese companies can generally be searched using the registered company name or Corporate Number. Registration information is available through official Legal Affairs Bureau services, while Corporate Numbers are published through the National Tax Agency system. Organisations requiring structured or high-volume information may use commercial API and portal services. If you require more than a registry search, see our Japan Business Check and company verification guide. Ready to check a business? Search Japan companies instantly through the AsiaVerify platform.

Registry records may include registration details, company status, registered address and information relating to directors or company representatives, depending on the entity and records requested. AsiaVerify’s Japan coverage includes supported company-registration, director and shareholder information, official legal documents, entity matching and AML screening capabilities.

Registry records can help confirm whether a company remains registered and whether material status or registration changes have been recorded. The exact information available and its currency depend on the entity, record and processing of relevant filings. Organisations requiring ongoing oversight may also use AsiaVerify’s Perpetual KYB capabilities to monitor supported entities and identify relevant company changes over time.

Information relating to directors, representative directors and other key company officers may be available through registry records and supporting documents. The availability and completeness of information depends on the entity and records available.

Shareholder information may be available depending on the company type and records available. Public company-registration records do not necessarily provide a complete picture of ultimate ownership and control. Ownership analysis may therefore require additional records and supporting information. For more on ownership checks, see our guide: Why Identifying the UBO Matters.

Corporate registration information is available through official registry systems. The information available depends on the entity, information requested and applicable access requirements.

Access requirements and any applicable charges depend on the records or official documents requested.

A company registry search provides access to corporate records held by the Legal Affairs Bureau, such as registration details, representative director information, and company status. Company verification uses registry information alongside additional ownership, identity, and risk checks to support KYB and due diligence processes. For a detailed explanation of company verification in Japan, see our Japan Company Verification Guide.

Foreign companies or branches may appear in Japanese registration systems where registered under the applicable framework.

Registry data from the Legal Affairs Bureau provides a government-sourced foundation for KYB and corporate due diligence on Japanese entities. It can support confirmation of legal existence, registration details, status and available information about company representatives. Organisations commonly combine registry information and official documents with entity matching, AML screening, ownership research and broader due-diligence processes when assessing Japanese companies. Registry information is commonly combined with ownership analysis, AML screening, due diligence and ongoing monitoring to support onboarding and third-party risk management.

The Corporate Number, known in Japanese as Hōjin Bangō, is the primary 13-digit identifier assigned to registered legal entities in Japan. It is published through the National Tax Agency Corporate Number Publication System and is commonly used to identify an entity during company searches and KYB processes. Example: 1180301018771.

For most company-verification and business-search requirements, Japanese company-registration systems should be treated as the primary source of corporate-registration information. Searches by registered company name or Corporate Number are generally the most effective starting point. The Legal Affairs Bureau supports formal registration records, while the National Tax Agency system supports Corporate Number identification.

Registry records may not provide a complete view of ownership, control structures or broader risk indicators. Depending on the entity and records available, additional ownership research, official documents, AML screening and supplementary due-diligence sources may be required to support enhanced verification and risk assessment. Because registry records may not provide a complete picture of ownership and risk, organisations often supplement a registry search with a full business check; see our Japan Company Verification Guide.