Supporting Your
Business in Japan's
Financial Markets

What's New?

Interview October 18, 2024 Interview with Alpha Financial Advisors GK Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC was established in 2002 as a Registered Investment Advisor regulated by the SEC (CRD# 122545 SEC#: 801-79666). The Company provides portfolio management .... Read More >
News October 15, 2024 New successful registration Avenue Japan Limited completed registration of Investment Advisory and Agency Business in English. Read More >
News October 9, 2024 New successful registration Monterey Capital Management Japan Co., Ltd. completed registration of Investment Management Business in English. Read More >
News August 13, 2024 New successful registration Dymon Asia Capital (Japan) Limited completed registration of change for Investment Management Business in English. In February 2019, the company completed registration of Investment Advisory and Agency Business, .... Read More >
News July 17, 2024 New successful registration Ares Management Asia Japan KK completed registration of Type II Financial Instruments Business in English. Read More >
Interview June 28, 2024 Interview with HOKU Inc. Hoku is a Japan equities-only, long/short hedge fund established in 2017. Beginning in early 2020, we began implementing a growth plan, but unfortunately, we ran smack into the pandemic. .... Read More >
Interview June 13, 2024 Interview with Muzinich & Co. Japan Pte. Limited Muzinich & Co., Inc., was established in NY in1988. We are a privately owned, mainly institutionally focused investment firm providing investment solutions in public and private credit markets globally. .... Read More >
Interview May 31, 2024 Interview with Impax Asset Management Japan Ltd. We are happy that, Impax Asset Management Group plc has established a corporate entity in Japan, Impax Asset Management Japan Ltd (“Impax Japan”) and completed the IAA registration. .... Read More >
News May 31, 2024 We have updated the Financial Start-up Support Program. The Financial Start-Up Support Program is designed to assist overseas financial companies with establishing an office and expanding business activities in Japan by providing one-stop services in English for free.... Read More >
News May 31, 2024 Press Release Japan Financial Services Agency Announces the “Financial Start-up Support Program 2024” with New Partner weConnect Read More >

What You Need to Know
to Start and Run a Financial Organization
in Japan

There are several steps and registration procedures necessary to establish a financial company in Japan, and there are other requirements and processes to complete after registration too. Learn more about them here.

Registration Procedure

The general flow of the procedure to register as a financial instruments business is outlined below. Support in English is available at every step from the Financial Market Entry Office (FMEO).

1

Prior
consultation

During prior consultation, FMEO confirms the business model and explains the type of registration required.
2

Preparation of
documents

FMEO checks all application documents and the contents of required supplementary documents.
3

Submission of
registration application

After all documents have been carefully checked, the applicant submits the documents. Please note that the license tax must be paid.
4

Issuance of notice of
completion

Successful applicants will receive a notice of completion one to two months on average after submitting their documents.
5

Joining a self-regulatory
organization

The next step is to register with a self-regulatory organization and implement ADR measures.
6

Commencement of
operations

After completing these procedures, the company is legally able to commence operations in Japan.

Approx. 3-4 months
Approx. 1-2 months

Learn more

Financial Market
Entry Office

The Financial Market Entry Office (FMEO) provides support with all regulatory processes, from pre-application consultation and registration to supervision after registration, to overseas financial companies entering the Japan market. All communication and support can be provided in English.

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Financial Start-Up Support Program

INITIAL SET UP SUPPORT
ONGOING SUPPORT

A program initiated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan that focuses on providing a simplified, low-cost market entry process and “one-stop” access to a broad set of English support and consultation services.
*The implementation period of the Program ends on March 31, 2024.

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Success Stories

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Materials and Information

Multilingual
Professional Services

Professional business support is essential for setting up a company and settling in Japan. Here, you can search for professionals that offer their professional services in foreign languages. Information about medical facilities and international schools is also available.