Setting Up a Company in Japan: Seals, Not Just Signatures

Setting up a company in Japan means thinking about seals — not just signatures.

Japan's corporate culture has long run on hanko (判子) — official stamps that carry legal weight.

The Seals Most Companies Prepare

— A representative seal (代表印), registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau, used for important contracts and official filings.

— A company seal (角印), used for everyday documents such as invoices and quotations.

— Often a bank seal (銀行印) as well, used for bank transactions.

Optional on Paper, Expected in Practice

Registering a seal at incorporation has been optional since 2021, and Japan has been moving toward electronic signatures. But in practice, many banks, landlords and business partners still expect a registered seal and a seal certificate — especially when opening a corporate bank account or signing a lease.

Signing with a pen is not always enough for official processes here.

It's a small detail that stops foreign companies in their tracks. Get it sorted early.

Natsuki Suzuki is the founder of BANTO, which provides back-office support — accounting, HR and payroll, and administration — to overseas companies and their Japan entities. She spent 15 years in Europe and brings both sides of the cultural equation to every engagement.