Who Should You Hire for Company Formation in Japan? Differences Between a Gyoseishoshi, Judicial Scrivener, Tax Accountant, and Social Insurance Labor Consultant

When planning to establish a company in Japan, many people wonder: Can a Gyoseishoshi handle the process, and how is that different from a judicial scrivener?

In practice, company formation involves several steps, such as preparing the articles of incorporation, notarization, company registration, tax filings, labor and social insurance procedures, and sometimes business licenses.

This article explains the differences between a Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener), judicial scrivener, tax accountant, and social insurance labor consultant, and why consulting a Gyoseishoshi early can be helpful, especially for foreign entrepreneurs.

Main professionals involved in company formation

Professional	Main role
Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener)	Preparation of formation documents such as articles of incorporation and minutes, electronic articles of incorporation, licenses and permits, and applications to government offices
Judicial Scrivener	Filing the incorporation registration and handling commercial registration matters
Tax Accountant	Tax notifications, bookkeeping, tax returns, and tax advice
Social Insurance Labor Consultant	Labor insurance, social insurance, employment rules, and labor management procedures

What a Gyoseishoshi can do

A Gyoseishoshi can handle company formation procedures and representation except for the actual registration filing.

Typical support includes:

• Advising on the overall formation process
• Drafting the articles of incorporation
• Preparing founder resolutions and meeting minutes
• Handling electronic articles of incorporation
• Checking whether licenses or permits will be required
• Supporting foreign founders with bilingual explanations and document planning

This is particularly helpful when the planned business will need a license or permit after incorporation.

What a judicial scrivener handles

The professional who handles the incorporation registration filing for a company or other legal entity in Japan is a judicial scrivener.

In other words, it is common for a Gyoseishoshi to prepare the articles of incorporation and related formation documents, while the judicial scrivener handles the commercial registration filing.

At our office, we coordinate with partner judicial scriveners when registration support is needed.

Where tax accountants and social insurance labor consultants come in

After incorporation, your company will usually need tax, accounting, labor, and social insurance procedures.

Tax accountants mainly support tax filings and ongoing tax matters. Social insurance labor consultants mainly support labor insurance, social insurance, employment rules, and labor management matters.

So, company formation in Japan is usually a matter of coordination among several licensed professionals, rather than a single professional handling every step.

Why consult a Gyoseishoshi first?

1. Electronic articles of incorporation can reduce unnecessary cost

A Gyoseishoshi can prepare electronic articles of incorporation. If paper articles are used, a revenue stamp of JPY 40,000 is generally required, but electronic articles do not require that stamp duty.

2. Better planning for licenses and permits

In some industries, incorporation alone is not enough. You may also need construction licenses, secondhand dealer permits, restaurant permits, registration as a support organization, or other approvals.

Consulting a Gyoseishoshi early helps you design the company’s business purpose, officers, office setup, and document wording with those later procedures in mind.

3. Helpful for foreign founders

If a foreign national plans to manage a business in Japan, the immigration side must also be reviewed. In many cases, the relevant status of residence is Business Manager.

Because our office focuses heavily on immigration practice, we can support both the incorporation side and the residence status side in a coordinated way.

Basic government costs for establishing a KK (Kabushiki Kaisha)

• Notary fee for the articles of incorporation: usually JPY 30,000 to JPY 50,000
  In some small-scale cases, it may be reduced to JPY 15,000.
• Certified copy fee for the articles: approximately JPY 2,000
• Revenue stamp: JPY 40,000 for paper articles, not required for electronic articles
• Registration tax for incorporation: JPY 150,000 or 0.7% of the capital amount, whichever is higher

Additional costs may include company seals, certificates, and professional fees.

Important point for foreign nationals

Setting up a company in Japan and obtaining the right to manage that company in Japan are not the same legal issue.

Even if a company can be established, immigration authorities will separately examine whether the applicant qualifies for the appropriate status of residence, such as Business Manager.

That is why foreign entrepreneurs should plan company formation, office setup, business plan preparation, and immigration strategy together from the beginning.

How our office can help

• Initial planning for company formation
• Drafting of articles of incorporation and related documents
• Electronic articles of incorporation
• Pre-check of required licenses and permits
• Support for foreign founders in English
• Coordination with judicial scriveners, tax accountants, and social insurance labor consultants when needed

You are welcome to contact us even if you are still at the stage of asking whether incorporation is the right choice, whether visa issues may arise, or whether your business needs permits.

---

Tommy’s Legal Service
102, THE HUB Yokohama Motomachi, 1-13-2 Ishikawa, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0868, Japan
TEL: 045-550-5135
Office information

投稿者プロフィール

Daisuike Tominaga行政書士 (Immigration Lawyer)

日系理化学機器輸入商社、日系センサーメーカー、外資系真空機器メーカー、外資系化学装置メーカーでの国内外業務を経て、令和2年度行政書士試験に合格。令和3年4月、トミーズリーガルサービス行政書士事務所を開業。

現在は入管業務（VISA・在留資格）を中心とした専門事務所として、外国人の雇用・受け入れ、企業の国際人材戦略、在留手続のオンライン申請支援を行う。
企業・個人いずれのクライアントにも寄り添い、迅速・丁寧で負担の少ない手続きをモットーとする。

また、国際業務の経験を生かし、英語での各種案内・申請支援にも対応。

趣味： バイク（CB1300SB）、ツーリング、テニス、ゴルフ

English:
After working in Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies in the fields of scientific instruments, sensors, vacuum equipment, and chemical processing machinery, I passed the national Administrative Scrivener examination in 2020 and founded Tommy’s Legal Service Administrative Scrivener Office in April 2021.

My practice is specialized in immigration procedures—visa applications, extensions, changes of status, and online filings for both companies and individuals. I support employers and foreign nationals with fast, accurate, and stress-free application processes.
English guidance and bilingual documentation are also available.

Hobbies: Motorcycles (Honda CB1300SB), touring, tennis, golf

最新の投稿

• English Infromation2026年3月24日Who Should You Hire for Company Formation in Japan? Differences Between a Gyoseishoshi, Judicial Scrivener, Tax Accountant, and Social Insurance Labor Consultant
• English Infromation2026年3月24日Original Documents, Certified Copies, Extracts, Official Copies, and Duplicates in Japan Explained
• English Infromation2026年3月24日What Is a Gyoseishoshi? Scope of Work, Duties, and Limits Under Japan’s Administrative Scrivener Act
• 在留資格2026年3月24日就労活動に制限のない在留資格とは？4つの身分系資格と家族滞在との違いを解説