09 - Your dedicated team on the ground in Japan
Start with a representative office
Establishing a presence in Japan does not have to mean setting up an entire corporate structure or hiring a full team from day one. With Japan Trade Advisor, you can outsource your Japan operations to a trusted local partner who understands your product, your goals, and the complexity of the Japanese market.
We act as your representative office, managing the full range of on-the-ground activities so you can focus on your core business.
What we offer
Office setup and legal foundation
Guidance on the right type of legal entity (branch office, representative office, etc.)
Office location planning, registration, and leasing support
Coordination with legal advisors and certified administrative scriveners
Staff hiring and HR management
Recruitment of local or bilingual staff
HR policy setup aligned with Japanese labor law
Payroll management and employment contract support
Accounting and financial administration
Coordination with trusted Japanese accountants
Monthly bookkeeping, tax filings, and legal compliance
Bilingual financial reporting for your headquarters
Optional services:
Function fully as local representative or MD for Japan:
Other optional services
Product launch and marketing
Localization of product messaging and promotional materials
Building sales channels and executing marketing campaigns
Trade show support and lead generation
Customer service and communication
Communication with Japanese clients and partners
Customer support, relationship management, and follow-up
Acting as the local face of your company
Infrastructure and daily operations
IT setup, logistics coordination, and vendor sourcing
Bilingual communication with authorities and service providers
Real-time reporting and regular strategy meetings
Complaint handling
Complaint handling can be very time consuming and extremely tough for many reasons. Complaint handling thus must be negotiated case by case. Complaint handling requires you have a consulting contract with us for at least one years.
Why choose Japan Trade Advisor as your local team?
With over 30 years of hands-on experience in both Japan and Europe, we understand Western business expectations as well as Japanese corporate culture. By outsourcing your Japan operations to us, you benefit from:
lower setup and operational costs
faster and smoother market entry
deep local knowledge and trusted networks
full transparency and bilingual communication
When is this service right for you?
When you want to test the Japanese market before fully committing
When you require experienced, local management without full hiring
When your team lacks the language or cultural insight
When previous attempts at entering Japan did not succeed
Next steps
Contact us for a free consultation and discover how Japan Trade Advisor can act as your dedicated business unit in Japan - without the complexity or cost of building one from scratch.
Want to learn more about Japan, & doing business in Japan?
Don’t forget to explore our blog “Looking into the Japanese Mind.” This blog gives you essential insights into Japanese business culture, communication norms, and the decision-making style of Japanese companies. Understanding these elements will help you build trust, avoid misunderstandings, and succeed in the Japanese market. You can read the blog here: Inside the Japanese mind.
You should also take advantage of our advanced data service at JapanTradeStatistics.com. This platform provides the fastest and most precise way to analyze Japan’s import and export movements, updated directly from official Japanese trade data. With just a few clicks, you can filter thousands of HS4 codes, compare markets, and understand complex trade developments in seconds, giving you a competitive advantage that traditional spreadsheets or slow databases cannot offer. All dashboards run in Power BI, allowing you to embed live, automatically updated charts directly into your PowerPoint presentations, ensuring that your reports always contain the latest information without you ever have to update it manually.
JapanTradeStatistics.com is an invaluable tool for:
Trading companies evaluating market shifts
Journalists and analysts covering economic or geopolitical developments
Public institutions and embassies tracking bilateral trade
Exporters and importers identifying new opportunities
Consultants and researchers needing reliable, real-time data
Investors monitoring changes in the markets.
If you work with Japan, or plan to, this tool will save you hours of research while giving you insights that help you act faster, identify opportunities earlier, and make better, data-driven decisions.
Price: Ask for a price Basic package 2 million JPY / month s+ all costs Min 6 months contract
3 months prepayment