39 JAPAN

Starting a Company in Japan as a Foreigner: Finding the Right Gyoseishoshi

Starting a company in Japan as a foreigner involves much more than simply registering a business.

Visas, residency status, company formation, licenses, Japanese documentation, and communication with government authorities can all become part of the process.

Through my work in publishing, I recently had the opportunity to learn much more about this field and, in particular, about the role of a Gyoseishoshi (行政書士), Administrative Scrivener, in Japan.

I had the pleasure of producing START YOUR COMPANY IN JAPAN, written by Isamu Mugiuda, a Gyoseishoshi at Mayuha Administrative Scrivener Office in Kita-ku, Osaka.

Working on this book introduced me to a side of Japanese business and immigration that I had never fully understood before.

What Does a Gyoseishoshi Do?

For foreign residents and entrepreneurs in Japan, a Gyoseishoshi can assist with many administrative and immigration procedures.

Importantly for international clients, Mr. Mugiuda’s services are also available in English.

This is particularly relevant as the number of foreign residents, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals living and doing business in Japan continues to grow.

For many foreigners, one of the first major challenges they encounter is their visa or status of residence.

Starting a Business in Japan: Startup Visa and Business Manager Visa

While producing the book, two systems I became particularly interested in were the Startup Visa and Business Manager Visa.

For foreign entrepreneurs hoping to establish and operate a business in Japan, immigration status can be just as important as the company itself.

The requirements are not simple, and establishing a Japanese company does not automatically mean that you will qualify for a particular visa or status of residence.

Depending on the individual’s circumstances, business plan, location, investment, office arrangements and other requirements, the appropriate route can differ.

This is where professional support becomes valuable.

A Gyoseishoshi specializing in immigration and international business can help clients understand the requirements, prepare the necessary documentation and navigate the administrative process.

Learning about how much work goes into making a foreign entrepreneur’s plans in Japan actually possible gave me a new level of respect for this profession.

A Traditional Profession Embracing AI

Something else surprised me about Mr. Mugiuda.

Administrative and legal procedures may sound like a very traditional field, yet he has been actively incorporating AI into his professional work.

He has also written about this subject in his book, 行政書士×AI実践論：MAIAが切り拓く「士業3.0」の仕事術, which explores the relationship between AI and professional services.

This raises a question that is becoming relevant across almost every industry:

Will AI replace professionals or will the professionals who learn how to use AI become even more capable?

I find the second question much more interesting.

Instead of reducing the discussion to “Will AI eliminate professional jobs?”, we should also be asking how specialists can use AI to improve their work, expand their capabilities and provide better services to their clients.

This is not only relevant to Gyoseishoshi.

It is a question for almost all of us thinking about the future of work.

When Choosing a Professional

I have also personally consulted Mr. Mugiuda about inheritance-related matters.

What stayed with me was not simply his professional knowledge.

It was the way he tried to understand my situation and explained complicated matters in language that I could actually understand.

That made me think about something broader.

What do you look for when deciding whether you trust a professional?

For me, knowledge and qualifications are obviously important.

But I also pay attention to eye contact, language, behavior and the way someone communicates difficult information.

I trust professionals who can tell me honestly when something is difficult or unrealistic.

I appreciate people who explain not only the advantages of an option, but also its disadvantages.

They should not sell their products or services, they should their trust.

From Producing His Book to Writing One Together

And there is another exciting development.

Mr. Mugiuda and I are currently planning to publish a book together.

Through producing his work, I have had many opportunities to learn from his professional knowledge and perspective.

For our upcoming book, we want to combine our different experiences and viewpoints rather than simply create another technical guide.

There will be more to share as the project develops.

Publishing Your Expertise: 39 Publishing

Producing START YOUR COMPANY IN JAPAN also represents another part of my work: 39 Publishing.

I believe professionals often have far more knowledge worth sharing than they realize.

A consultant may have spent 20 years solving the same problems for clients.

An entrepreneur may have learned lessons that could save another founder years of mistakes.

A specialist may understand a complicated subject that thousands of people are searching for online.

That knowledge can become a book.

Through 39 Publishing, I support authors and professionals in turning their knowledge, experience and ideas into published work from developing the concept and structure to preparing the book for publication.

For professionals working internationally or building businesses in Japan, a book can also become more than a product.

It can become a way to communicate expertise, establish credibility and introduce your work to people who may never have discovered you otherwise.

That is exactly what I find so interesting about publishing.

Planning to Start a Company in Japan?

If you are a foreign entrepreneur considering starting a company in Japan, establishing a KK or GK, applying for a Business Manager Visa, or navigating Japanese immigration and administrative procedures, finding the right professional support can make a major difference.

For English-speaking clients in Osaka and beyond, you can learn more about Mr. Mugiuda and his services through:

Mayuha Administrative Scrivener Office

And if you are a professional, entrepreneur or specialist thinking,

“Maybe my experience could become a book too,”

that is exactly the kind of conversation I want to have through 39 Publishing.

Thank you.