Notable Tokyo-headquartered companies: JPX-listed SaaS, Japan-only unicorns, and the modern wave of Japanese tech IPOs.
Japan's primary corporate forms are the Kabushiki Kaisha (KK), the traditional joint-stock company used by virtually all listed and large private companies, and the Godo Kaisha (GK), an LLC-style structure introduced in 2006 for smaller and foreign-owned operations. Incorporation is handled at the Legal Affairs Bureau (Houmukyoku) and typically takes 2-4 weeks; minimum capital is 1 yen for both forms. JPX Prime (large caps) and JPX Standard (mid caps) replaced the older Mothers/JASDAQ tiers in 2022, and listing requires Japanese-speaking auditors and a corporate auditor or audit committee. Foreign founders most often pick a GK for simpler operations or a KK if they plan to raise institutional capital, list, or sell to a Japanese acquirer.
Japan's flagship consumer-to-consumer marketplace
Cloud-based HR and labor management for Japanese workplaces
Cloud project management for Japanese construction
Cloud-based personal finance and SaaS for Japanese SMEs
Deep learning research and AI infrastructure for industry
Cloud business-card and contact management for Japanese enterprises
Limestone-based plastic and paper alternative materials
Website and app localisation SaaS for Japanese global expansion
Cloud accounting and back-office SaaS for Japanese SMEs
Our Japan formation guide walks through every step, cost, and document.
Read the formation guide