Founders / Freelance
Freelancing, company registration, and running a business in Japan.
Jun 19, 2026 · Going freelance/self-employed in Japan? Which visa allows it, the free kaigyo-todoke filing, the blue tax return, and the 2025 Business Manager visa changes.
Jun 26, 2026 · This guide covers who can do what, the tax registration mechanics, the blue form advantage most foreigners miss, and the visa implications that don't appear anywhere in the standard "how to start a business in Japan" content.
December 6, 2025 - Pick a visa path that matches your ... Business Manager revisions. Register as a sole proprietor: file opening notice, then Blue Return application within two months....
October 30, 2024 - All you have to do is fill out this form (in Japanese) and send it to your local tax office. Once that’s done, there’s really only one other time you have to think about it, and that’s when considering tax.
MailMate's practical checklist for going freelance in Japan: opening notification to the tax office, blue-form return registration, national health insurance, pension, and invoice-system (インボイス) considerations.
Guide to running a side business while employed in Japan: tax implications of freelance income over ¥200,000, blue-return registration, and employer notification rules.
Overview of Japan's main business structures for foreign founders — sole proprietorship, KK, and GK — with cost, liability, and setup-time comparisons.
Startup Grind Tokyo
(startupgrind.com)
The Tokyo chapter of the global Startup Grind community, running regular founder/investor events.
Japan Startup Visa: How to Start a Business in Japan
(blog.gaijinpot.com)
GaijinPot's overview of the Startup Visa process and how it differs from the Business Manager visa.
How to Get a Startup Visa in Japan
(japan-dev.com)
A practical guide to Japan's Startup Visa as a runway into the stricter Business Manager visa for foreign founders.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 - Official Events
(sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government's own startup event series - a reasonable entry point if you're trying to meet other founders without already knowing where to look.
How to incorporate a GK (Godo Kaisha)
(venturejapan.com)
Step-by-step from a company-formation service: GK setup costs about ¥100,000 and 2-3 weeks, versus ¥250,000 and 4 weeks for a KK.
Freelancing in Japan: Opportunities and Challenges
(japan-dev.com)
Realistic rundown of visa status, tax registration, and invoicing logistics for freelancing legally in Japan, from a platform that actually places foreign tech talent.