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Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan corporate bank account

Corporate bank account in JapanApplication conditions and proof of business

When you open a bank account after forming a company in Japan, the bank carries out its own review of the substance of the business and its beneficial owners. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your company’s situation, then shortlists suitable professionals in Japan.

Book a free 20-minute callSee what the service covers
An office street in Japan
Who it is forCompanies in Japan, newly formed or run from overseas
Handled byAccount-opening support staff, judicial scriveners and certified tax accountants in Japan
LanguagesEnglish or Japanese; other languages on request
Reader Desk feeFree of charge

Information checked: 29 October 2026

01 · ABOUT

After the company is formed, what else does the bank look at?

Once company registration is complete, the bank carries out a separate review of the business, the applicant, the expected transactions and the beneficial owners (the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company). You need to prepare material that shows how the business actually operates.

JapanJapan

  • Paying in capital is not opening an accountThe capital payment on formation and the company’s bank account are separate matters.
  • Review continuesThe bank may check the purpose of transactions and the funds again, according to risk.
  • Check the account’s functions firstOutward transfers, incoming payments and user permissions depend on the bank’s product.

Which situation is your company in now?

The closest situation:

Newly formed company

  • What the bank looks atWith no transaction history yet, a business plan or contracts are used to show how the business actually operates. The bank may ask for further documents or confirm by telephone.
  • What to prepareCompany registration and articles of incorporation, business plan, contracts.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk which transactions you expect

Representative lives overseas

  • Check firstAddress, identity verification, whether attendance in person is needed and language requirements all depend on the bank; you cannot assume the whole process can be done remotely.
  • What to prepareDocuments showing authority to represent the company, proof of address, and the dates you can attend an interview.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk where the representative lives and whether they can travel to Japan

Using a virtual office

  • What the bank requiresIf you use a virtual or rented office, documents showing the substance of the business must be provided as the bank requires; an address contract alone is not enough for the bank to assess.
  • What to prepareThe address contract, the actual place of operation and evidence of business activity.

Next steps

  1. Explain where the business actually operates, then confirm whether the bank will accept the application

Company not yet formed

The account into which capital is paid on formation is not the company’s operating account. The company account must be applied for separately at a bank once registration of the formation is complete.

Next steps

  1. Complete the company formation first, then tell the Reader Desk which transactions you expect

Sources: Rakuten Bank – account-opening documents page (as an example) / Financial Services Agency / Ministry of Justice. Checked 29 October 2026. The chosen bank’s own notices prevail.

02 · SERVICE

What will the professionals complete?

Who charges what

What the Reader Desk does at no charge

Establishes what you need, sets it out in a written brief and introduces a professional.

Professional fees

Quoted by the professional handling the matter once they understand your situation.

How payments flow

Zagdim does not charge readers a matching fee and does not handle payments for professional services. Providers quote case by case, and you contract with and pay the provider directly.

  1. 01Setting out acceptance conditions

    The bank’s published conditions and the questions specific to your case are set out.

  2. 02Preparing company documents

    Company registration documents are put in order. Where registered matters need to be changed, this is handled separately by a judicial scrivener (司法書士).

  3. 03Explaining the business and funds

    A professional helps to organise documents on genuine transactions and funds.

  4. 04Support with the application

    Translation and explanation are provided as the bank permits; the application is made by the company’s authorised person.

03 · CASES

Which practices are not allowed?

In every caseCompany formation, the address contract and the bank’s review are separate processes. False evidence of transactions must not be produced, and another person’s account or name must not be borrowed.

Documents sorted with coloured clips beside a pair of glasses on a desk
Company documents and filings
Wooden doors, a blue noren curtain and a sign at a traditional Japanese shop
A small shop operating in Japan

04 · SERVICE PROCESS

From checking conditions to further documents: who does each step?

The application is always made by the person authorised to apply for the company.

English or JapaneseOther languages on request

  1. Check the conditions

    A professional checks against the chosen bank’s published conditions.

  2. Organise the documents

    You provide genuine material; a professional organises it into a checklist.

  3. Application and interview

    The authorised applicant applies; a professional helps to explain as the bank permits.

  4. Further documents

    Further documents are supplied as the bank requests; approval is decided by the bank.

Not included

  • Carrying out the review in the bank’s place
  • Borrowing another person’s account or name
  • Holding online banking passwords or managing funds on your behalf

What you need to prepare

  • Company registration and articles of incorporation
  • Details of shareholders and beneficial owners
  • The representative’s identity and address documents
  • An explanation of the business and expected transactions

05 · TIME

How long does it take, and who decides?

There is no reliable basis for stating an overall timescale; acceptance, interview and requests for further documents are decided by the bank. What you can do in advance is have the business documents complete.

  1. You prepare

    Company, beneficial owner and business documents

  2. The professional organises

    Checklist, translations and explanations

  3. The bank reviews

    Acceptance, interview and further documents

06 · FEES

What costs should you prepare for?

Taxes and official fees

  • Certificate of registered matters for the company (per copy)¥600 / ¥520 / ¥490(Paper request / online request sent by post / online request collected at the counter; extra beyond 50 pages.)

Professional and service fees

  • Bank account-opening and account feesAs quoted by the bank(Checked against the chosen bank’s product.)
  • Document and translation supportQuoted once your situation is understood(Professional.)
  • Change of registered mattersQuoted once your situation is understood(Conditional: by a judicial scrivener, where a change of registration is needed.)
  • Checking the accountsQuoted once your situation is understood(Conditional: by a certified tax accountant, where needed.)
  • Zagdim Reader DeskFree of charge(Consultation, clarifying what you need and shortlisting professionals)

Document and translation support usually covers checking against the checklist, translation within the agreed scope and explanation of the application; whether support at the branch is included is stated in the quote. Items marked “conditional” are added only where the condition is met.

07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS

Which Japanese professionals are involved?

Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.

Account-opening document and communication support staff

Help to check documents, translate and communicate on the application; the application is made by the company’s authorised person and approval is decided by the bank.

Judicial scrivener

司法書士 · shihō shoshi

Checks company registration documents and documents showing authority to represent the company.

Certified tax accountant

税理士 · zeirishi

Where needed, checks the accounts and the nature of the funds; does not decide approval in the bank’s place.

MATCHING

How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals

What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
  • Clarifying the need
  • Matching providers
  • Follow-up at key points
The right professional

Zagdim Reader Desk

Establishes what you need · shortlists and introduces · follows up

No charge to readers

Professionals in Japan

Professional advice and handling

Quote · contract · payment · receipt

Start by telling the Reader Desk your company’s situation

  1. You tell the Reader DeskLocation of the registered head office and expected transactions
  2. The Reader Desk checksWhether a suitable professional can be arranged
  3. The Reader Desk repliesIf no suitable provider is available, we say so plainly

08 · CONSULTATION

What to have ready before you get in touch

Zagdim Reader DeskFirst understand the situation, then shortlist the right professionals

Have the points below ready, then arrange a time by WhatsApp or email.

  • Whether company registration is complete
  • Where the representative lives and whether they can travel to Japan
  • Whether the registered head office is a physical or a virtual office
  • What you expect to pay and receive
WhatsAppEmail the Reader Desk

The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.

Send us your details

The more you tell us, the better the Zagdim Reader Desk understands your situation before we speak.

Four steps after you get in touch

  1. Contact the Reader DeskExplain your company’s situation.
  2. A written briefThe Reader Desk prepares it; you confirm it.
  3. Introduction to a professionalBefore the introduction, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed.
  4. Quote and engagementYou decide whether to engage, and contract and pay directly.

09 · FAQ

Corporate bank accounts in Japan: common questions

Does a company have a bank account as soon as it is formed?

No. The arrangement for paying in capital on formation is different from the company’s operating account. The company account must be applied for separately at a bank once registration is complete.

Is the registration certificate enough on its own?

Not necessarily. The bank may also ask for material on the business, the transactions and the applicant, and may request further documents or confirm by telephone.

Why must beneficial owners be declared?

The bank has to verify the natural persons who actually own or control the company. The declaration documents are prepared as the chosen bank requires.

Can you apply with a virtual address?

Not necessarily. First confirm whether the bank will accept the application, and provide documents that show the business actually operates, as the bank requires.

Why does the bank ask again about funds and the purpose of transactions?

The bank may ask for information on the purpose of transactions, assets and income, and continues to check according to risk; it is not a one-off check at the time of application.

Can a representative living overseas complete everything remotely?

Not necessarily. The representative’s address, identity verification, whether attendance in person is needed and language requirements must be confirmed with the chosen bank first.

Confirm your company’s situation and the bank’s conditions first, then prepare the business documents.

Book a free 20-minute call

Official fees follow the current notices of the Japanese authorities. Quotes, contracts, payments and receipts for professional services are handled by the professional concerned. Whether an account is opened is decided by the bank’s review, and neither the Zagdim Reader Desk nor the professionals can determine the outcome in advance. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice. Information checked to 29 October 2026.

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