Client visited our office in Tokyo.

We finally met in person.  But I felt as if I met my old friend because we have had many video chat talks!

We finalized her Teikan (rules of incorporation), put her hanko (both personal and company) on the papers necessary for company registration.  Then, our lawyer Ogata, who is Gyoseishoshi and Shihoshoshi registration lawyer) left our office to apply for company registration.  

Saying "Yoroshiku!" to him, we then talked a lot about her business and things to do; about reporting to tax office, about hiring staff, about daily book keeping, about how to get permits necessary for her business, etc.

BEYOND is now preparing a service proposal we could offer for the 4 months.  We will keep supporting her till she gets her business manager visa for 1 year at her next visa extension.

Client visited potential office space, liked it and decided to set her office there.   BEYOND supported her by confirming the office space meets the requirements for business manager visa.  It looked okay, so client deposited the down payment and the lease contract is made smoothly.

Client deposited contribution for a new company.

She didn't have to open a new bank account because she has kept the bank accounts available in Japan which she made during her previous stay.  She will use one of her accounts as her company account until she opens the company account. 

It usually takes a month or two to open a corporate bank account after establishing the company.  Japanese banks usually ask for somebody available for communication any time in Japanese. This is one of the biggest problem non-Japanese company owners face.  But client is fluent in Japanese, and we think she could open her company account smoothly.  

Client arrived in Japan safely.  Very nice!

She visited the city office and registered her residence address.  Her new residence is printed on the flip side of her residence card.  She also registered her personal hanko (seal) and got registered seal certificate (inkan shomeisho), which will be necessary for company registration.

She also purchased SIM she can use in Japan.

Client has a daughter living in Japan and she made a lease contract of residence where she and client will reside together after client's arrival.

Very good, things are going very smoothly.

BEYOND started assisting client in finding an office space in Japan.  She used to live in Kobe before and had some idea in what area she wants to set up her company.  So it was not so difficult to pick up websites of office suppliers. 

BEYOND made a summary of things to do during the initial 4 months after coming to Japan and shared it with client.

Client got her entry visa issued!  It was quick.  We are now relieved.

Client applied for entry visa at the Japanese embassy.

Client received COE and made a reservation at the Japanese embassy to apply for entry visa.

Client made a air ticket reservation for coming to Japan in January.

BEYOND sent COE to client in Myanmar by DHL.  BEYOND also shared the copies of documents submitted to the immigration in PDF, so that client could review the application contents when preparing for entry visa application at the Japanese embassy.

BEYOND received Certificate of Eligibility (COE) of 4-months business manager visa.  Congratulations!

Client and BEYOND finished preparing a projection of sales and expenses and submitted it to the immigration.

BEYOND received a notice from the immigration requesting detailed projection of sales and expenses.

BEYOND submitted application documents to Tokyo immigration for Certificate of Eligibility as "Business Manager."

BEYOND received the signed power of attorney letter.

BEYOND finished setting all the necessary documents for application.  

BEYOND received the signed power of attorney letter.

BEYOND finished setting all the necessary documents for application.  

Client made some corrections to the application reason statement.

The application statement is now final, ready to be signed by BEYOND.

After receiving the signed power of attorney letter, BEYOND will submit the application to the immigration.

Client sent out the signed power of attorney letter by courier.

BEYOND sent a draft of application reason statement to Client for review.  The application reason statement includes detailed business plan and projected sales and expenses for the first 3 years.

BEYOND finished making necessary inquiries to the immigration.

BEYOND prepared a power of attorney letter, sent it to Client in PDF.  

BEYOND started filling up application form for Certificate of Eligibility as a Business Manager.

Client supplied necessary information requested by BEYOND. 

Client and BEYOND started making Company Teikan (articles of incorporation).  

+ name of company

+ business purposes

+ fiscal year

+ composition of directors

+ amount of stated capital

Client and BEYOND decided to go for Plan B: to get Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for Business Manager Visa (4 months).  We had agreed that if Kobe city rejects our application, we will get COE directly from the immigration.  

BEYOND started documentation for application for 4-months business manager visa to the immigration.

Client has very good business experience, is fluent in Japanese and has no budget problems.  Furthermore, Client has very clear and realistic business plan.  We will brush up the business plan to persuade the immigration.  

Client received an email from Kobe city.

Unfortunately, the application was disapproved.  The reason is that the targeted business fields are not suited to Kobe start-up visa scheme.  When we consulted with Kobe city, we learned that it is up to Kobe city which business fields they would accept.  We also learned that Kobe city will make a decision on case-by-case basis.  Kobe city encouraged us to try anyway, and so did we.  Unexpected result, but it was good we tried anyway.

We were disappointed.  But we cannot stop here.  We will move forward!

Client and BEYOND finalized application documents in PDF format to submit to Kobe city.  It had 8 pages entry sheet plus business plan, and 1 sheet of projected sales and expenses for 3 years.

Client sent the application documents to Kobe city by email.

Client and BEYOND had video chat consultation.

Topics were:

+ contents of application documents

+ additional information needed

+ and more

BEYOND proposed a first version of the set of application documents.

Client and BEYOND continued discussion on company structure.

BEYOND started research on office space candidates.

Client and BEYOND had video chat consultation.

Topics were:

+ contents of business plan

+ projected sales and expenses for the 2nd and 3rd year 

+ future business ideas

+ and more

BEYOND continued documentation.

BEYOND presented a draft of the projected sales and expenses based on the information supplied by Client.

BEYOND started documentation.

BEYOND presented a draft of the Entry sheet and business plan based on the information supplied by Client.

Client and BEYOND had video chat consultation.

Topics were:

+ contents of planned business in detail

+ business permit necessary for the planned business

+ budgets

+ and more 

BEYOND started brushing up client's business plan.

Topics were:

+ supporting documents, such as business experience, academic career, potential business partners in Japan, etc.

+ contents of planned business in detail

+ plan of hiring employees

+ basis for calculation of "sales and expense projection"

+ and more 

BEYOND presented contract draft.

Client and BEYOND had video chat consultation.

Client signed the contract and remitted initial payment.

BEYOND officially started its service! 

BEYOND presented a rough flowchart of service and proposed service fee.

BEYOND proposed to apply for Certificate of Eligibility of 4-months business manager visa directly to the immigration in case client cannot get approval from Kobe City. 

Client shared the  filled-up Entry Sheet Form and resume.

BEYOND started reviewing the Entry Sheet Form and started preparing service proposals.

Client and BEYOND continued to exchange ideas about client's business plan. 

Client started filling up Entry Sheet Form.

BEYOND continued to communicate with Kobe City.  BEYOND learned that client has some chance of getting approval from Kobe City although client's target business field is not those targeted by Kobe City.

For your information, Kobe City's target business fields are new technologies in the IT, health, medical / welfare, environmental, and logistics fields.

Client shared overall business plan.

Client and BEYOND decided to look for a possibility of applying for Kobe City Start-up via program.

BEYOND sent an inquiry email to Kobe City in order to clarify certain points :

  + general procedures

  + activities allowed under the visa obtained through Kobe program, etc.

Client and BEYOND had a LINE video chat consultation.

BEYOND learned Client's background and residential history in Japan.  

BEYOND gave basic information about start-up visa in Japan.