Opening a corporate bank account in Japan has long been a challenge, especially for newly established foreign-owned companies. Requirements differ by bank and often involve extensive background checks on ownership structures.
To address this issue, the Japanese government introduced a new system in 2024: the Beneficial Ownership List system (実質的支配者リスト制度).
Under this voluntary system, Japanese corporations can submit a notarized list of their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately control or influence the company—to the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Once submitted, the Bureau certifies and stores the list, enabling companies to obtain an official certificate when needed—for example, when applying for a bank account.
👉More info: https://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji06_00190.html
⚠️ Who Can Use This System?
Please note that this system is currently available only to Kabushiki Kaisha (株式会社) structured as majority-vote capital companies.
To see who qualifies as a “beneficial owner,” refer to the diagram provided by the Ministry of Justice.
★Need Help?
If you’re interested in obtaining a Beneficial Ownership Certificate, we’re happy to assist and provide a quotation. We also support corporate bank account opening for newly established foreign companies in Japan.
Feel free to contact us for more information—we’re here to help!
