Japan vs United States

Foreigners commonly set up a Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) or the simpler Godo Kaisha (GK). Formation involves preparing articles (notarised for a KK), depositing capital and registering with the Legal Affairs Bureau, followed by tax and social-insurance filings.

There is no federal company registry in the U.S. — you form a company (usually an LLC or C-corporation) at the state level, most often in your home state or Delaware. Formation is fast and online in most states; you then obtain a federal EIN from the IRS for tax and banking.

Japan's banking mixes megabanks, regional banks and Japan Post Bank, and cash is still widely used. Foreigners can open accounts, usually needing a residence card, a Japanese address and often a phone number; some banks require a few months of residence.

To open a U.S. business bank account you generally need an EIN, your formation documents, ownership / beneficial-owner information, and ID for the signers. Banks run KYC (identity) and anti-money-laundering checks. Requirements vary by bank, business structure and owner residency. Non-residents can often open an account, but some banks require a U.S. address, a U.S. phone number, or an in-person visit. Personal accounts follow similar identity checks but use personal ID and a Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN.

Japan promotes inward investment through JETRO, with generally free capital movement. Investments in designated sensitive sectors need prior notification under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA); incentives include subsidies, special zones and support for R&D and regional projects.

The U.S. welcomes foreign direct investment — starting a company, expanding, acquiring a business, or building manufacturing/R&D/logistics operations. There is no single federal approval office: SelectUSA promotes investment at the federal level, most incentives are offered by state and local agencies, and some deals are reviewed by CFIUS for national security. Public-company filings are free on SEC EDGAR, and FDI statistics are published by the BEA.

Japan levies national income tax (National Tax Agency) plus local inhabitant tax, and a consumption tax on most goods and services. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, with distinct rules for non-permanent residents.

The U.S. taxes federal income (IRS) plus state and often local taxes; rates vary by state and some have no income tax. U.S. citizens and residents are taxed on worldwide income — the U.S. is unusual in taxing citizens who live abroad. Businesses file federal and state returns.

Foreigners work in Japan on a status of residence matching the job — most commonly 'Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services'. You usually need a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) obtained by the employer before applying for the visa. The Immigration Services Agency oversees the system.

Most people work in the U.S. on an employer-sponsored nonimmigrant visa such as the H-1B (specialty occupation, capped and lottery-based), L-1 (intra-company transfer) or O-1 (extraordinary ability). Almost all routes require a U.S. employer to petition for you with USCIS; there is no general 'work visa' you can apply for on your own.

Studying in Japan requires the "Student" status of residence. The accepting school usually applies on your behalf for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) at a regional immigration bureau; with the CoE you apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate and receive a residence card on arrival. The CoE is valid for three months, within which you must enter Japan. Part-time work needs separate permission first.

Full-time study in the United States generally needs an F-1 student visa (M-1 for vocational study). An SEVP-certified school admits you and issues a Form I-20; you then pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a visa interview at a US embassy or consulate. You must show funds for tuition and living costs and ties to your home country.

Japan grants short-term-stay status for tourism and business, typically up to 90 days. Nationals of many countries are visa-exempt for short visits; everyone else applies for a short-term-stay visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes which nationalities are exempt and on what conditions. Short-term visitors cannot work.

Short visits to the United States use the B-1/B-2 visitor visa, unless you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program — nationals of participating countries travel for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA instead. B-visa applicants complete Form DS-160 and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Visitor status never permits employment.

Japanese permanent residence usually requires around ten years of continuous residence (less for spouses of Japanese nationals or high-skilled professionals under a points system), a stable income and good conduct. The Immigration Services Agency decides.

U.S. permanent residence (a green card) comes through family, employment, investment (EB-5), the diversity lottery or humanitarian routes. Employment green cards (EB-1/2/3) usually require an employer and labor certification, and priority-date backlogs can be long.

Japanese naturalization generally requires about five years of continuous residence, good conduct, stable finances and renouncing other nationalities (Japan does not permit dual nationality for adults). The Ministry of Justice decides applications.

U.S. citizenship by naturalization generally requires five years as a green-card holder (three if married to a U.S. citizen), continuous residence, good moral character, and passing English and civics tests. Those born in the U.S. are citizens by birth.

Japanese employment is governed by the Labour Standards Act: prefectural minimum wages, capped overtime (via a '36 Agreement'), and paid annual leave from 10 days after six months. Dismissal is difficult and must be objectively reasonable; workplaces with 10+ staff need written work rules. The Labour Standards Inspection Office enforces the law.

US employment is generally 'at-will' — either side can end it — but federal law (the FLSA via the Department of Labor) sets minimum wage and overtime, and the EEOC enforces anti-discrimination rules. There is no federal statutory paid annual leave; states add their own protections, so your state matters.

Japanese imports and exports clear through Japan Customs via the NACCS electronic system. You classify goods by HS code to find customs duty, pay consumption tax (10%) on imports, and check whether METI licences apply under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. Advance rulings give classification certainty; disputes go through Customs.

US importers and exporters clear goods through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). You file entries under an importer number, classify goods by HTS code to find the duty rate, meet any partner-agency rules (FDA, USDA…), and pay duties. Exports follow the Export Administration Regulations; binding tariff rulings and disputes go through CBP.

Japanese trademarks are registered with the Japan Patent Office (JPO). You search the register, file an application classifying goods/services under Nice, and the JPO substantively examines both absolute and relative grounds. After you pay the registration fee the mark registers, with a two-month post-registration opposition window. A Japanese trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable.

US trademarks are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You search the register for conflicts, file an application specifying goods/services classes, and respond to examination before it publishes for opposition and registers. Registration lasts 10 years and is renewable; patents go through the USPTO and copyright through the Copyright Office.

Hello Work, run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is Japan's official public employment service — and unusually it includes offices with desks that specialise in supporting foreign workers, so it offers in-person help rather than only listings. The rule that shapes everything else is matching: a foreign worker needs a work-related status of residence that matches the job type. Categories such as Specified Skilled Worker cover defined labour-shortage sectors.

There is no single national job board for the US private sector — hiring is spread across company sites and commercial boards, so anyone looking for one official place to search will not find it. What does exist officially is split by sector: CareerOneStop, run by the Department of Labor, is the hub for job search, training and career tools, while USAJOBS covers federal-government roles. Foreign nationals generally need work authorisation in place before taking up a job, not after finding one.

Japan's minimum wage is set regionally, by prefecture — so the national figure you may see quoted is a weighted average rather than a rate anyone is actually entitled to. Check your own prefecture through the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and note that some industries have separate, higher industry-specific minimums on top. For wage data, the MHLW's Basic Survey on Wage Structure is the official source, and unusually it breaks figures down by age as well as occupation and region.

US pay is largely market-set, with the federal minimum wage as the legal floor — and that floor has been USD 7.25/hour since 2009, so in much of the country it is no longer the operative number. Many states and cities set higher minimums, and where they do, the higher rate applies. For earnings by occupation and area, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS rather than crowd-sourced salary sites. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division enforces minimum wage and overtime under the FLSA.

Japan's main government scholarship is MEXT (the Japanese Government Scholarship), available through either an embassy recommendation or a university recommendation, covering tuition, a monthly stipend and travel. JASSO also offers grants, and many universities have their own awards. Explore options on Study in Japan and apply by the relevant deadline.

There is no single US government scholarship for all international students — funding is mostly institutional (university assistantships, fellowships and merit aid) plus flagship programs like the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Start with EducationUSA advising and each university's financial-aid office, and apply early because deadlines are often a year ahead.

To study in Japan you apply to the school, which then obtains a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from immigration on your behalf; with the CoE you apply for the 'Student' visa at a Japanese embassy. Undergraduate applicants often take the EJU exam. After arrival you register your residence. Explore options on Study in Japan and apply by the deadline.

To study in the US you apply directly to each university, and once accepted the school issues a Form I-20 that lets you get an F-1 student visa (pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a consular interview). Use EducationUSA advising to shortlist schools, and apply about a year ahead because admission and funding deadlines are early.

Japan places no restriction on foreigners buying property — you can own land and buildings freehold with no residency requirement. Renting, however, often requires a guarantor or guarantee company plus 'key money' (reikin), a deposit (shikikin) and an agent fee. Purchases are registered (tōki) via a judicial scrivener and carry acquisition and registration taxes.

The United States places no restriction on foreigners renting or buying a home. Renting usually means a credit/income check and a security deposit (commonly one to two months' rent, capped by many states). Buyers use a realtor and a title/escrow company; non-resident buyers can get a mortgage but typically need a larger down payment. Annual property tax is set locally.

Japan has universal coverage through public insurance that is mandatory for residents staying three months or more — either employees' health insurance through an employer, or National Health Insurance enrolled at your local municipal office. Patients generally pay 30% of costs, less for children and older people, with the scheme covering the rest. Premiums are income-based, so keep payments current.

The US has no universal public healthcare. Most people are covered through an employer plan or buy coverage on the ACA Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, with Medicare for those 65+ and Medicaid for low-income residents under state-varying rules. Foreign nationals usually rely on employer or private insurance; lawfully-present immigrants can buy Marketplace plans but typically wait five years for Medicaid or Medicare. Care is very costly without coverage.

Beyond health cover, Japan's social insurance has two main parts: public pension — either the National Pension or the Employees' Pension, handled by the Japan Pension Service — and employment plus work-injury (rōsai) insurance for employees. Pension enrolment is mandatory for residents, not just for employees, which is the point most often missed. For drivers, compulsory automobile liability insurance (jibaiseki) is required, and private insurers are supervised by the Financial Services Agency.

US insurance has two layers that answer to different authorities. Federal social insurance — Social Security and Medicare — is funded by FICA payroll taxes and administered by the Social Security Administration. Almost everything else you buy (auto, home, life) is regulated by your state, not federally. Auto liability insurance is mandatory in almost every state, and to check an insurer is licensed you go to your state insurance department, whose directory is on the NAIC site.