The Information Desk for Direct Investment to Japan

Invest Japan Logo The Information Desk for Direct Investment to Japan
Bulletin on the Establishment of the Information Desk in the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan

1. Information Desk of the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan.

(1) What is the Information Desk of the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan?

This is the office that has been established in the Ministry of Justice to respond to the inquiries of foreign enterprises, etc. seeking necessary information to make direct investment smoothly to Japan.

(2) Background and development of the idea of establishing the Information Desk

With a view to promoting direct investment to Japan, the Government of Japan has decided steadily to promote such measures as to review the administrative procedures concerned, etc. (for clarifying, simplifying, expediting, etc.)

Based on this, the Ministry of Justice set up the Information Desk for Direct Investment to Japan and drafted the Detailed Regulations providing for the procedure of inquiry, etc. and put them into effect as from May 26, 2003.
 

2. Methods of inquiry, etc.

(1) Subjects of inquiry, etc.

The Information Desk of the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan is ready to respond to the inquiries, consultations, requests for information, etc. concerning the business activities of foreign enterprises, so please do not hesitate to make any inquiries. But, please understand that, depending upon the contents of an inquiry, the Desk is not in a position to reply, such as those involving the application of penal provisions.

Incidentally, as for the general information on investment, please consult the JETRO's Investment to Japan Business Support Center.

(2) For making inquiries, etc.

When making inquiries, etc., the inquirer is required to clarify the concrete facts about the business activities he or she intends to perform. The Ministry of Justice carefully handles the matters for which inquiries, etc. have been made. (However, please understand that the Ministry is required to handle any information, subject to the application of the Law concerning the Public Disclosure of the Information Held by Administrative Organs (Law No. 42 of 1999).

(3) Methods of inquiry, etc.

For making an inquiry, etc. please enter the necessary matters in a PDF form and submit it to the Information Desk of the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan (mail, fax or e-mail：invest-japan@i.moj.go.jpis also accepted). An inquiry, etc. may also be made orally (by telephone). But, the inquirer who makes an oral inquiry is requested to do it in Japanese. Incidentally, the JETRO's Investment to Japan Business Support Center accepts consultations in foreign languages. So please contact the Center for details.

The Ministry of Justice is to request correction or supplementation about the inquiry, etc., when necessary.

(4) Time for reply

As a general rule, replies to inquiries, etc. will be given within 10 (ten) days from the day of receipt of the inquiry, etc.

For details about this procedure, please refer to the Ministry of Justice Regulations on the Information Desk for Direct Investment to Japan.

* Any question about this Bulletin will be handled by the following office:
General Affairs Section
Secretarial Division
Minister's Secretariat
Ministry of Justice
E-mai： invest-japan@i.moj.go.jp
* Access to the File marked with "PDF" requires the use of "Adobe Acrobat Reader".

 

Ministry of Justice Regulations concerning
the Information Desk for Direct Investment to Japan

1. Purpose

Article 1.

The purpose of these Regulations shall be, based on the Program for Promoting Investments to Japan (approved by the Council on Investment to Japan on March 27, 2003), to prescribe the matters concerning the establishment of a general information desk in the Ministry of Justice for direct investment to Japan (hereinafter to be referred to as "information desk") , together with its management and aim to promote investment, not only by clarifying, simplifying and expediting the administrative procedures for direct Investment to Japan (hereinafter to be referred to as "investment") but also proving the information concerning investment smoothly, and thereby contribute to the economic development of our country.

2. Establishment of the information desk

Article 2.

1. The information desk shall be established in the Secretarial Division of the Minister's Secretariat.

2. The title of the information desk shall be "the General Information Desk of the Ministry of Justice for Direct Investment to Japan".

3. The information desk shall be furnished with the design as shown in the Attachment.

3. Functions of the information desk, etc.

Article 3.

1. The information desk shall, among other work for promoting investments by private enterprises, perform the following functions:

  1. Receiving, and replying to, inquiries, consultations, requests for information, etc.;
  2. Explaining about the procedures for giving licenses, permission, etc.;
  3. Receiving, and replying to, the complaint, etc. concerning replies etc. to inquiries, based on the Ministry of Justice Regulations on the Procedure of Advance Confirmation of Application of Ministry of Justice Laws and Ordinances (Minister's Instruction Homusho Hi-ki-kun No.294 of 2002).

Confirmation of Application of Ministry of Justice Laws and Ordinances (Minister's Instruction Homusho Hi-ki-kun No.294 of 2002).

2. As regards inquiries, etc. (including inquiries, consultations, requests for information, complaints, etc. as mentioned in each item of the preceding paragraph. Hereinafter the same shall apply), the information desk may refer or send them to the bureaus, departments or divisions which are in charge of the matters inquired about (hereinafter to be referred to as "division in charge"). In such case, the information desk shall control the progress of handling of the business by the division in charge.

3. The division in charge which receives an inquiry, etc. from the information desk in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph may give replies, explanations or information to the inquirer mentioned in Paragraph 1 of the next Article.

4. The information desk shall register, for each inquiry, etc., the matters consulted by the use of a consultation card (Form No. 1) and report it to the Director of Secretarial Division, Minister's Secretariat.

4. Inquiring procedure, etc.

Article 4.

1. Any person who makes an inquiry, etc in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations (hereinafter to be referred to as "inquirer") shall be required to clarify the following matters in a written inquiry (Form No.2 or a paper similar to it, including electronic records) or orally.

  1. Name and address of the inquirer (in the case of a juridical person or other organization, its title and the location of the work place, etc.);
  2. Concrete facts concerning the act which the inquirer intends to perform in the future;
  3. Contents of the inquiry, etc. and reason for asking it.

2. In case the information desk or the division in charge (hereinafter to be referred to as "information desk, etc.") finds that the inquiry, etc. made under the preceding paragraph is deficient, they may get the inquirer to correct and supplement the inquiry within the period of time they designate.

5. Handling of information

Article 5.

1. The information desk, etc. shall be bound to deal with all inquiries, etc. and information concerning inquirers carefully.

2. The information desk shall inform an inquirer that the contents of the inquiry, etc. and the information concerning the inquirer are subject to the application of the Law concerning the Public Disclosure of the Information Held by Administrative Organs (Law No. 42 of 1999).

6. Instruction about offices in charge

Article 6.

1. In case it is found that the whole or a part of the contents of an inquiry, etc. comes under the jurisdiction of other ministries or departments, the information desk, etc. shall instruct the inquirer about general information desks for direct investment to Japan which have been established in such other ministries or departments.

2. In case the whole or a part of the contents of an inquiry, etc. is of such nature that seeks general information on investment and that it is advisable to seek the advice of a lawyer, judicial scrivener, administrative scrivener or other professional, the information desk, etc. shall instruct the inquirer about the Japan External Trade Organization's Business Support Center for Investment to Japan.

7. Withdrawal

Article 7.

1. In case the inquirer applies for the withdrawal of the inquiry, etc. before the reply is given in accordance with the provisions of the next Article, the information desk, etc. shall not give a reply, instruction or information to the inquiry, etc. for which the withdrawal is applied, notwithstanding the provisions of the said Article.

8. Methods of reply

Article 8.

1. The information desk, etc. may reply orally to an inquiry, etc except when the inquirer requests the reply in writing (including electronic records; hereinafter the same shall apply).

2. In case a part of the contents of the inquiry, etc. comes under the jurisdiction of other ministries or departments, the reply mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be given within the limits coming under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

9. Time limits for reply

Article 9.

1. The reply mentioned in the preceding Article shall be given within 10 (ten) days from the day when the inquiry, etc. is received (the days listed in each item of Paragraph 1 of Article 1 of the Law concerning the Holidays of Administrative Organs (Law No. 91 of 1988) shall not be counted in this period). However, In case the inquirer is asked to correct or supplement the inquiry under Paragraph 2 of Article 4, the number of the days required for such correction or supplementation shall not be counted in this period.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the information desk, etc. may extend the period mentioned in the same paragraph within reasonable limits, in case the inquiry, etc. comes under one of the following items. In such case, the information desk, etc. shall inform the inquirer in writing, within the period mentioned in the same paragraph, of the reason for extension and the prospect of the time for giving the reply. This shall not apply, however, if the inquirer agrees to being informed of it orally:

  1. In case the inquiry requires careful judgment;
  2. In case difficult problems are involved in handling the inquiry or there exist other proper reasons.

3. In case making the reply requires one month or over, the information desk, etc. shall explain to the inquirer about the condition of the progress of preparation of the reply, at least every one month.(The cases for which no reply is given)Article 10. The information desk, etc. shall not be required to reply to an inquiry, etc. in case it comes under any one of the following items. In such case, the information desk, etc. shall inform the inquirer without delay by using an "Information Form (Form N0.3). This shall not apply, however, if the inquirer agrees to being informed of it orally~

  1. In case the fact or information given in the inquiry, etc. does not exist;
  2. In case the information regarding the facts on which the inquiry, etc. is based is extremely unclear or insufficient for making judgment to give the reply;
  3. In case the same or similar cases have been the subjects of legal disputes (suits, or complaints filed under the Administrative Appeal Law (Law No. 160 of 1962) or under other laws or ordinances);
  4. In case the inquiry, etc. is related to the application of penal provisions;
  5. In other cases where there are reasonable grounds not to reply.

Supplementary Provisions These Regulations shall be enforced as from May 26, 2003.