JBN (Japan Business Navigator) will hold the seminar "Expert Insights: Key Points for Foreign Companies Expanding in Japan – Tax and Accounting Edition" on Thursday, November 5, 2026, co-hosted with the Minato City Industrial Promotion Center.
Against the backdrop of a weak yen, interest in investing and doing business in Japan is growing. At the same time, many foreign companies run into practical tax and accounting hurdles as they set up and grow their business in Japan.
"Japan's tax system is complicated, and I'm not confident we are handling it correctly…" "I can't find anyone to take on accounting, or an expert to consult…" "Between the Japanese closing and reporting to headquarters, we are chasing deadlines every time…"
In this seminar, CPAs and tax accountants who support foreign companies with tax and accounting will explain, in plain terms and with common real-world cases and hard-won lessons, the points worth knowing when expanding and growing a business in Japan. After the seminar, there will also be a networking session where you can talk with the speakers and other participants.
Event Details
- Date and time: Thursday, November 5, 2026, 18:00–20:00 (doors open 17:30)
- Venue: Minato City Industrial Promotion Center, 9th floor (Fudanotsuji Square 9F, 5-36-4 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
- Access: 4-minute walk from JR Tamachi Station (Mita Exit, west exit); 4-minute walk from Exit A3 or 3-minute walk from Exit A4 of Mita Station on the Toei Mita Line
- Organizer: Linkard Inc. (operator of Japan Business Navigator)
- Co-host: Minato City Industrial Promotion Center
- Fee: Free
- Capacity: 30 participants (first come, first served)
- Language: Japanese
- Registration deadline: Monday, November 2, 2026 (registration closes once capacity is reached)
Program
- 18:00 Opening | Introduction to JBN, trends in foreign investment in Japan, and challenges in expanding in Japan
- 18:15 Introduction of speakers
- 18:35 Panel discussion | Topics such as "recent common inquiries," "communicating with overseas headquarters," "cases where careless mistakes led to losses," and "what tax audits are really like"
- 19:05 Q&A
- 19:15 Networking
- 20:00 Closing
Speakers
Sanae Okawa (Representative, Aoi Group / CPA and Tax Accountant)
After working at EY ShinNihon LLC, she founded Aoi Group in 2022. She is engaged in building back-office operations centered on cloud accounting and in supporting foreign companies and foreign entrepreneurs entering Japan.
Ruriko Takeuchi (Sugiyama Accounting & Tax Corporation / CPA and Tax Accountant)
After KPMG AZSA LLC, Unilever Japan, and Unilever Vietnam, she works on international tax and accounting services at Sugiyama Accounting & Tax Corporation. She also serves concurrently as an outside auditor and in similar roles at several listed companies.
Yujiro Kato (Moderator / CEO, Linkard Inc. / CPA, MBA)
After KPMG AZSA LLC and PwC China, he founded Linkard Inc. He runs JBN, which provides one-stop support for foreign companies expanding in Japan.
Registration
For details and to register, please see the Peatix page below.