Resources

BATONZ バトンズ · batonzu

Japan's largest online small-M&A marketplace, launched from the Nihon M&A Center group. Useful for market education and micro-deal sourcing; Japanese-language operation.

Business Manager visa 経営・管理 · keiei kanri

The status of residence for foreigners who own and actively manage a business in Japan. From 16 October 2025, new grants generally require ¥30 million of capital, a full-time employee, Japanese ability, and management experience or a relevant degree. Verify how the rules apply before structuring.

Chusho kigyo 中小企業 · chūshō kigyō

Small and medium enterprises. Over 99% of Japanese companies, employing about 70% of the private workforce — and the population where the succession gap is concentrated.

Chusho M&A Guidelines 中小M&Aガイドライン · chūshō M&A gaidorain

The SME Agency's guidelines for small-company M&A conduct: fee disclosure, conflict handling, and seller protection. A useful map of known market abuses.

Daihyo torishimariyaku 代表取締役 · daihyō torishimariyaku

Representative director — the legally registered officer who binds the company. Banks strongly prefer a Japan-resident representative; plan this in your post-close structure.

Daisansha shokei 第三者承継 · daisansha shōkei

Third-party succession — transferring the business to someone outside the family and workforce, i.e. a sale. The category foreign buyers participate in.

Eigyoken 営業権 · eigyōken

Goodwill — in small-deal pricing convention, typically two to five years of normalized operating profit added on top of restated net assets.

FEFTA 外為法 · gaitamehō

The Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act — Japan's foreign investment screening law. Requires prior notification for acquisitions in designated sensitive sectors, post-facto reporting otherwise.

Curated official & public sources

The primary sources we rely on. All public; all worth bookmarking.