Japan

• Available Market Research
• Best Prospects in the ICT Market
• Chambers of Commerce
• Channels of Distribution
  • Agents / Distributors
  • Business to Business (B2B)
    • Airlines
    • Banks
    • Newspapers
    • US Subsidiaries
  • E-Commerce
    • ASP
    • ECommerce
    • Internet
    • Internet Service Providers
  • Educational
  • Governmental
  • Leasing
  • Retailers
  • Telecommunications Systems Operators
  • Used / Refurbished
  • VARS, ISVs, Resellers, System Integrators
    • Resellers
• Directories and Databases
• Duties, Tariffs & Taxes
• General Country Information
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Legal Issues
• Market Research
• Search Engines
• Technical Standards
• Trade Associations
• Trade Publications
• Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars
• Trade Statistics
• User Groups
• E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Available Market Research

Industry Sector Analyses are industry specific reports prepared either by US Commercial Service Staff or local market research contractors.  Typical reports include:

• A Market Overview
• Market Highlights and Best prospects
• Statistical Data
• Best Sales Prospects
• Competitive Analysis
• End-User Analysis
• Market Access (includes information on duties, taxes, standards etc.)
• Trade Promotion Opportunities
• Trade Publications
• Market Research Companies
• Trade Associations
• Agents, Distributors and Manufacturers

International Marketing Insights (IMI) contain industry specific information and are short, concise reports.  

For a listing of available ISAs and / or IMIs, please click here.

This information is available free of charge to all US companies. 

Welcome to the U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Department of Commerce is represented worldwide by the Commercial Service.  The Commercial Service supports U.S. commercial interests and assists American businesses in their export marketing efforts.

Our offices offer business counseling and a wide range of tailored services to assist American firms to identify business opportunities throughout the world. Our offices foreign companies who wish to partner with American companies in areas of distribution of American products, joint ventures, and licensing. While some services are fee-based, many are provided free of charge. We welcome you to our site and encourage you to visit other websites that are likely to be of interest to you.  To find the country of interest, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/home/export.html. 

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Best Prospects in the ICT Market

For further information about the Japanese market, please consult the Country Commercial Guide.

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Chambers of Commerce

http://www.accj.or.jp	American Chamber of Commerce in Japan--  Contact: Direct Marketing Committee Chair Gene Raitt --Contact info:  djackson@accj.or.jp
http://www.anzccj.jp/	Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, 17F Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Tel: 03-5157-5615, Fax: 03-5157-5616
http://www.blccj.or.jp/	Belgian/Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan.  info@blccj.or.jp  Phone +81-3-3237 9281
http://www.cccj.or.jp/	The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan.  Contact:   Executive Director: Neil Moody.  Riku Bldg. 3F, 4-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083.  Telephone: (03)3556-9566, International: +81-3-3556-9566
http://www.cin.or.jp/	Canadian Commerce in Japan Riku
http://www.dccj.org/	Danish Chamber of Commerce in japan,  c/o Royal Danish Embassy, 29-6 Sarugaku-cho Shibuya 150-0033, Tel 03-3780-8729, Fax 03-3476-4234,  EMail: dccj@um.dk
http://www.fcc.or.jp/index-e.html	Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Setagaya Tsurumaki Heim 203, 2-33-20, Tsurumaki, Setagaya-ku, TOKYO 154-0016, Tel. 03-5450-7207 Fax. 03-5450-7208, E-Mail fccj@gol.com
http://www.fukunet.or.jp/	Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Shuji Hashimoto, Director, International Center, 9-28 Hakata Ekimae 2-chome, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-8505, Japan, Phone: +81/92/441-1117, Fax: +81/92/474-3200
http://www.fukuoka-fta.or.jp/	Fukuoka Foreign Trade Association, Mr. Itsuo Abe, Secretary General, c/o El Gala Bldg., 4-2 Tenjin 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0001, Phone: +81/92/724-7132, Fax: +81/92/735-4205
http://www.iccj.or.jp/	Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan,  Enokizaka Bldg. 3F 1-12-12 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Tel +81-3-3560-1100 Fax +81-3-3560-1105, E-Mail: iccj@iccj.or.jp
http://www.jcci.or.jp/	Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, JCCI, Nihon Shoko Kaigisho (Nissho) , 3-2-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, PHONE: +81-3-3283-7823, FAX: +81-3-3211-4859, E-MAIL: info@jcci.or.jp
http://www.jftc.or.jp/	Japan Foreign Trade Council, Inc., International Affairs and Research Group, Shunji Sasaki, General Manager, World Trade Center Bldg. 6F, 2-4-1 Hamamatsu-cho, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6106, Japan, Phone: +81/3/3435-5950, Fax: +81/3/3435-5979
http://www.kankeiren.or.jp/	Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), 6-2-27, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-6691, Japan, Phone: +81-6-6441-0104 Fax: +81-6-6441-0443
http://www.kyo.or.jp/kyoto/	Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kyoto Shoko Kaigisho , Karasuma-dori Ebisugawa-agaru, Nakagyo-ku Kyoto-city, Kyoto 604-0862, PHONE: +81-75-212-6400, FAX: +81-75-255-0428, E-MAIL: kyoto@kyo.or.jp
http://www.nipponlink.com/	List of Chambers of Commerce in Japan
http://www.nagoya-cci.or.jp/	Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NCCI, Nagoya Shoko Kaigisho (Meisho) , 2-10-19 Sakae, Naka-ku Nagoya-shi, Aichi 460-8422, PHONE: +81-52-223-5611, FAX: +81-52-231-6768, E-MAIL: info@nagoya-cci.or.jp
http://www.nara-cci.or.jp/	Nara Chamber of Commerce & Industry
http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/	Osaka Shoko Kaigisho (Daisho) , 2-8 Honmachibashi, Chuo-ku Osaka-shi, Osaka 540-0029, PH: +81-6-6944-6400, FAX +81-6-6944-6293, E-MAIL intl@osaka.cci.or.jp
http://www.biwa.ne.jp/	Otsu Chamber of Commerce & Industry
http://www.sapporo-cci.or.jp	Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI,
http://www.sendaicci.or.jp/	Sendai Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
http://www.sccj.org/	Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Kioicho Fukudaya Bldg, 6-12 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Tel: 03-5211-2101, Fax: 03-5211-2102, e-mail: sccj@twics.com
http://www.sccij.org/	Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Japan
http://www.tokyo-cci.or.jp/	Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TCCI, Tokyo Shoko Kaigisho (Tosho) , 3-2-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, PHONE: +81-3-3283-7500, FAX: +81-3-3284-1208, E-MAIL: webmaster@tokyo-cci.or.jp
http://www.wakayama-cci.or.jpl	Wakayama Chamber of Commerce & Industry
http://www.yokohama-cci.or.jp	Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry, YCCI, Yokohama Shoko Kaigisho (Yokosho) , Sangyo Boeki Center bldg. 8F, 2 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 231-8524, PHONE: +81-45-671-7400, FAX: +81-45-671-7410, E-MAIL: info@yokohama-cci.or.jp
http://www.entrepreneur.com/	International Chamber of Commerce list
http://www.citidex.com/167.htm	Domestic and Foreign Chamers of Commerce

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Channels of Distribution

For further information of the definitions of the channels of distribution, please click here. The following are known ICT sales channels.   They may or may not be available in all markets

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Agents / Distributors

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Business to Business (B2B)

Airlines

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Banks

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Newspapers

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US Subsidiaries

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E-Commerce

ASP

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ECommerce

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Internet

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Internet Service Providers

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Educational

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Governmental

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OEM

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Leasing

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Retailers

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Telecommunications Systems Operators

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Used / Refurbished

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VARS, ISVs, Resellers, System Integrators

Resellers

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Directories and Databases

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Duties, Tariffs & Taxes

Additional ICT specific information can be found at: http://web.ita.doc.gov/.

Please see: http://www.apectariff.org . 

As of January 1, 1998, U.S. products face the rate in the WTO 2 column; if this figure is in parentheses, use the figure in the general column; rates are applied on the CIF value.
-- Consumption tax of 5 percent is applied at the retail level. If the imported product is shipped directly to the end user, the tax is applied at the time of entry on the CIF + duty value.

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General Country Information

http://www.ebiz.co.jp/	Biz Finder
http://jguide.stanford.edu/	Stanford Universities Japan Guide
http://www.travel-library.com/asia/japan/	Information on traveling in Japan
http://www.eventsworldwide.com/	Japan events world wide.
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/	Japan Information Network (JIN) - General information on Japan provided by the Japan Information Network.
http://www.phrasebase.com/	Japan Information; Detailed facts and statistics about Japan.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/	Japan General Country Information
http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/region/	Jetro's information by Japanese Prefecture.
http://www.japaninyourpalm.com/	Hiroshima Guide in English
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/	Ourdoor Japan-Guide to Travel and outdoor in Japan. Outdoor Japan, 2-1-19 Kureru Terrace #403, Tsuchihashi, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan 216-0005
http://thejapanfaq.cjb.net/	The Japan Fac--The complete guide to working, living, and visiting in Japan.
http://www.gdrc.org/oceans/	The UN Seahorse in Japan--General Information about Japan
http://www.state.gov/l	US Dept. of State's Background Notes
http://travel.state.gov/	US Dept. of State's Consular Information Sheet
http://japan.usembassy.gov/	US Embassy Tokyo
http://www.buyusa.gov/japan/en/	US Commercial Service, Japan
http://www.odci.gov/cia/	CIA Factbook
http://www.isu.edu/	Colonel Craig's Japan Business Links
http://geography.about.com/	About's Guide to Japan
http://www.fodors.com/	Fodors is known for being the best site for travel offering hotel, restaurant reviews and their series of mini-guides to specific destinations.
http://travel.lycos.com/	Lycos Guide for Japan

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Intellectual Property Rights

Protection of intellectual property rights is an integral part of every successful U.S. exporter's basic market strategy in Japan.  It is necessary to file applications to register patents and trademarks in Japan to obtain protection, but prior patent filing in the United States can provide certain advantages if applications are filed promptly in Japan.  A U.S. patent or trademark attorney can provide informal advice, but it is necessary to hire a Japanese lawyer or patent practitioner (benrishi) registered in Japan to prosecute the patent or trademark application.  In conformity with international agreement, Japan maintains a non-formality principle for copyright registration -- i.e., registration is not a pre-condition to the establishment of copyright protection.  However, the Agency of Cultural Affairs maintains a registry for such matters as date of first publication, date of creation of program works, and assignment of copyright.  U.S. copyrights are recognized in Japan by international treaty.  U.S.-produced semiconductor chip design-layouts are protected for ten years under a special law if they are registered with the Japanese "Industrial Property Cooperation Center"-- a Japanese government-backed public corporation.
 
Obtaining and protecting patent and trademark rights in Japan can be time-consuming and costly, although patent fees have recently been reduced considerably.  While the process to safeguard such rights might seem prohibitive, lack of protection would permit competitors both in and outside of Japan to copy a product or production process.  Even when intellectual property rights have been acquired, pirating of technology and designs can occur in Japan, as in other countries.  Each company in a trading or licensing agreement should understand clearly what its rights and obligations are with respect to the intellectual property rights owned or acquired by the other.  Such a clear understanding helps to create a good rapport based on mutual trust, thereby ensuring the success of the trading or licensing agreement.

Patents, Trademarks, Utility Models and Designs: Unlike U.S. patent law, patents are granted to the first to file an application for a particular invention, rather than to the first to invent.  Although Japan accepts filings in English (to be followed by a Japanese translation), companies should ensure that translations of their applications are perfect, as significant negative ramifications may result from translation errors.  Prompt filing in Japan is crucial because printed publication of a description of the invention anywhere in the world, or knowledge or use of the invention in Japan, prior to the filing date of the Japanese application, would preclude the grant of a patent on the application.  Also, unlike the United States, where examination of patent applications is automatic, an applicant must request examination of his patent application in Japan within three years of filing. 
 
As is true in many countries, all patent applications are published 18 months after filing.  If, during the examination, the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) finds no impediment to the grant of a patent for a particular invention, it publishes the patent application in the Patent Public Gazette a second time, including any changes that have been made during the examination.  Under a recent amendment to the Patent Law, parties may contest the terms of a patent grant immediately after issuance by the Patent Office (for a period of up to six months), rather than prior to registration as had been the previous practice.  The patent is granted and valid for 20 years from the date the application is filed.
 
It takes an average of 22 months, according to the latest JPO statistics in CY 2001, in Japan from the request for examination of application to First Action.  An applicant can request accelerated examination, and efforts by the Patent Office to make the documentation necessary for the preliminary research required to request accelerated examination available electronically are expected to lower the cost of such requests to the applicant.  During the examination period, limited effective legal protection exists.
 
Japan's Trademark Law protects trademarks and service marks.  As is the case with patent applications, a resident agent (usually a lawyer or patent agent) must prosecute the trademark application.  And as with the processing of patent applications, Japan's trademark registration process can be slow.  Any company planning on doing business in Japan should file for trademark registration as early as practicable. Japan is subject to the Madrid Protocol (effective March 14, 2000) and trademarks registered at the WIPO Secretariat will be protected among member countries.
 
Japan's Utility Model Law also allows registration of utility models, a form of minor patent with a 6-year term of protection, retroactive from the date of application since January 1994. A separate design law allows protection of designs, with a 15-year term of protection from the date registration was made.
 
Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets: The only protection available for a trademark in Japan prior to registration is under the Japanese Unfair Competition Prevention Law.  Under this law, the owner of the mark must demonstrate that the mark is well known in Japan and that consumers will be confused by t