Business verification in Japan
VBC certifies businesses registered in Japan. Verification starts from the official record: in Japan the company register is maintained by the Legal Affairs Bureau, and the entity is identified by its Corporate Number (hōjin bangō), 13 digits.
Japan's Corporate Number is public and searchable through the National Tax Agency's register, which allows independent confirmation of a company's name and registered address without relying only on documents supplied by the applicant.
Where a business is registered for tax, the the Corporate Number is also used for tax is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why Japanese businesses certify
Japanese buyers and suppliers conduct careful counterparty checks, and the publicly searchable Corporate Number register allows a great deal to be confirmed independently. That makes verification straightforward and gives the resulting record real weight.
What VBC verifies for a Japanese business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a Japanese business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Certificate of registered matters (tōkibo tōhon)
- Company seal registration certificate
- Articles of incorporation
- Confirmation of the Corporate Number
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a Japanese business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from Japanese businesses
Can a business registered in Japan get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Japan. Verification is based on records from the Legal Affairs Bureau, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a Japanese business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a Japanese business normally supplies: certificate of registered matters (tōkibo tōhon); company seal registration certificate; articles of incorporation; confirmation of the Corporate Number. The the Corporate Number is also used for tax is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the Corporate Number (hōjin bangō), 13 digits used for in verification?
The Corporate Number (hōjin bangō), 13 digits identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Legal Affairs Bureau. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a Japanese business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Japan?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Japan remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a Japanese business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.