Your Japan-Side Point of Contact for Japanese Public Documents and Private-Document Authentication

Who We Work With

We accept referral and professional inquiries about Japanese public documents and final-form private documents notarized or authenticated in Japan from the following organizations and professionals.

Even when the inquiry comes from a firm or professional, the individual document holder's consent, a power of attorney, or identity documents may be required depending on the documents involved. Whether we can accept a matter is confirmed individually after reviewing the case.

Typical Referral Matters

The following are typical matters we can support when referred by overseas professionals. In every case, your firm, the local professional or the receiving authority determines what is required overseas; we carry out the corresponding Japan-side steps.

How We Work with Your Firm

We work as a Japan-side service provider engaged on a matter-by-matter basis. A framework agreement is not required for an initial one-off matter: send a written outline of the matter, together with the receiving authority's written requirements or checklist where available, and we will reply with whether we can assist, which Japan-side steps may be involved, and a written quotation.

Each engagement is confirmed separately, with the scope of work, required documents, fees, expected timeline and allocation of responsibilities agreed in writing before work begins. Your firm remains the lead adviser on the foreign-side procedure; we report progress in English and dispatch the completed documents to the destination you designate.

Background reference on Japan-side authentication topics is available in our Insights for overseas legal professionals.

Division of Responsibilities

A clear allocation of responsibilities is the basis of every engagement. Your firm leads the foreign-side procedure; we carry out the agreed Japan-side steps.

Japan-Side Services

Our work is limited to the following Japan-side steps for Japanese public documents and final-form private documents notarized or authenticated in Japan. Each step is engaged individually according to the receiving authority's written requirements; an apostille and a Certified Translation are not always required together.

Document procurement: For matters involving document procurement, we assess feasibility on a case-by-case basis after confirming the relationship with the document holder, the authority to act, eligibility to request the document, and the issuing institution's handling. Not every family register, acceptance certificate, or other public document can be obtained on a client's behalf. Japanese police certificates are a personal-application document and are not included in our proxy document-procurement service; where relevant, separate Japan-side apostille handling can be reviewed after the certificate has been properly issued and the receiving authority's requirements are confirmed.

Powers of attorney and similar private documents in final form: Where a power of attorney or similar private document has been provided in final form, with its contents and scope of authority determined by the receiving authority or a local professional, we support the Japan-side steps, including confirmation of the receiving authority's written requirements, preliminary inquiries with a Japanese notary office, the required notarization and authentication process (including a MOFA apostille where applicable), a Certified Translation prepared by our office from the original document, and international delivery. Depending on the authentication method, the signer may need to appear in person at the notary office in Japan. We do not draft or determine the contents or scope of authority, assess validity under foreign law, or guarantee acceptance or registration outcomes overseas. See our pricing page for standard fees.

One-Off and Recurring Professional Matters

We accept both one-off and recurring matters from professional service providers. Each matter is reviewed and engaged separately. The scope of work, required documents, fees, disbursements, expected timeline, billing party, delivery destination and allocation of responsibilities are confirmed in writing before work begins.

Five Supported Jurisdictions

Our service is limited to Japanese public documents and final-form private documents notarized or authenticated in Japan, intended for submission to the five supported jurisdictions. Whether an apostille, notarization or Certified Translation is required depends on the receiving authority's written requirements.

Countries where embassy or consular legalization is the primary route, or where a local sworn or accredited translator system applies, are outside our scope as a rule. We do not accept matters intended for submission outside the five supported jurisdictions.

From Initial Case Summary to Delivery

In your initial message, please include: your firm or organization name and country; your professional role; the destination country and receiving authority; the foreign-side procedure involved; the Japanese documents believed to be required and their issuing institutions; the number of copies; whether the documents are already available; whether written requirements or a checklist are available; whether an apostille is required, not required or unclear; translation and notarization requirements; your target date; the billing party; and the delivery country.

Please do not send passports, family registers, certificates, or other sensitive documents—or scans or copies of them—with your initial inquiry. A case summary is sufficient for the preliminary review.

Case Studies

See selected examples of Japan-side document matters handled by our office.

Selected Insights for Professional Clients

Your Japan-Side Contact

Daisuke Mori, Gyoseishoshi

Daisuke Mori is a licensed Gyoseishoshi in Tokyo and the representative of Apostille Japan Gyoseishoshi Office, based in Akasaka, Tokyo. The representative Gyoseishoshi reviews each professional matter directly, manages its progress, and handles case communication in English. The office is a member of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A Gyoseishoshi is a Japanese national qualification for specified document preparation and administrative procedures. A Gyoseishoshi is not a foreign-law attorney and does not advise on foreign law. See the About page for more on the office.

Frequently Asked Questions from Professionals