Licensing & Importer of Record Archives

Business, Licensing & Importer of Record August 18, 2026

By JAPANPINT

Mail-Order and Internet Retail Licenses for Alcohol in Japan

E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing ways alcohol reaches Japanese consumers, but selling online isn’t automatically covered by whatever liquor license a business holds. Understanding the mail order alcohol license japan system requires — and how it differs from a standard retail license — matters for any foreign brand planning…

Blog, Licensing & Importer of Record July 30, 2026

By JAPANPINT

What the National Tax Agency Looks for in an Alcohol Importer

Your product’s path into Japan runs directly through the National Tax Agency’s licensing standards, even though your brand itself will never interact with the NTA directly. Understanding what national tax agency alcohol licensing actually screens for gives you a clearer picture of why your import partner’s credibility matters as much…

Blog, Licensing & Importer of Record July 30, 2026

By JAPANPINT

The Difference Between a Customs Broker, a Forwarder and an Importer of Record

Three roles get mentioned constantly in any conversation about shipping alcohol into Japan — customs broker, freight forwarder, and importer of record — and foreign brand owners are often surprised to learn these aren’t interchangeable terms for the same service. Understanding the actual customs broker vs importer japan distinction, and…

Blog, Licensing & Importer of Record July 30, 2026

By JAPANPINT

Do Importers Need to Register as Importers in Japan? Clearing Up the Confusion

Foreign brand owners who’ve researched import processes in other markets sometimes come to Japan expecting a specific “importer registration” step — a discrete license or permit tied to the act of importing itself. That expectation is understandable, but it doesn’t quite match how Japan’s system actually works. Here’s what importer…

Business, Licensing & Importer of Record July 30, 2026

By JAPANPINT

The Labeling-Method Notification: The License Step Everyone Forgets

Foreign brands researching Japan entry tend to focus on the two big-ticket items — the import license and the food import notification — and understandably so, since those are the pieces that get discussed most. But there’s a third filing that’s just as mandatory and far more commonly overlooked. Here’s…

Blog, Business, Licensing & Importer of Record July 30, 2026

By JAPANPINT

Wholesale vs. Retail Liquor Licenses in Japan: A Decision Guide

Once a foreign brand starts digging into Japan’s licensing framework, one question comes up quickly: is this one license, or several? The honest answer is that a wholesale retail liquor license japan search actually turns up two distinct license families — and knowing which one matters to your go-to-market plan…

Blog, Licensing & Importer of Record July 14, 2026

By JAPANPINT

Importing alcohol under a partner’s license: how it actually works

If you’ve been researching how to sell your brand in Japan, you’ve probably run into a phrase that sounds reassuring but raises more questions than it answers: “import under our license.” It’s the core offer behind almost every serious import partner in Japan, and it’s the reason a foreign brand…

Business, Licensing & Importer of Record July 13, 2026

By JAPANPINT

How to Vet a Japanese Import Partner: 12 Questions to Ask

Choosing who represents your brand at the Japanese border is one of the highest-stakes decisions in your market entry plan — and unlike most vendor selection, the wrong choice here can mean stalled shipments, non-compliant labels, or a partner with no real distribution reach. Here’s how to vet japan import…