On March 27, 2003, the Japan Investment Council (JIC) approved a report by the JIC Expert Committee stating as follows: The government should “translate into English various types of information on investment procedures, such as those related to the establishment of corporations, M&As, and the establishment of plants and store outlets, and set up a single contact point in the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) for access to such information. To complement its services, each ministry or institution related to investment should set up its own contact point that can indicate the division in charge of a particular procedure, and create a website where investors can obtain necessary information.” In accordance with this statement, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) established the Invest Japan Office, which came into operation on May 27, 2003.

Ahead of other ministries, METI also set up on July 1, 2004, an Invest Japan Office in each METI regional bureau and in the Economy, Trade and Industry Department of the Okinawa General Bureau to provide effective support for foreign firms and investors interested in investing in each region.

The Invest Japan Offices provide services in response to the following requests and inquiries:

• Request for investment information, such as market information and investment policies
• Request for guidance on licensing application procedures related to investment
• Complaints about the handling of inquiries under the procedure for prior confirmation of application of investment-related laws (so-called No-Action Letter system) mainly from inquirers
• Other inquiries about investment

< Inquiry procedure>

Inquiries are accepted by any means, including telephone, fax, e-mail, and visits to the Invest Japan Office. Inquiries by proxy are also accepted. However, an inquirer must identify his/her name and address (the company name and address if the inquirer is a corporation), along with a description and reason for the inquiry. An inquirer is also required to present specifics of the potential or planned investment involved.

<Replies>

The Invest Japan Office usually replies to an inquiry within ten days from the date of its acceptance (excluding weekends and holidays). However, this reply period may be extended for licensing applications if the standard processing period is otherwise specified or if careful consideration is needed before decision. Please also note that the Office may not be able to reply to an inquiry if the basis on which decision can be made is insufficient or if any lawsuits against a similar project are in progress.

• Trade and Investment Facilitation Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  13F West 5, METI Main Building, 1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901
  Tel: 03-3501-1662　　　Fax: 03-3501-2082
  E-mail: invest-japan@meti.go.jp

• (Hokkaido)
  International Affairs Division, Industries Department, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  Sapporo Government Office Bldg. No.1, North 8, West 2, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0808
  Tel: 011-709-1752　　　Fax: 011-709-2566
  E-mail: invest-japan-hokkaido@meti.go.jp

• (Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata and Fukushima)
  International Affairs Office, Industrial Promotion Division, Industrial Department, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  3-3-1 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8403
  Tel: 022-221-4907　　Fax: 022-223-2658
  E-mail: invest-japan-tohoku@meti.go.jp

• (Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka)
  International Affairs Division, Industries Department, Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  Saitama-shintoshin Joint Government Bldg. No.1, 1-1 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama 330-9715
  Tel: 048-600-0261　　Fax: 048-601-1306
  E-mail: invest-japan-kanto@meti.go.jp

• (Toyama, Ishikawa, Aichi, Gifu and Mie)
  International Exchange Office, International Affairs Division, Economic Policy Department, Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  2-5-2 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-8510
  Tel: 052-951-4091　　Fax: 052-961-7698
  E-mail: invest-japan-chubu@meti.go.jp

• (Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara and Wakayama)
  International Investment Promotion Division, International Affairs Department, Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  1-5-44 Ohtemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-8535
  Tel: 06-6966-6033　　Fax: 06-6966-6087
  E-mail: invest-japan-kansai@meti.go.jp

• (Okayama, Hiroshima, Shimane, Tottori and Yamaguchi)
  Industrial Promotion Division, Industries Department, Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  Hiroshima Government Office Bldg. No. 2, 6-30 Kamihatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8531　
  Tel: 082-224-5638　　Fax: 082-224-5642
  E-mail: invest-japan-chugoku@meti.go.jp

• (Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime and Kochi)
  International Affairs Division, Industries Department, Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  Takamatsu Sunport National Government Bldg., 3-33 Sunport, Takamatsu 760-8512
  Tel: 087-811-8525　　Fax: 087-811-8556
  E-mail: invest-japan-shikoku@meti.go.jp

• (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima)
  International Investment Promotion Division, International Affairs Department, Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
  

  First Fukuoka Government Office Bldg., 2-11-1 Hakataeki-higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-8546
  Tel: 092-482-5426　　Fax: 092-482-5321
  E-mail: invest-japan-kyushu@meti.go.jp

• (Okinawa)
  Commerce and Distribution Division, Economy, Trade and Industry Department, Okinawa General Bureau
  

  Second Naha Government Office Bldg. No. 2, 2-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha, 900-0006
  Tel: 098-866-1731　　Fax: 098-860-3710
  E-mail: invest-japan-okinawa@meti.go.jp

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