About
A coordinator, not another middleman
Move to Japan Advisory exists because of a structural gap. Government estimates have warned that roughly 1.27 million aging SME owners in Japan could face succession uncertainty, and — since the 2025 rule change — the Business Manager visa regime rewards the real substance an operating company can demonstrate over a newly founded shell. Yet the buyers who need this path most cannot navigate it: the M&A platforms are Japanese-only, the immigration specialists do not source deals, and nobody coordinates the two.
We sit in that gap. Our founder built a career in enterprise sales and go-to-market strategy at companies including Salesforce Japan, and initiated and is actively managing the succession and sale process of a 50-year family business that had otherwise been expected to close without value recovery. That first-hand experience shaped our conviction: cross-border acquisition succeeds when someone owns the process end to end.
We are deliberately not a brokerage and not a law firm. Every regulated act in your journey is performed by the licensed Japanese professional whose license covers it. What we own is the strategy, the research, the team, and the timeline — in fluent English, with your interests as the only agenda.
Transparency
Exactly what we do — and what we never do
What we do
- Analyze your eligibility and capital position against the 2025 Business Manager visa rules
- Research and shortlist succession-ready Japanese companies that fit your budget and visa objectives
- Assemble and coordinate your professional team — qualified M&A intermediaries, certified administrative procedures legal specialists (gyoseishoshi) for immigration filings, tax accountants, and judicial scriveners
- Manage the end-to-end timeline from first screening to post-acquisition visa filing, as your single English-speaking point of contact
- Brief you on market norms — pricing, negotiation etiquette, and seller psychology in Japan's succession market
What we never do
We do not broker or intermediate M&A transactions
Deal sourcing, valuation, and negotiation are performed by qualified M&A intermediaries — operating under Japan's SME M&A guidelines — whom you engage directly.
We do not prepare or file immigration applications
Visa strategy and filings are handled by certified administrative procedures legal specialists (gyoseishoshi) whom you engage directly.
We do not draft contracts or provide legal advice
Legal documents are prepared by qualified lawyers. We coordinate, we never practice law.
We do not provide tax or investment advice
Tax structuring comes from licensed tax accountants (zeirishi). We make no investment recommendations or return guarantees.
Why this structure protects you: Under Japanese law, paid preparation of immigration filings is reserved for certified administrative procedures legal specialists (行政書士) and attorneys, and legal representation for licensed attorneys (弁護士). Our coordination-only model means every regulated step of your case is handled by the professional legally authorized — and professionally insured — to perform it. We are compensated solely by you, never by referral commissions from listed businesses, so our shortlists stay unbiased.
Who operates this service
Operator information
Founder
Our founder spent over a decade in enterprise sales and go-to-market strategy at companies including Salesforce Japan, and initiated and is actively managing the succession and sale process of a 50-year family business. He works between buyers and Japan's succession market in fluent English and native Japanese.
Founder profile and LinkedIn link will be published here.
Business details
- Service name
- Move to Japan Advisory
- Operated by
- Tenbou Works
- Base of operations
- Tokyo, Japan
- Contact
- info@tenbouworks.jp
- Scope of service
- Research and coordination only. Regulated services (brokerage, immigration filings, legal, tax) are performed by licensed Japanese professionals engaged directly by the client.
Start with the facts
Three minutes. A clear read on your eligibility, capital requirement, and next actions — before you spend anything.
Free Readiness Check