Checking Director Eligibility: Manual vs. MmowW Tool

Two Approaches to Verifying Director Eligibility

Before your company registration reaches the Legal Affairs Bureau, you need to confirm that every proposed officer meets the eligibility requirements under the Companies Act (会社法). There are two ways to do this: manually reading the law and applying it yourself, or using a structured tool that guides you through the requirements.

Both approaches can yield the correct answer. The difference is in effort, risk, and accessibility.

Manual Verification

Manual verification means reading the relevant articles of the Companies Act — primarily Articles 331, 335, and 402 — and determining whether each proposed officer satisfies the criteria.

What it requires:

• Access to the Companies Act text (available on e-Gov in Japanese)
• Ability to read and interpret Japanese legal language, or access to a reliable English translation
• Knowledge of which articles apply to which officer types
• Understanding of legal terms like 成年被後見人 (adult ward) and 被保佐人 (person under curatorship)

Risks:

• Missing a disqualification ground that applies to a specific officer type
• Misinterpreting the scope of criminal conviction provisions (not all convictions disqualify)
• Overlooking the interaction between different articles (e.g., auditor restrictions in Article 335 reference director restrictions in Article 331)
• No built-in confirmation that you have checked everything

Time: 1-4 hours depending on language proficiency and number of officers.

MmowW Director Eligibility Checker

The checker translates the statutory requirements into a series of plain-language questions. You answer yes or no, and the tool applies the legal logic.

What it requires:

• Basic information about each proposed officer
• Honest answers to the screening questions
• 2-3 minutes per officer

Advantages:

• Covers all disqualification grounds systematically — you cannot accidentally skip one
• Applies the correct rules for each officer type automatically
• Provides the specific article reference for each determination
• Works in English without requiring Japanese legal language proficiency

Time: 2-3 minutes per officer.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Key Benefits of the Tool Approach

• Systematic coverage eliminates blind spots: The tool checks every disqualification ground in sequence. Manual research relies on you knowing what to look for.
• Accessible to non-Japanese speakers: The eligibility questions are in English, removing the language barrier that makes manual verification difficult for international founders.
• Consistent results: The tool applies the same logic every time. Manual interpretation can vary depending on the reader's legal background.
• Documented output: The checker provides a record of what was checked and the result — useful for corporate records and due diligence.

Real Scenarios

Bilingual founder who reads Japanese: Even founders fluent in Japanese benefit from the tool's systematic approach. Reading Article 331 covers director disqualification, but you also need to check Article 335 for auditors, Article 333 for accounting advisors, and consider the interaction between provisions. The tool handles this cross-referencing automatically.

International team with no Japanese legal background: A Singapore-based team forming a Japan subsidiary cannot reasonably be expected to parse Japanese statutory language. The checker makes eligibility verification accessible without retaining a Japanese legal professional for this specific step.

Gyoseishoshi confirming their own assessment: Even professionals use checklists. The tool serves as a structured verification step that complements professional judgment.

FAQ

Q: Is the tool's assessment legally binding?

A: No. The tool provides an eligibility screening based on the statutory criteria in the Companies Act. It is an informational tool, not a legal opinion. For complex situations, professional consultation is recommended.

Q: What if the manual approach and the tool give different results?

A: If there is a discrepancy, review the specific article cited by the tool and compare it with your manual interpretation. The tool's logic follows the statutory text directly. Discrepancies usually arise from misinterpretation of scope during manual review.

Q: Does the tool replace the need for a Gyoseishoshi?

A: The tool handles eligibility screening — one specific step in the formation process. A Gyoseishoshi provides comprehensive support including document preparation, filing, and ongoing compliance. The tool and professional services address different needs.

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What's Next?

Eligibility confirmed. Next step: articles of incorporation, capital deposit, and registration filing. MmowW Scribe guides every step.

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