Japan offers an official corporate registration information service where you can search for existing company names. MmowW offers a free Name Availability Checker that validates your proposed name against naming rules. These tools serve different purposes, and understanding the difference prevents costly surprises.
The official registry tells you who already exists. MmowW's checker tells you whether your name will be accepted.
The Ministry of Justice provides an online service for searching registered corporate information. You can search by company name and jurisdiction to see whether identical or similar names are already registered.
What it checks: Whether a company with the same name exists in the registry.
What it misses: Whether your proposed name complies with character restrictions, entity suffix requirements, and naming prohibitions under the Companies Act.
Cost: Some search methods require fees (typically ¥332 per request for the paid online service).
Language: Japanese interface only.
Speed: Results returned relatively quickly, but navigation requires familiarity with the system.
MmowW's tool validates your proposed name against the full set of naming rules defined in the Companies Act and Commercial Registration Act.
What it checks: Character compliance, entity suffix presence, prohibited term screening, and naming rule violations.
What it does not do: It does not search the official registry database for identical existing names (that requires the official service).
Cost: Free.
Language: English interface.
Speed: Instant results.
| Factor | Registry Search | MmowW Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Existing name conflicts | Yes | No |
| Character compliance | No | Yes |
| Entity suffix validation | No | Yes |
| Prohibited term screening | No | Yes |
| Naming rule education | No | Yes (with explanations) |
| Cost | ¥332+ per search | Free |
| Language | Japanese | English |
| Available 24/7 | Varies | Yes |
The ideal workflow: use MmowW's checker first to ensure your name complies with all naming rules, then use the official registry service to check for identical existing names at your intended registered address.
Use our free tool to check your compliance instantly.
Try it free →Founder checking "Global Solutions 株式会社": MmowW's checker confirms the name complies with all character and naming rules. The founder then searches the official registry and finds no identical name at their intended address. Double confirmation — ready to file.
Founder proposing "株式会社Bank": MmowW's checker flags "Bank" as a potentially restricted term under Article 8 of the Companies Act (terms that suggest a specific type of regulated entity). The founder reconsiders before spending time on an official registry search.
Founder using "Café Nouveau 合同会社": MmowW's checker flags the accent in "Café" (é is not standard romaji). The founder switches to "Cafe Nouveau 合同会社" and passes. They then proceed to the registry search for conflict checking.
Q: Can I skip the registry search if MmowW's checker says my name is compliant?
A: MmowW's checker validates naming rules, not uniqueness at your registered address. While the same-name-same-address prohibition is narrow, checking the registry provides additional assurance, especially in shared office spaces.
Q: Does the official registry search check all of Japan?
A: The registry search can cover all jurisdictions. However, the same-name prohibition in the Commercial Registration Act only applies at the same registered address, not nationwide.
Q: Can I do the registry search in English?
A: The official registry service is primarily in Japanese. Some third-party services offer English-language searches. MmowW's checker is in English for the naming rule validation portion.
Validate your name against every naming rule — then search the registry with confidence:
Use the Company Name Availability Checker →
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