Supplier due diligence
How to Check a Japanese Supplier
This guide turns a supplier name into a practical review workflow for procurement, compliance, and legal teams outside Japan.
Key takeaways
- A supplier check begins with entity matching.
- English names are discovery tools, not final identifiers.
- Public enforcement records should be verified against source URLs.
- No public record does not mean no risk.
Practical workflow
- 1Ask the supplier for legal entity name, Japanese name, Corporate Number, address, and website.
- 2Search RegBase with each available identifier.
- 3Open the best matching company profile and compare identity signals.
- 4Review linked enforcement and public-risk records.
- 5Save evidence and decide whether to approve, clarify, or escalate.
What to ask the supplier for
Before searching public records, ask the supplier for enough information to identify the legal entity. A brand name or English trade name is often not enough.
A good supplier intake form should request Japanese legal name, Corporate Number, registered address, website, product or service category, bank account name, and the relationship between any group company and the contracting entity.
What to search in RegBase
Search the company name first, then repeat with Japanese name and Corporate Number if available. If several similar companies appear, do not rely on the first result. Compare address, source labels, and records before choosing the match.
After opening the company profile, inspect linked enforcement records, public-risk entries, and source evidence. Save the evidence report if the supplier remains under review.
When to pause onboarding
Pause onboarding when identity is unclear, the supplier refuses basic entity information, a recent severe enforcement action appears, or public records conflict with the supplier's explanation.
Important limitation
RegBase supports public-source screening and evidence collection. It is not a credit report, sanctions result, legal opinion, or final due-diligence conclusion.