Notary YAMASHITA Terutoshi (Mr.)
Notary YOSHIDA Masaki (Mr.)
Notary SAIKI Norio (Mr.)
Notary SATO Miyuki (Ms.)
Notary SUZUKI Yoshihito（Mr.）

General information in English is available at the website of the Japan National Notaries Association (Nippon Koshonin Rengo-kai, hereinafter called as “JNNA”).
http://www.koshonin.gr.jp/pdf/english2.pdf

１．WHAT ARE WE?

We are five（5）Japanese notaries designated by the Minister of Justice of Japan (i.e., a member of the Cabinet) to serve as notaries stationed at the Shibuya Notary Office (Shibuya Kosho Yakuba) in Tokyo.

Reception Desk: 09:00 to 11:00, 13:00 to 16:00（week days/working days only）
Address: Floor 8th, Nihon Seimei Shibuya Building,
1-21-1, Jinnan Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: +81-(0)3-3464-1717 Fax: +81-(0)3-3464-2799
e-mail: shibuya@koshonin.gr.jp

２．WHERE ARE WE?(MAP & PHOTOS)

Shibuya is one of the most famous areas in Tokyo.
At Shibuya Railway Station, 9 railway lines, i.e.,

• JR Yamanote Line
• JR Sai-Kyo Line
• JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line
• Tokyu-Toyoko Line
• Den-en Toshi Line
• Inokashira Line
• Ginza Subway (Underground) Line
• Hanzo-mon Subway (Underground) Line
• Fuku-Toshin Subway (Underground) Line

meet at one place and it may be easy for everyone to imagine a very busy commercial and business town.
Our office is only several minutes walk from the Station. Please have a look at the map and photos available to you.

This means that once you become accustomed to use one of the railway lines or the subway network, then you have a very easy access to Shibuya Notary Office from almost all the areas in Tokyo and the northern areas of Kanagawa, such as Kawasaki and Yokohama.

３．HOW DO WE SERVE YOU?

Japanese notaries serve our clients by fulfilling various duties assigned under the Notaries Act 1908 and other statutes.

These duties include, among others:
(1) Executing a deed for the parties concerned with a contract, keeping the original copy of the deed at the notary's office, and issuing a writ of execution so that a creditor may, without resorting to civil litigation, commence compulsory execution in the case of default or payment;
(2) Taking wills and keeping the original copies at the notary's office;
(3) Authenticating articles of incorporation when clients plan to incorporate a company;
(4) Attesting signatures on private documents in any language, and
(5) Taking affidavits in any language.

The first one highlights the features of Japanese notary system in that once the creditor, debtor and notary sign a notarial deed, the creditor attains a position as if he has won a civil litigation because he is entitled to ask the court to commence compulsory execution whenever the debtor fails to pay the money he has promised to pay.
The second one is important in that the executor is, under the Japanese law, not required to go to probate court but immediately carry out his duties as is instructed under the will.
Authentication of articles of incorporation of a company is necessary only at the time of establishing the company. Notary's checking of legitimacy of the words and phrases used in articles of incorporation is highly regarded in Japan.
Authentication of private documents, particularly those in foreign languages, contributes to the expansion of international business.

Notes:

1. Any official document issued by a governmental organization cannot be authenticated/notarized by a Japanese Notary. For such a document, please see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) below.
   http://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cs/page22e_000416.html
2. A photocopy of any passport can be authenticated by way of attaching the photocopy to a document titled “Declaration” (see a sample) that you make and sign, only when you show its original to a Notary. See the “3. Authenticated Private Documents” on the website of the JNNA.
3. In case where a document necessary to be authenticated/notarized requires a witness other than a Notary, you need to bring such a witness to our office. Our notary office does not provide any witness for such documents.
4. As for a document having the name of “Affidavit”, you are recommended to ask the person/organization which you are going to submit the document whether you need to make an oath in the presence of a Notary or not. Notarial fee of a document requiring you to make an oath is higher than the one without making an oath (e.g., your solemnly declaration enough for notarization). See the “3. 5) and 6)” on the website of the JNNA as well.
5. Even if your choice becomes wrong/inappropriate in the above (iii) after once authenticated/notarized and then you need it again for the same/a similar document in right way, you have to pay notarial fee for the new one and the notarial fee you paid will be non-refundable.
6. Although private documents in any language can be notarized, Japanese translation of the documents is often necessary for a Notary.
7. Apostille is available at our office only for private documents in accordance with the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (or the Apostille Convention) (Hague Convention of October 5, 1961).
   Details available at http://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cs/page22e_000417.html and http://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cs/page22e_000422.html for signatory countries.