Companies
The Companies Act of Japan was promulgated on July 26, 2005 and went into effect on May 1, 2006,
replacing a portion of the Commercial Code. Under the Companies Act, the following forms of
companies are authorized:
(1) Kabushiki-kaisha (stock company)
(2) Gomei-kaisha (general partnership company)
(3) Goshi-kaisha (limited partnership company), and,
(4) Godo-kaisha (limited liability company).
Kabushiki-kaisha or a stock company whose shareholders' liability is limited to their investment, is the
most common form of company in Japan and the form most closely related to the disclosure system
discussed in this publication