Unite Legal Minds Globally

OSAKA OVERVIEW

1. Population:
   Osaka is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area (Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe), which has a total population of over 19 million people. The city itself has around 2.7 million residents, making it Japan’s third-largest city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is a major commercial and industrial hub with a long history of trade and entrepreneurship.
2. English Prevalence:

• English proficiency is lower than in Tokyo, but still present in major companies, tech parks, and universities.
• Tourism-focused businesses (hotels, restaurants, retail) often provide English-language services.
• In business settings, especially SMEs, Japanese is typically required, and contracts and legal processes are conducted almost entirely in Japanese.

3. Major Industries:

• Manufacturing: Osaka has long been a center for chemicals, electronics, machinery, and food processing.
• Pharmaceuticals and Biotech: Home to companies like Takeda and a growing life sciences sector.
• Commerce and Trade: A legacy trading city with active logistics, wholesale, and retail sectors.
• Tourism: Popular with both domestic and international tourists for its food culture, historical sites, and entertainment.
• Finance and Insurance: Secondary to Tokyo but still significant, with branches of major banks and insurers.
• Startups and Innovation: Growth in tech, robotics, and biotech startups, often supported by local accelerators and government initiatives.

4. Business and Legal Support:

• Business Setup:
  Osaka offers many of the same company structures as Tokyo:
  
  • KK (Kabushiki Kaisha) and GK (Godo Kaisha) are the most common.
  • It's slightly more cost-effective than Tokyo, especially for office space and labor.

• Foreign Business Environment:
  
  • Osaka Global Startup Center and Osaka Chamber of Commerce offer bilingual support for foreign entrepreneurs.
  • JETRO also operates in Osaka and provides assistance for company registration, licensing, and market research.

• Legal Services:
  
  • Fewer international firms than in Tokyo, but a solid base of Japanese firms with bilingual staff exists.
  • Visa sponsorship, IP protection, and commercial contracts usually require Japanese-language legal support.

• Challenges:
  
  • Similar to Tokyo: language and bureaucracy are barriers for newcomers.
  • Business culture can be less formal and more direct than Tokyo, which some find easier to navigate.
  • Still very much a relationship-driven market, especially in traditional industries.