Best Fintech Lawyers in Shizuoka

About Fintech Law in Shizuoka, Japan

Fintech in Shizuoka builds on Japan-wide frameworks while local businesses and startups interact with prefectural support systems, local banks, and national regulators. Core legal rules that affect fintech firms operate at the national level, but companies in Shizuoka must also work with local public bodies, prefectural business-support offices, local financial institutions, and the Shizuoka Bar Association when seeking legal or compliance help. The landscape covers payments, virtual assets, tokenized securities, lending, data protection, anti-money-laundering, and consumer protection.

This guide explains why legal help is often needed, summarizes the most relevant laws and regulatory themes for fintech operators in Shizuoka, and points to local and national resources you can contact when you need advice.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Fintech projects mix technology, finance, and regulation. A lawyer can help in several common situations:

- Licensing and registration - to determine if your service needs registration under national laws such as the Payment Services Act or the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, and to prepare applications.

- Anti-money-laundering and KYC compliance - to design procedures that meet the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds and related regulatory expectations.

- Contracts and partnerships - to draft and negotiate agreements with banks, payment processors, cloud providers, development partners, and customers.

- Data protection and privacy - to ensure systems and policies comply with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and related guidance for handling personal and financial data.

- Tokenization and securities issues - to determine whether tokens are securities under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and to handle investor-protection duties.

- Consumer protection and dispute resolution - to address consumer law responsibilities and to manage complaints and litigation risk.

- Regulatory investigations and enforcement - to respond to inquiries from regulators, including the Financial Services Agency and local finance bureaus.

- Corporate transactions - for fundraising, investor agreements, sales, mergers, and structuring investments to manage regulatory risk.

Local Laws Overview

Fintech in Shizuoka is governed mainly by national statutes, but local implementation and support matter. Key legal areas to know:

- Payment Services Act - regulates fund transfer services, electronic payment instruments, and virtual-currency exchange providers. Defines licensing and operational requirements for payment and remittance services.

- Financial Instruments and Exchange Act - governs securities, including tokenized securities and certain crowdfunding structures. Registration and disclosure rules apply when a fintech product functions like an investment.

- Act on the Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds - requires customer identification, transaction monitoring, and reporting of suspicious transactions for financial service providers.

- Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) - sets out obligations for collecting, using, and transferring personal data, and requires appropriate security measures and, in many cases, privacy policies and contracts with processors.

- Banking Act and Money Lending Business Act - apply if your operations touch on deposit-taking, lending, or core banking services; licensing or notification may be required.

- Consumer protection laws - including the Consumer Contract Act and Consumer Affairs Agency guidance - affect how fintech firms market services to retail customers and handle complaints.

- Tax and reporting rules - taxation of income, consumption tax, and specific tax treatments for virtual assets can affect product design and pricing.

- Electronic Signatures and Records Act - governs legal recognition of electronic contracts and signatures used in customer onboarding and digital agreements.

Local administrative practice in Shizuoka will reflect national rules, but you should expect to work with prefectural business support centers, local financial institutions, and the Shizuoka Bar Association when implementing services on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to operate a payment service from Shizuoka?

Possibly. If your service handles customer funds, remittances, or electronic payment instruments, it may fall under the Payment Services Act and require registration or licensing. Whether you need a license depends on the service model, counterparty relationships, and how funds are stored and moved. A lawyer can evaluate your business model and advise on the correct regulatory path.

Is offering cryptocurrency services in Shizuoka regulated?

Yes. Virtual asset service providers are regulated under Japan's framework that covers crypto-asset exchange businesses. This includes requirements for registration, custody controls, segregated management of customer assets, and AML measures. Compliance must follow national rules and regulator expectations.

What are the key AML and KYC requirements for fintechs?

Fintech firms that handle funds or virtual assets generally must implement customer identification, transaction monitoring, record-keeping, and suspicious transaction reporting as required by the Act on the Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds and related guidance. Risk-based customer due diligence and ongoing monitoring are standard expectations.

How does data protection affect fintech products?

Personal data used in onboarding, transaction processing, or analytics must be handled under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. You must define purpose limits, secure appropriate consent or legal bases, implement technical and organizational security measures, and manage cross-border transfers when applicable.

Can I issue tokenized securities or use tokens to raise capital?

Tokenized securities may be subject to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. If a token constitutes an investment product, registration, disclosure, and investor-protection duties can apply. Crowdfunding platforms and ICO-style issuances must be structured carefully to avoid breaching securities laws.

What consumer protections should I include when serving retail users?

Clear terms and conditions, transparent fees, accessible dispute resolution processes, cooling-off or cancellation rights where applicable, and accurate advertising are needed. Consumer protection laws impose obligations on disclosures and fairness, especially where financial risk or taxpayer funds are involved.

How should I approach partnerships with local banks in Shizuoka?

Banks will expect strong compliance controls, clear contractual allocation of liabilities, and technical integration safeguards. Lawyers help negotiate service agreements, ensure regulatory responsibilities are covered, and design secure information-sharing and settlement arrangements.

Are there special rules for cross-border payments and foreign customers?

Cross-border operations raise currency controls, tax, AML, and licensing issues. You must consider whether your activities require registration in other jurisdictions, how customer due diligence will be performed across borders, and how to comply with data-transfer rules. Local advice is important for cross-border risk management.

What happens if regulators open an investigation into my fintech company?

Regulatory investigations require prompt, well-documented responses. A lawyer can help preserve privilege where possible, coordinate document production, communicate with regulators, and negotiate corrective measures or settlements while protecting your legal position.

How do I choose the right lawyer or firm in Shizuoka for fintech matters?

Look for lawyers with experience in financial regulation, payments, virtual assets, data protection, and technology contracts. Local knowledge of Shizuoka business networks and the ability to coordinate with national regulators are useful. Ask about relevant case experience, regulatory contacts, and fee structure before engaging.

Additional Resources

Financial Services Agency - national regulator overseeing banks, securities, and payment services, and sets guidance for fintech supervision.

Local Finance Bureau that covers Shizuoka - the regional office of national financial authorities that handles certain registration and supervisory matters.

Shizuoka Prefectural Government - Industry and Commerce or Business Support divisions offer local startup support, subsidy information, and introductions to local financial institutions.

Shizuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry - supports local businesses and can provide networking and commercial resources.

Shizuoka Bar Association - local lawyers who can assist with regulatory, contract, and dispute matters in Japanese law.

Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association and other industry bodies - industry self-regulation, technical standards, and best practices for virtual asset service providers.

Japan Fintech Association and national industry groups - provide guidance, events, and a forum for engaging with regulators and banks.

National tax authorities and local tax offices - to advise on taxation of fintech income and virtual asset transactions.

Consumer Affairs Agency - for guidance on consumer protection and dispute resolution expectations.

Next Steps

1. Clarify your business model - document exactly how funds, tokens, data, and user relationships will be handled. This makes initial legal screening efficient.

2. Identify regulatory touchpoints - determine which national laws are likely to apply and whether local permits or notifications are needed.

3. Gather basic documents - business plan, product specs, sample contracts, privacy policy drafts, AML/KYC procedures, and corporate documents.

4. Contact a lawyer with fintech experience - arrange an initial consultation with a lawyer or law firm that understands payments, virtual assets, data protection, and financial regulation in Japan. Preferably choose a lawyer familiar with Shizuoka local context.

5. Prepare for compliance - follow your lawyer's recommendations for license applications, internal controls, privacy and security measures, and contract updates.

6. Use local support - engage local business support offices and the Shizuoka Chamber of Commerce for practical introductions to banks, partners, and funding sources.

7. Maintain ongoing monitoring - fintech rules evolve quickly. Plan periodic legal reviews and update compliance programs as laws and regulator guidance change.

Note - This guide provides general information and does not replace legal advice tailored to your specific facts. For decisions that affect your business or personal liability, consult a qualified lawyer in Japan.