Investment in Greenfield Production in Japan – Legal Framework

The latest business climate survey by AHK Japan, published in the second quarter of 2025, shows that Japan has become a top choice for German companies looking to establish their Asian head quarter presence in the Asia-Pacific region. One trend that emerged is the shifting of production from China to Japan, among other countries. This affects not only the expansion of production capacities but also greenfield investments. 

This event aims to provide information about the legal framework for corresponding investments in production capacities with a special focus on greenfield production and will be complemented by a firsthand experience report from a well-established German company operating in Japan.  
 
The legal part will be handled by Mueller Foreign Law Office, with two German lawyers Mr. Michael Andreas Mueller and Dr. Henri Doering joining as speakers. The firm was founded in 2007 in Japan and represents the Alliance of German Business Lawyers in Asia (ADWA) as a member firm in Japan and covers also Pan-Asian projects. The firm focuses on legal aspects of international economic transactions between Europe and Japan, as well as support for investment and M&A projects in Japan and representation in court proceedings. The team consists of German and Japanese lawyers. The office is located in central Tokyo, in the Kasumigaseki government district.  
 
From a practical perspective, Mr. Jens Schader, President Boehringer Ingelheim Seiyaku, will share his experience in establishing a production facility in Japan. Using the company's recent investment in Yamagata (a region in Japan) as an example, he will address practical challenges, provide insights into operational efficiency, highlight the significance of employee training, and outline considerations when selecting a suitable location for production. 

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