Posted by forex at 2:44 AM
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1. Establish your residence in Japan. This step is mandatory before you can proceed. Many foreigners accomplish this through a work or study visa that proves your intent to live in the country for a given length of time, at least a few years. Some investors have found a loophole by purchasing through a friend who lives in Japan, or alternately, investing through an international broker. However, these options are less secure and, due to the difference in time zones, often frustrating when real-time prices change as the information travels abroad.
2. Choose an online broker. The brokers in Japan aren't used to English-speaking clients and there are no English websites run by a broker, so you must have a working knowledge of the Japanese language to set up an account. Monex Securities is known for its relatively user-friendly interface and simple instructions, and it takes less than a week to set up, so this may be an option if you aren't very confident in your Japanese skills.
3. Fill out the online application. As mentioned in the previous step, you won't find one in English, although you can use a translation service such as Babelfish to gain a crude knowledge of what is written on the page. After you fill out the application, within a few days to a week, you'll receive a packet in the mail requesting the necessary documents to set up an account.
4. Prove to the broker you reside in Japan with supporting documentation. The requirements each broker has varies, but usually you'll be required to provide a driver's license or passport; non-citizens additionally require a copy of their 'gaikokujin toroku shomeisho' (certificate of alien registration card).
5. Fund your account. Again, each broker will have its own specific rules, but generally, the application packet will ask you for information about your bank account and give you the opportunity to make a deposit when you return the papers. Once your online account is funded, you can begin trading.