Bulk Domain Registration: Japan

It may be unfair, but a modern company that does not have a website is often not considered serious. "If you do not care enough to put together a website for me," the customer asks, "why should I believe you care about quality or service in any other aspect of your business?" While most American companies are well aware of the .com domain, they are missing a great opportunity by not considering global domain registration. International domains can change the face of your business. Japan’s .jp is one of the leading domains out there, and, given the global nature of the internet, can mean a great deal to a company’s bottom line. Registering this domain can be beneficial, and registering many .jps can lead to even more opportunities.

Registering bulk Japanese domains is easy when you use the domain registering services online. However, you need to be aware of the quality of the agency you are using. The internet is still, to a degree, a playground, and there are plenty of people waiting to steal your lunch money. Scams abound in cyberspace and it is up to you to choose a company which is both reputable and trustworthy.

There are some restrictions when purchasing a Japanese domain name that should be considered before determining which domain is right for you. In order to obtain a .co.jp domain, which you will need if you want to start an internet presence for a company based in Japan or with a Japanese branch, from a domain registration service, you need to have a registered company with a physical presence in Japan. Most agencies offering web registration services will ask for proof of the company’s existence in Japan. The proof they will ask for will be something called the toukibtouhon, and is issued solely by the Japanese government. Be careful when using any domain registrant which offers other ways of obtaining the toukibtouhon. While there are ways to obtain it other than you doing it yourself, this can be a sign of a scam and, when advertised as the exclusive means of obtaining it, should be considered carefully.

When you do find a reputable domain registration service, an excellent example being www.marcaria.com, and have determined that none of the Japanese domain restrictions will hinder your efforts, enter the domain names you wish to use into their search engine. It may be that the domain you wish to use is already in use by another company or individual. To avoid this being too much of an issue, have more than one possible domain name ready and simply replace one with another. Once your domain name is approved, however, it is a relatively simple process of choosing your form of payment and purchasing the name.

For .jp domains, the rate is 55 dollars per year, with .co.jp commercial site and .ne.jp general public costing 177 and 169 dollars respectively. During the typically six weeks it takes for the registration to go through to the extent that you can use it, it is advisable that you come up with an organized action plan to the effect that your company will be able to move quickly and establish an internet presence.

There are very real, tangible benefits to buying a .jp domain name, and many of them end with your bottom line. Japan is one of the most profitable countries in which to do business. To a degree which increases every year, even every day, the culture is becoming more consumer-driven. As of 2009, 127,560,000 people live there with an average income of 60,000 dollars. This is a vast market willing to spend money, and 78.2% (a full percent higher than America) of the people living there are online, so an increased or newly established internet presence can be extremely lucrative. Another reason to register a domain in Japan is to protect your brand name. For instance, if you have recently started a textile business called John Smith Textiles with which you hope to soon go international, preemptively obtaining johnsmithtextiles.co.jp along with, perhaps, a Chinese domain is an excellent way to ensure another company does not beat you to the punch.