Civil Advisory · Debt Recovery
Understanding what you can recover — before committing to how.
When an invoice goes unpaid, the question is rarely just about the money. It is about knowing your position clearly enough to decide what to do next.
← Back to Home Arrange a ConsultationWhat this engagement delivers
A clear picture of where things stand
There is a particular difficulty in holding an unpaid invoice: the situation feels urgent, but the right response is not always obvious. Acting too quickly can reduce what you eventually recover. Waiting too long may mean the limitation period closes the route entirely.
What this advisory provides is the information needed before that decision is made — a documented assessment of the recovery position, the available routes, and the realistic prospects given the specific circumstances of your debtor.
Written assessment of recovery prospects
A documented position on what you are owed, what supports the claim, and what the relevant legal framework allows.
Limitation period review
Confirmation of the applicable deadlines so that no option is forfeited through delay.
Drafted correspondence where appropriate
A letter that reflects your position accurately and sets a reasonable basis for the debtor to respond.
Honest counsel on small claims
Where the amount qualifies and the route is practical, an explanation of the small claims process included at no additional cost.
The situation many small firms find themselves in
When receivables age beyond ordinary terms
An invoice that remains unpaid past its due date puts a small business in an awkward position. The relationship with the other party may still be salvageable. The sum may not justify the cost of formal proceedings. Or it may — but without a review of the documentation and the debtor's circumstances, it is difficult to know which.
Many firms in this position send a series of follow-up emails and, after some months, either write the debt off or refer it to a collection agency without having assessed whether either response is the most appropriate one.
The difficulty is also one of documentation. What was agreed in writing, when payment was due, whether any part of the obligation was varied — these are the things that determine the strength of the recovery position, and they need to be reviewed before any formal step is taken.
This advisory is suited to firms whose receivables have aged beyond ordinary terms and who want a considered view of the position before deciding how to proceed.
The advisory approach
How the assessment is conducted
The engagement begins with a review of the documentation — the original agreement or purchase order, any variation to payment terms, the invoice itself, and any written communication that followed. This establishes what the claim rests on and whether the documentation supports it as presented.
The limitation period is identified at this stage. Civil claims in Japan are subject to specific deadlines depending on the type of obligation and when it arose, and the assessment confirms whether and how much time remains to act.
The written advisory then sets out the recovery position, the realistic prospects given the debtor's known circumstances, the available routes, and — where the sum qualifies and the route is practical — an explanation of the small claims process. Where the honest view is that the cost of proceeding would likely exceed what could be recovered, that is stated plainly.
Documentation review
Agreement, invoices, and any related correspondence are reviewed to establish the basis of the claim.
Limitation period analysis
Applicable deadlines are identified so that no route is lost through inaction.
Prospects assessment
A realistic view of recovery given the debtor's circumstances — including where the arithmetic does not favour proceeding.
Written advisory and correspondence
A complete written assessment, plus drafted correspondence where a letter to the debtor is appropriate.
Working together
What the process looks like from your side
Initial contact
You describe the situation through the contact form or by email. You are asked what documentation you hold, and the exchange is straightforward.
Two weeks for assessment
The documentation is reviewed and the assessment is prepared within approximately two weeks of receiving everything needed. You are kept informed if anything else is required.
Written assessment delivered
You receive a written advisory covering the recovery position, the available routes, drafted correspondence where appropriate, and the small claims explanation if applicable.
Where formal proceedings follow the advisory, the timeline extends accordingly. The assessment itself remains the foundation for any next step.
Advisory fee
The Investment
¥28,000
Fixed fee · No surprises
Review of agreement, invoices, and related correspondence
Limitation period identification and analysis
Honest assessment of recovery prospects
Cases where cost would exceed the sum owed — noted at no extra charge
Drafted correspondence where appropriate
Small claims route explanation where the amount qualifies
The fee is agreed before the engagement begins and does not change during it. Where proceedings follow the advisory, those are scoped and priced separately.
Approach and framework
How progress is measured and tracked
The measure of a useful debt recovery advisory is not whether it reaches the outcome the client hoped for — it is whether the client ends the engagement knowing exactly where they stand and what each available route would require.
Progress within the two-week assessment period is structured: documentation is reviewed first, the legal position is established second, correspondence is drafted third. If any stage reveals that the situation is materially different from the initial description, you are informed directly before the work continues.
The written advisory itself serves as the record of the assessment. It is designed to remain useful — you can return to it later, share it with a colleague, or use it as the basis for any next step.
Week one
Documentation review and position mapping
All materials are reviewed. The claim is mapped against the documentation and the relevant legal framework. Any gaps are identified and you are contacted if additional material is needed.
Week two
Prospects assessment and advisory preparation
Recovery prospects are assessed against the debtor's known circumstances. The written advisory and any correspondence are prepared and reviewed before delivery.
Delivery
Written advisory issued
You receive the complete written assessment and all accompanying documents. A brief follow-up is available if any part of the advisory requires clarification.
Commitment and approach
What you can rely on
The fee is fixed
The quoted fee does not change during the engagement. If the scope shifts materially, that is discussed with you before any additional work is undertaken.
The assessment is honest
Where the realistic outcome is that proceeding would cost more than it recovers, that is stated clearly — not framed to encourage further engagement.
The timeline is observed
The two-week assessment period is a commitment, not an estimate. If something requires more time, you are told why before the deadline passes.
The initial enquiry is obligation-free
Describing your situation through the contact form does not commit you to an engagement. The initial exchange is simply to understand whether this advisory is appropriate for what you are facing.
How to proceed
The path from here
Send an enquiry
Use the contact form to describe the situation briefly — what is owed, by whom, and when it fell due. What documentation you hold is helpful but not required at this stage.
Confirm the engagement
A response follows within two working days confirming the scope and the fixed fee. The engagement begins when you confirm in writing.
Receive your assessment
Within approximately two weeks, you receive the written advisory — and a clear view of the options available to you.
There is no pressure in the initial exchange. If after describing your situation it becomes clear that a different route — a consumer affairs centre, direct negotiation, or simply writing the amount off — is the more appropriate one, that is said plainly.
Debt Recovery Advisory · ¥28,000
Start with a clear picture of your position
Describe your situation through the contact form. A response follows within two working days, and the initial exchange carries no obligation.
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