Mains-powered electronics & appliances × Individual — personal use

Rules verified as of 2026-08-08 · reviewed quarterly (next review: November 2026)

Typical products: AC adapters, kitchen appliances, lighting, PCs & monitors (their PSU/adapter), power strips

If the device also has Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, the Giteki regime applies on top — see the wireless category. The AC adapter itself is very often the regulated 電気用品 even when the device runs on DC.

Which regimes apply

PSE — Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法)

Mains-powered electrical appliances and mobile power banks are regulated 電気用品. 116 'specified' items (diamond PSE) need certification by a registered conformity body; 341 'non-specified' items (circle PSE) allow self-confirmation. The IMPORTER must notify METI of its business within 30 days of starting imports, verify conformity with the technical standards, keep inspection records, and ensure the PSE mark is affixed before sale.

File the business notification (事業届出) with METI within 30 days of the first import
Confirm the model meets the technical standards (for specified items: certificate from a registered body)
Keep self-inspection records
Affix / verify the PSE mark and the notifier's name before sale

Sources: METI — DENAN overview · Specified items list (116) · Non-specified items list (341)

Customs: duty, consumption tax and the importer of record

Every commercial import needs an importer of record with post-release disposal authority, correct HS classification, duty and 10% consumption tax. A non-resident importer files through an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP, 税関事務管理人) and needs a tax agent for JCT recovery.

Classify the product (HS code) and check the duty rate
Convert values with the official customs FX rate
Non-residents: appoint ACP (form C-7500) before the first declaration

Sources: Customs Answer 9601 — ACP

→ Tools: tariff finder & landed-cost calculator · customs FX rates · Guides: IOR, ACP

Who can be the importer — verdict

Personal-use imports are outside most business notification regimes (PSE/PSC notifications target businesses; food notification is not needed for small personal quantities; cosmetics have quantity allowances). Radio devices are the exception in practice: using a non-certified transmitter is still a Radio Act violation. Customs duty/JCT apply above the exemptions, with the ¥10,000 de minimis.

Your checklist

Stay within personal-use quantities (resale voids the exemptions)
Radio devices: check 技適 certification before buying
Expect duty/JCT above ¥10,000 customs value
[PSE] File the business notification (事業届出) with METI within 30 days of the first import
[PSE] Confirm the model meets the technical standards (for specified items: certificate from a registered body)
[PSE] Keep self-inspection records
[PSE] Affix / verify the PSE mark and the notifier's name before sale
[Customs: duty, consumption tax and the importer of record] Classify the product (HS code) and check the duty rate
[Customs: duty, consumption tax and the importer of record] Convert values with the official customs FX rate
[Customs: duty, consumption tax and the importer of record] Non-residents: appoint ACP (form C-7500) before the first declaration