Question : Website name in other country question about registering if you live in USA

Hello, I have a online retail business that sells to customers in Japan. Currently I am working with another company, similar to Amazon but strickly in japan and I would like to start my own website and start moving my inventory to my own website.

One problem I see is I have briefly looked around to register a xx.co.jp web site and from what I understand I can only do that if my business is based in Japan. I could use simple xx.com or xx.jp but I would prefere a xx.co.jp address.

My wifes parents live in Japan so we could technically use them as a contact to register the site but what I am trying to figure out and was hoping someone could help guide me is, is there any kind of loop hole that would allow me to register a xx.co.jp domain name?

With a contact in Japan how difficult would it be to use their address to register the domain name or do they require an official business that is registered with the Japanese government in order to obtain the domain name?

Also if there is another zone this would be better suited for please let me know

Answer : Website name in other country question about registering if you live in USA

.co.jp requires a company registered in Japan and only 1 .co.jp domain can be registered per company.

.jp can be registered by individuals.

See: http://www.jp-domains.com/info/faq.php