What is an “owner scheme” in Japan?

It is a sales model where a business sells goods or rights while taking customers’ money and promises steady payments, like fixed rent or interest. When the offer mimics a deposit or savings product, it likely falls under the sales-with-deposit ban. Many versions are prohibited unless approved by the Prime Minister.

How can I check if an offer is legal before investing?

Ask for the Prime Minister’s approval document and number, then contact authorities to verify it. Check FSA registries if the offer may be securities or lending. Review audited financials, written risk factors, and contracts. Refuse pressure tactics. If documents are missing or unclear, walk away and keep your money safe.

Are helicopter fractional ownership deals always illegal in Japan?

No. Owning a real share of an aircraft is not illegal by itself. Problems arise when sellers promise fixed monthly rent or principal guarantees without required approval. If returns do not depend on real charter revenue and risk, the plan may be treated as a banned sales-with-deposit scheme under the 2022 law.

What should elderly investors and families do to stay safe?

Keep decisions slow and documented. Compare offers with bank products. Verify approvals and licenses. Bring a family member to meetings and save every brochure and message. Call local consumer centers quickly if unsure. If a pitch sounds like an owner scheme Japan with guaranteed income, consider reporting it to police.

Law and Government

Japan Owner Scheme Crackdown on February 13: Helicopter Arrests

ByDanny Kontos February 13, 2026February 13, 2026

Japan’s police action against an owner scheme Japan on February 13 spotlights rising legal risk for high-yield pitches. Tokyo officers arrested three men tied to a helicopter fractional ownership plan that gathered about ¥1 billion from roughly 270 investors, many elderly, with promises of monthly rents higher than bank deposits. Japan’s 2022 Deposits Law broadly bans sales-with-deposit offers unless cleared by the Prime Minister. We explain what the crackdown means, how rules apply to deposit-like returns, and practical checks to protect savings.