Virtually all Japanese companies doing international business are corporations, which in Japanese designated by at least the word Kaisha (which just means "company") and most often by Kabushiki Kaisha, (which means "incorporated", literally, "stock" (kabu) "style" or "type" (shiki) "company" (kaisha). NOTE: Kaisha is often pronounced gaisha when it is preceded by another word, such as kabushiki.

This kabushiki gaisha is usually abbreviated K.K. (The traditional British Co. Ltd. is also widely used as a translation of "K.K." ) Alternatively, the word "Corp.," "Inc.," or even "S.A." may appear.

Frequently, parts of the company's name such as "Tanaka Trading Co. Ltd." will be the same company as Tanaka Boeki K.K. Be aware that a name like Tokyo Electric Co. Ltd. is a complete translation and not the legal name of the company.

Most corporations using the abbreviation "K.K." are publicly traded (but not all.)