株式会社 (Kabushiki Kaisha) is a type of business entity in Japan, commonly known as a joint-stock company. It allows for the issuance of shares, enabling multiple investors to own a portion of the company. This structure provides limited liability to its shareholders, meaning they are not personally responsible for the company's debts beyond their investment. In a 株式会社, management is typically separated from ownership. Shareholders elect a board of directors to oversee the company's operations. This format is popular among large corporations in Japan, such as トヨタ自動車 (Toyota Motor Corporation) and ソニー (Sony), facilitating growth and investment.