small Tokyo headquarters for prestige
A tiny company office in Tokyo, often just a rented desk or small room, maintained mainly so the company can list a prestigious Tokyo address. The term literally means 'one-tsubo head office' (about 3.3 m²).
Small and medium-sized regional companies sometimes set up a tiny Tokyo headquarters to advertise their expansion into the capital.
That company's head office is a one-tsubo office, and its actual operations are carried out in the regions.
A virtual office provides a business address and phone service without a physical desk, while 一坪本社 implies a tiny physical space.
The registered head office for legal purposes, which may be a 一坪本社 if it is a minimal physical location.
Compound of 一坪 (ひとつぼ, 'one tsubo', about 3.3 m²) and 本社 (ほんしゃ, 'head office'). The term is a modern coinage reflecting the practice of maintaining a minimal Tokyo presence for prestige.