False, though depending on your status of residence that could potentially create trouble for you with regards to immigration. Speak to your friendly neighborhood attorney if you want confirmation.
At a minimum, one could start an American company, which could at some point start a Japanese office (with all the accordant overhead in terms of paperwork and politicking, including the usual risk of immigration taking a dim view or otherwise filing your paperwork in the "do not pass go" column).
How closely that approximates the desired scenario with regards to e.g. hiring and social signalling is another question. It would presumably be bounded by the status of e.g. Microsoft Japan, which is in turn bounded by Sony. Which is to say, not as good, but possibly good enough for most intents which don't involve hiring new grads shoulder-to-shoulder with Sony.
Yeah, that is the easiest way to do it, and I think with Abe's supposed promises to favor/help startups, this would be a good time for something like that to fly with a 1-5 person "company"
