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Japan SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code JP in positions 5-6
- Example
- BOTKJPJT
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + JP (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office, usually in Tokyo
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read JP, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}JP[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Japanese SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank behind an international wire transfer. Japan’s domestic transfer system, Zengin, uses its own separate bank and branch codes for payments within the country — the SWIFT/BIC code only comes into play for cross-border transfers. Every Japanese BIC has JP fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and Japan’s three largest banking groups — the so-called megabanks — all base their SWIFT head office in Tokyo.
Major Japanese bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| MUFG Bank | BOTKJPJT | Tokyo |
| Mizuho Bank | MHCBJPJT | Tokyo |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC) | SMBCJPJT | Tokyo |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read JP, and the location and optional branch segments use only letters and digits — entirely client-side, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code matches the Japanese BIC pattern, not that BOTK, MHCB, or SMBC still names an operating bank, or that the location/branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum, so a fabricated code that fits the shape validates just as easily as a real one.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the international SWIFT/BIC — it says nothing about a Zengin bank or branch code used for a domestic Japanese transfer.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Japanese bank?
A Japanese BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, JP fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BOTKJPJT for MUFG Bank's Tokyo head office.
How do I read a Japanese BIC?
In SMBCJPJT, SMBC identifies Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, JP is the country, and JT is the Tokyo location code shared by Japan's largest banking groups.
Does an 8-character code work for a Japanese bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the bank's head office and are accepted the same way on SWIFT payment instructions.