It seem Japan is pushing some legitimate businesses away. This is really unfortunate.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/30/foreign-business-managers-visa-survey/
Under the [new] stricter criteria for business manager visas, applicants must have ¥30 million ($187,000) or more in capital, up from the previous ¥5 million. The applicant’s company must also employ at least one full-time worker who is either a Japanese national or someone with stable residency status such as permanent residency.
Japanese language ability will also be taken into account, with prospective business managers required to demonstrate proficiency equivalent to at least level N2 on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Business owners currently in Japan must clear those criteria, or have a plan in place to clear them, when they renew their visa.
“The ¥30 million capital requirement is especially a high hurdle,” the survey stated, adding that only about 1% of roughly 140,000 companies established in Japan in 2024 had capital of ¥30 million or more, while 95% had capital of less than ¥10 million.
Guy