Changes to Japan's Business Manager Visa System from 2024 to 2025January 28, 2025•OTHERMajor Changes Changes in 2024 In March 2024, guidelines were revised to allow paid stock options to be counted towards capital requirements[1] Ministerial ordinance amendments regarding Business Manager visa requirements are planned during fiscal year 2024[1] Changes from January 1, 2025 The Start-up Visa system will be expanded nationwide[2][1] Maximum period of stay will be extended to 2 years[3] Current Main Requirements Basic Requirements Must secure an independent business office Either 5 million yen in capital or employment of 2 or more full-time staff Must prove business legitimacy, stability, and continuity[4] Applicant Requirements No restrictions on age, language ability, education, or assets[3] Applicant's family (spouse, children) can obtain dependent visas[3] Purpose and Impact of Relaxed Requirements Objectives Create an environment conducive to foreign entrepreneurship Promote economic revitalization[5] Important Notes After requirement relaxation, business plans and individual investor conditions may be more strictly scrutinized[3] Proving business stability and continuity remains a crucial requirement[1] Screening to prevent illegal employment and misuse of visa status will continue[5]
May 1, 2025•OTHER•JndgerMain difference between men's and women's haircuts in JapanMy wife and I recently got haircuts. My experience was fairly smooth, but my wife was initially turned away(!). Through this, we learned about the differences between men's and women's haircuts in Japan—the locations and even the licenses of the hairdressers are different.
February 11, 2025•OTHER•JndgerEntrepreneurial opportunities in Large Language Models (LLM) in Japan in 2025Japan's 2025 AI entrepreneurial opportunities focus on vertical field applications, enterprise service tools, and generative content innovation, requiring combination with local needs (such as aging population, manufacturing upgrade) and technical trends (large model lightweight, multimodal generation). Entrepreneurs should prioritize high-demand, low-substitution niche markets while paying attention to policy trends and ecosystem cooperation.
February 4, 2025•OTHER•JndgerGuide to Seeking Medical Care for Sudden Illness in JapanHave a long-term visa but new to Japan and can't communicate in Japanese yet? Here's what to do when you need medical care.
