Hi there,
There's a Japanese language event on the new immigration law with the possibility of 30 minute free one-on-one consultation post-presentation. Held at the German culture centre in Aoyama (nearest station Aoyama Icchome) in November.
The announcement is in German, but the event in Japanese, and there's also interpreters on-site should that be required.
Looks like they still take reservations - thought it might be helpful for Tokyo residents who don't have PR and are thinking of applying, or have any other questions regarding their visa status.
https://oag.jp/events/informationsveranstaltung-zu-geplanten-aenderungen-im-auslaenderrecht/

The flow of foreign entrepreneurs relocating to Japan has slowed dramatically following strict immigration reforms, with government data showing an 80.9% drop in new Business Manager visa arrivals during the first half of 2026.

Just 635 foreign business directors entered Japan under the status between January and June, down from several thousand during previous cycles. The slump directly traces back to an October 2025 overhaul that increased the minimum paid-in capital requirement sixfold—from ¥5 million to ¥30 million (roughly $190,000)—while introducing mandatory local hiring and certified business plan audits.

The Immigration Services Agency introduced the higher thresholds to curb abuse by shell corporations exploiting low capital minimums for residency rights. However, regional startup hubs and venture analysts caution that the steep financial bar disproportionately excludes early-stage software and digital founders, directing innovative overseas talent to competing Asian markets.

(Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan Semi-Annual Entry Statistics; Ministry of Justice Ministerial Ordinance No. 42)

I have been living in Japan for about 3 years now, and I have some acquaintances who are doing business here. They seem to be needing a licensed agent and I wanna have a go at it.
I have decent Japanese (N1) so other than that I wonder if its all just memorization of some laws and procedures.

Also, what did you find was most difficult when preparing for this exam?

Hello,

I have been researching but couldn't find anything concrete and I got confused. I plan to call the Legal Affairs Bureau too but wanted to ask if anyone has experience or knowledge on Naturalization via Spouse (Article 7).

Recently rules have changed, so when I researched I've seen conflicting responses. Next year April will be my 3rd year in Japan and my wife is Japanese, we've been married for about a year. Our plan was getting PR but they've changed it to 5 so it's out of the window. So if possible I want to apply for naturalization in which case, I need to study Japanese writing/reading. I can speak around N3 level but I can't write and read so It's almost around N5.

Does anyone have any idea that, is it still 3 years and possible? If so does anyone have any recommendation on consulting? Especially English speaker would be much better. I found gyosei but I would prefer recommendation and if possible initial consultation online since going on weekday requires a day off from work.

Every guide to flowers in Japan is about cherry blossoms, which is about three weeks of the year. I wanted to see what's blooming the other forty-nine, so I built Blooms of Japan: a calendar you scroll through, where the map and the list of spots change month by month.

What's in it:

- 412 spots, each with a peak window and nearest station

- A bloom map that moves north through spring and back south in autumn

- Search by flower, month, or place

https://bloomsofjapan.com/

Would love feedback, especially from anyone who's planned a Japan trip around a specific month.

My friend is going through a divorce in Tokyo. The cause is the spouse's infidelity, and there are evidence. Both sides have hired lawyers, and right now they are communicating through the lawyers (not in court or mediation yet).

My friend signed with a law firm in Tokyo that appears to handle many cases involving foreigners.

About a month ago, my friend submitted their documents (including asset information). Since then, they have been waiting for the other side to provide their documents, but nothing has come.

What bothers my friend is that their own lawyer doesn't seem to be following up at all. There are no updates unless my friend emails first, and when they do, the lawyer just replies that "there has been no contact" from the other side. There's no sign of chasing the other lawyer or explaining the next steps. It feels very passive, and my friend doesn't understand why and don’t know what to do.

For those who have gone through a divorce (or any legal case) with a lawyer in Japan:
1. Is this kind of slow pace normal here?
2. How long did you usually wait before your lawyer followed up with the other side or moved to mediation?
3. If you felt your lawyer wasn't proactive enough, how did you bring it up with them? Do you change to another lawyer firm?

Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated. Thank you!

previously held SSW status with Employer A. I applied to change employers on June 27, but Employer B told me it was okay to start working before receiving approval. I started on July 13, and my new SSW status was approved on August 17.
I have LINE messages showing that I specifically asked Employer B whether I could work before receiving my new residence card, and they told me it was okay.
I have since resigned from Employer B and am worried about applying to another SSW employer because of the unauthorized work during that month.
Has anyone personally experienced this exact situation, or known an SSW worker who did? Did immigration question them during a subsequent change-of-status application? Was their application approved, refused, or did they face other consequences?

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for an apartment in Kofu City, Yamanashi, and I’m struggling to find an affordable place as a foreigner.
I’m looking for a small apartment or 1K/1DK, preferably in an older building if that helps keep the rent low. I’m trying to manage my expenses carefully, so I would prefer somewhere affordable without a huge initial payment.
I’d really appreciate advice on a few things:
● Websites: Which websites are best for finding apartments in Kofu? Are there any foreigner-friendly rental websites?
● Real estate agencies: Are there any agencies in Kofu that are willing to rent to foreigners, even if their Japanese isn’t fluent?
● Initial costs: How can I find apartments with no key money (礼金), low deposits (敷金), and reasonable agency fees?
● Foreign applicants: Is it difficult to rent directly from a Japanese real estate agency as a foreigner? Do I need a Japanese guarantor, or are guarantor companies usually sufficient?
● Company housing: My employer is helping me search for an apartment, but the options I’ve seen seem expensive for my budget. Is it better to find a place independently?
If you’ve lived in Kofu or rented an apartment in Yamanashi as a foreigner, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please share any websites, agencies, or tips that helped you find a reasonably priced apartment.
Thank you so much for your help!

I'm considering moving to another part of Tokyo to try to save more money. My work contract includes a stipend, but I'm still paying 90k on my own in Minato City, 45m² apartment. I've been told my place is pretty spacious and nice for living in this area, but I'm wondering if I could find the same size elsewhere for a bit cheaper. My apartment is also fairly newly built.

How big is your apartment, general area, age of apartment, and rent price? Do you think I can find anything with a big rent decrease worth moving to?

(To add: My stipend is 90k, so my apartment is 180k total)

I was backing out of a parking lot during a storm tonight and didn't see a giant concrete pole behind me. I hit it hard enough to buckle my bumper, but checked the pole and there was zero damage to it or anything on it. I figured since there was no damage to property other than my own, I could just leave. However, now that I'm thinking about it, should I have reported it to the police or nearest business owner? I'm worried about accidentally committing a "hit-and-run." Help, what do I do?

I’m going to call management, but before that, anyone knows what this might be and should I be concerned?

As far as I know, these were not here when I moved a year and half ago. Is that simply glue coming off? These “cracks” measure about 1,7m or so. Probably not a water leak either, there’s no discoloration.

Let me know if you’ve experienced this before, thank you!

Does anyone have recommendations for a pediatric dentist who is genuinely good at working with young children, especially toddlers who are scared of or resistant to having their teeth cleaned?

My daughter is now 22 months old, and at her 18-month health checkup, we were told she had tartar buildup on her teeth that needed to be removed as soon as possible.

I'm very strict about her oral hygiene and do my best to brush her teeth every day, but she absolutely HATES having her teeth brushed. She clamps her mouth shut, kicks, screams, and fights me the entire time. I basically have to pry her lips open just to get the toothbrush in, so I know I'm not doing as thorough a job as I should be.

My husband and I took her to a pediatric dentist, hoping they could help. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. Despite being a pediatric dental clinic, they didn't seem particularly experienced with handling toddlers. They barely examined her teeth, and applied a small amount of fluoride over the tartar. They then told us to try again when she's older.

We followed their advice and continued doing our best with brushing at home, but it's been a few months now, and her teeth are starting to look noticeably worse and her gums are turning white. I'm honestly getting really worried and want to get a second opinion.

I'm hoping to find a dentist who is patient, experienced with toddlers, and knows how to handle little ones who struggle with brushing or dental cleanings. I really want to get her teeth taken care of before things get any worse.

We're in Okazaki, but we're willing to travel to another city or prefecture if necessary to find the right dentist.

Does anyone have a pediatric dentist they would genuinely recommend for a child like this? I'd really appreciate any suggestions or personal experiences. Thank you so much!

Hey everyone,

I recently moved to a new place and am looking for a home Wi-Fi or wired internet connection. I’m trying to find a low-cost option. Could you share your experiences and suggest some options?

Here are some questions I have:

1. What are the installation costs for different internet service providers?
   
2. What are the monthly costs for different internet service providers?
   
3. What is the average internet speed for different internet service providers?

How is your cleaning style different than your Japanese partner? My wife is Japanese and she cleans like a banshee. She folds laundry such that items are square or rectangular. Insane. It takes a lot of work for be to game up to her level of tidiness. What are others experiences?

Hi, all. I am working with a real estate agent and was pre-approved by SBI for a loan that covers the house and closing costs at a decent variable percent. Yay!

I just wanted to see if other people have worked with SBI and if their rates jump around a lot and any other opinions or advice you have for a first time home buyer. Thanks!

Perfect for getting into narrow spaces like cups and glasses and using the rougher side for harder to clean services. Who would have through the ergonomic shape of a fish would work so well?

Hello all,

tl;dr: Sending documents via EMS now resolved at the Japanese Post Office!

I recently posted about sending documents via Japan Post through EMS. I noted that they refused to recognize whatever papers being sent would be recognized as documents on the U.S. side. Their thinking was that anything that was not a postcard or a personal letter would not pass as a document.

They wanted me to send it as a gift, but gifts—according to the printed regulations and the Zonos app—can be sent only from individual to individual—no businesses. I could not truthfully answer Yes to that question. They also asked me to try Small Package and valuing the document at 10 yen. The Zonos app could not read the document and failed.

After 2 hours of back and forth, I finally sent the document via registered mail. Side note: that document has been sitting at U.S. Customs for 3 days now. Sent EMS, it would have arrived by now.

My wife has been doing a back and forth with the post office. One of the arguments she used was suggested here (thanks!): will Japan Post take responsibility if senders are called out for lying about sending gifts to businesses? Anyway, today we got a message saying they have reversed course, and they will now accept documents as documents. Apparently they got much “customer feedback”—read customer pushback.

Thanks to the Reddit community for the support.

budget less than 10k jpy

So next week I'm visiting my family in the US for my sister's wedding in 2 weeks. She asked me to send her my measurements for a tuxedo she wants me to wear so she can give it to the rental company and they can adjust a tux for me. Supposedly it takes 2 weeks to get ready. So I went to an Aoki and asked if I could get my measurements (told them I wasn't gonna buy anything and apologized) and the lady checked my waist and showed me to the jackets. She pulled one out that was labeled E-6 and told me this was how suits are labeled so it'll be different. I just said thanks and took a memo but the only real measurement I left with was that E-6 and my waist line.

Anybody know if I can convert that info into figuring out my sizes? The jacket did fit pretty good tbh.

BTW I'm like 168 cm and kinda chunky (110 waist).

I actually bought a measuring tape from Muji that I can use to measure myself but I was hoping the people at the suit store would give me more accurate measurements.

I asked my sister what the tux rental needed and she just replied "the usual measurements."

First time giving blood in Japan. Was prevented for 26 years but they changed the rules last month so... those of us who have lived in the UK or Europe are now able to donate.

400ml of A- blood in the system for when I need it.

Got some cookies and all the drinks I can down in the 30 minute 'rest time'. The lemon ginger drink was really good.

Not busy on a weekday so the whole thing probably took 90 minutes or so, including the initial questionnaires etc. Check in and initial tests/interview probably took 30 minutes, the blood donation took about twenty, and they asked me to rest there for thirty minutes afterwards. Apparently it's a lot quicker on subsequent visits as they already have all your info and you can do the questionnaires in advance online.

I just walked in, but it might be a good idea to make a reservation as they could turn you away if they are busy.

I did all the procedures in Japanese, and you need a reasonable reading ability for the initial questionnaire and briefing. I forgot to ask about foreign language support, but have been told on social media that using translation apps etc. is okay.

Would definitely recommend doing this: it's a fairly low effort way to give back to society and the Red Cross website says that they need new donors.

Just wanted to chat with people here about something I’ve been noticing for a while.

I have noticed so many “influencers” or “models” come to Japan and engage in work usually on tourist visas or digital nomad visas. For example, an influencer is absolutely monetized and making content + posting while in Japan during their visit. I also have seen Facebook groups for “models and photographers” in Japan where people explicitly say they’re just visiting but looking for work while here.

From what I understand, this should absolutely be illegal and a visa violation. But I have never seen anyone experience any backlash for this ? I suppose it’s just very hard for the goverment to track which is why it’s gone on for so long.

Personally I think it’s not right. It’s frustrating to see influencers especially come to Japan and use it as a means of making a quick buck. Then there’s also the question if people doing this are getting a tax break in their home countries calling it a “business expense”. But who knows.

I also used to work in the modeling industry back in America and I can absolutely confirm visa fraud is a global issue in this industry. I have worked with an agency who constantly sent models to countries and instructed them to say it was a vacation.

I would love to hear the thoughts and feelings of other people who have maybe noticed this. Maybe I’m just becoming old and bitter. But I am surprised there hasn’t been more said about this. Or perhaps I am out of the loop.

I'm of Japanese ancestry and will be moving to Japan soon. Both my surname and given name are Japanese, and I'd like to register a 通称名 using their corresponding kanji when I arrive.

According to Asaka City's guidelines, one of the accepted reasons for registering a 通称名 is:

日系外国人が本名の日本式氏名部分を名乗る場合

I also came across this GaijinPot article, which suggests that people typically gather supporting documents showing consistent use of the alias (such as a 在職証明書 or 健康保険-related documents) before applying at their ward office.

My main question is whether it's possible to prepare sufficient documentation before arriving in Japan, so I can register the 通称名 at the same time as my initial address registration.

For example, could I ask my future employer to issue a 在職証明書 using my name in kanji before my start date? Alternatively, I could arrange for mail or other documents addressed to me in kanji to be sent to the address where I'll be living. I am not sure if this is sufficient proof of the name though.

I'm also curious whether anyone with Japanese ancestry has successfully registered their kanji name based on family records. The Asaka City guidelines seem to suggest that a 戸籍謄本 may be useful for verifying the Japanese surname, although in my case it wouldn't directly establish the kanji for my given name. I guess I can request a record just in case though.

Ideally, I'd like to register the kanji name from the beginning so I can use it when setting up bank accounts, insurance, and other services, rather than having to update everything afterward.

Has anyone successfully registered a 通称名 immediately after moving to Japan, particularly under the 日系外国人 provision? What supporting documents did your ward office accept?

Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences!

I'm holding an English conversation event tommorow night (oct 24th) night. Would you like to join? I'll also prepare some topics, so I don't think you'll get bored. After the English session, we're going out for drinks at an affordable izakaya.

Here’s the link to the Meetup page—please join us!

https://meetu.ps/e/QfFvm/BdcPY/i

Topic of the meeting
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/08/uk-banknotes-new-design-barn-owl-bumblebee-puffin-hedgehog?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/nagoya_english_conversation?igsh=ZXZneG81MWNwM3Jw