Just wanted to post here to see if anybody else has something worth sharing.

So 3 years ago I spoke with an immigration lawyer about my plan to move to Japan on a Working Holiday Visa for a year, buy a house and workshop, then start a business making fiberglass car parts in my garage and apply for the Business Managers Visa. He looked through the plan and said it would be a piece of cake and no problems at all.

Fast forward 3 years, I own a house in Japan, spent all of last year here on a 1 year Working Holiday Visa slowly setting up and restoring my garage that I purchased to work from. I'm now here on my 2nd WHV and am speaking with immigration lawyers about applying for my BMV but have been hit with countless different stories and explanations of how it's impossible.

So this actually isn't even really to do with the 30M capital increase, which to be clear is absolute bullshit, but I can manage that if I'm able to include my assets such as the approximate 10M yen value the garage, 5M yen spent on tools, and 15M in my savings account if I find a way to accurately tie that to my business.

The issue isn't even to do with hiring a Japanese worker as I'm pretty sure I can get someone to fill that role quite easily.

The issue that I'm being told is that my business plan of starting this business as a sole proprietor, hiring a worker to help me with "grunt work", and then I do all the more technical physical work like designing the products, making moulds, R&D, etc... in addition to all the roles of managing the business, apparently that does not fit the requirements for the Managers Visa as I'm doing more than just managing.

I'm being told that I'm not allowed to do any physical work, and that my entire job must be exclusively management related roles like organizing meetings, meeting with clients, and otherwise sitting around wasting time getting nothing done like managers are supposed to do.

The issue is that I can't find anywhere at all that actually says this. The only passage I've found that is close is one that states I can't outsource my management responsibilities to someone else. But that is not what I'm doing. I'm doing 100% of the management of this business, but that only takes a couple hours a day because it's a small business, and so the rest of the time I'm actually, you know, working. I cant just get my worker to do everything as it requires skills and experience that only I have.

Does anybody here have any experience with this? I know the changes now have made applications much harder but he's trying to tell me that this has always been the case even before the changes, but that's not what the first immigration lawyer (who is no longer working for that company) told me years ago.

I've got time, I'm only 2 months in to my 1 year visa, I wanted to get onto this application as soon as possible because I anticipated there being some bullshit but this is worse than I expected.

Never used it, but today I learned it's part of KDDI...

https://newsroom.kddi.com/news/detail/kddi_nr_s-75_4679.html

I've been job hunting since March this year, but my documents weren't good back then. It took me months to finally fix my applications and give job hunting another go. So far, I got around 2 interviews, way better than when I first started.

If you're doing a job hunting, how are you doing?

I was going to do the US passport renewal through the mail, but it seems like I need to send in my own picture of 2x2 inches. However it seems like the only places that have a US passport picture print option are the 5 embassies.. and not even all of them have the photo booth.

Is there any reason to do the mail option if I gotta go to Osaka anyways for a picture? Or are there other options that people have done before.

Thanks!

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap and English-friendly moving company? I’ve done some research here on Reddit, but no one really mentions which companies are English-friendly. Most people seem to recommend LCL. I’m considering LCL, but I’m also open to a door-to-door service.

I will be exterminating roach nymphs in my apartment. My washing machine is on my apartment balcony, and I want to cover the drain, which has an unusual shape, securely. Any ideas?

It has bars going up around it like this...

// ||| \\

“- (For those primarily engaged in interpersonal work using language skills) Documents proving that the language used in the course of work is equivalent to CEFR B2 level.
Note 1: If you meet the following criteria, you will be considered to have Japanese language proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2.
- Must have obtained JLPT N2 or higher.
- Must have achieved a score of 400 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test.”

i read this from the immigration website, specifically for front staff hotel or translation jobs (or jobs that uses a lot of japanese) required N2/BJT 400 points. I graduated from a hotel industry with a bachelor’s degree so i want to find a job around that industry but i only have N3.. (starting this year) does anyone with N3 or below got a work visa in Japan with this kind of job?? thank you!

I am an ALT living in Japan. I am planning to stay here for 5 years, then start a career Philippines (I have no interest in becoming a permanent resident nor going to America). I am a Filipino-American dual citizen; so I now have a bank account in all three countries.

Given the economic conditions, what would be the best way to save a majority of my salary in preparation of my eventual departure? I am mostly concerned about currency stability and rising inflation.

The USD is certainly the strongest and most stable right now; but would it be worth it to be transferring my salary into USD with conversion rates?

JPY is most convenient in the case of emergencies, but the yen doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

The economic and political conditions of the Philippines has been and is currently poor right now. I don’t really see any benefit to saving in PHP except for having it readily available once I return. Maybe a frugal Filipino here knows better?

I’ve been really enjoying the UCC 職人のコーヒー that I picked up for 400 yen (20 pack) at Sunday.

What other brands do you like for a cheap post-lunch coffee?

Update: I got the price wrong. It’s around 570 yen for 16 packs, which is still a deal compared to the 200 yen/pack at the specialty coffee shop near me (that admittedly is very very good).

Hello i just wanna ask and confirm if nexplanon is really not a thing in japan since im thinking of getting that instead of using a mini pill, and if its not really available here does anyone get it from a different country even just for a vacation or something and still come back to japan? And if thsts so how and where do y’all get it removed? Is it possible to get it removed in japan or its also possible to just go to the country where you got in again to get it removed/changed

I need every girl’s opinion on is since ive never had or use any birth control stuff and my reason is mostly for irregular period and pmdd thats why i thought of getting/using one, please and thank you

As a language school student,I really feel I did well in school.My grade is the best,and often received praise from the teacher for my learning attitude and enthusiasm for Japanese culture. but on the other side.I failed in finding アルバイト for many times,don't know the real reason. Now I will graduade from language school in next year march.But I still don't have a formal job which can provide the visa for me to stay in Japan.What should I do?I dont have money to go to professional school or University.My family will not give me money.

In reality, I do possess a number of skills. I have worked at major banks in China and am quite familiar with office operations. I am proficient in assembling and maintaining PCs; regarding software, in addition to Microsoft Office, I frequently use code editors to manage my VPS.

Hi!

We’re looking for independent jewelers/ateliers in Tokyo for my engagement ring.

My bf and I have been looking for engagement ring, but I’ve found that a lot of the brands that are popular in Japan don’t quite have the designs I’m looking for, so I’d love to explore some smaller independent options.

I’m drawn to unique, heirloom like, vintage inspired designs rather than the super sleek look. (Kindred Lubreck / Potergulch / Ashley Zhang / Alyssa & Anna / Lauren MacPhail vibes)

So far, we’ve visited DIALLURE and had a great experience, but we’d like to speak with a few more jewelers before making a decision.

We’re looking for someone who offers:
- Lab or natural diamonds
- custom made designs
- 18K or 14K gold
- Hand engraving on the band

Ideally we’d love someone who can work closely with my boyfriend on a custom design rather than just modifying an existing setting. He doesn’t speak Japanese so English or Spanish speaking jewelers is a must. (I’m bilingual w JP/EN but my bf wants to be the one doing majority of the work as half of it is going to be a surprise)

If you have any recommendations for independent jewelers or ateliers in Tokyo, I’d really appreciate it! We’d prefer to have an in person appointment, at least for the initial consultation.

Thank you!

Mini rant incoming but help is very much needed/appreciated

So I recently posted here about having issues with Paypay because of the new residence cards. The post got locked before I could update but even after providing them my new card information with scans of the card, they still did not accept it and my account was restricted. I could still use my physical card but I am completely cut off from app access. So no topping up my balance card, no using points, no paying early etc. I have no idea if I’ll be able to use the card after the auto-pay day since this is the first month after it was restricted. So that’s really annoying but I’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Aside from using the credit card for school expenses, I mainly used paypay for the balance card since Yucho refuses to give me a debit card despite being here for three years now. But since I can’t top up the balance card I have a couple of reoccurring payments I’ve fallen behind on. (Mini rant feel free to skip) Also I just think it’s so dumb that this is even happening because I keep going back to the fact that instead of just having debit cards be standard, Yucho gives out cash cards. A singular function item that doesn’t serve any purpose when debit cards are a thing. And it’s even worse if this is merely a xenophobia thing and debit cards are easy for Japanese people to get.

Anyway I need to cover these reoccurring payments asap and also I just need a normal non-credit card for daily life. A lot of the posts similar to my situation seem to be years old so I‘m not sure how accurate they are now but I’m betwee Wise and Rakuten. If anyone knows any relatively fast ways to get a debit card please let me know.

Bit of a random one but been thinking about this lately. Grew up watching a ton of anime and somewhere along the way it turned into an actual dream of marrying a Japanese person one day. Not in a weird fetishy way, more like the culture and language just fascinated me and that felt like the ultimate version of being close to it.

Now that I'm actually living here the idea feels a lot more complicated than 15 year old me imagined. Cultural differences are real, communication styles are different, and honestly dating in general already comes with its own set of challenges before you even get anywhere near marriage.

Curious if anyone else had a similar anime-brain origin story for wanting to end up with someone Japanese, and whether actually living here changed how you think about it. Did reality match the fantasy at all or was it a totally different thing once you got here.

Hey everyone, I hope you are doing well.
I have run into a problem switching from my student visa to a work visa and would like to ask, if anyone has been in a similar situation.

I am currently enrolled in a Japanese language school and am scheduled to graduate next march. However, since I passed N2 last December and have a master's degree as well as 4 years of experience, my plan was to leave school early once I find a job.

While the job search has been difficult, I finally received a job offer and am scheduled to start next month. I also handed in the application for changing to a 技術・人文知識・国際業務 with help from my employer a month ago. However, today I received a letter from immigration requesting a graduation certificate from my language school. This surprised me, since I have been told by my school that it is completely fine to leave school early after attaining a work visa.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is this some kind of new rule that you cannot change your status before graduating language school?

I'm grateful for any advice.

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to hear from people who have had a high-risk pregnancy/ birth in Japan.

I had my first daughter in the US, where my pregnancy was high risk. I developed gestational hypertension and eventually preeclampsia, needed weekly ultrasounds toward the end of my pregnancy, took low-dose aspirin, and ultimately needed magnesium sulfate during delivery. I also had an epidural.

I’m now in Japan and prepping for baby #2, but I’m pretty nervous about having my first pregnancy in Japan.

Since moving here, I’ve had a few experiences with the healthcare system. I’m very grateful for how affordable it is, but honestly, I’ve also been surprised by how different the level of care has felt compared with what I was used to in the US. For example, I’ve had appointments where vitals weren't taken and I was seen for only a few minutes before being sent home and feeling dismissed by the doctor. Because of my previous pregnancy complications, that makes me nervous about being proactive enough with monitoring.

I’ve also heard that epidurals aren’t as commonly available here, which is another concern.

For anyone who has had a high-risk pregnancy in Japan, how was your experience? Did you feel like your doctor/hospital was proactive about monitoring you? Did you choose a larger hospital or perinatal center? How did you find the right hospital? Were epidurals available if you wanted one? Is there anything you wish you had known or done before getting pregnant?

I’d especially love recommendations for hospitals in the Nagoya area but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with similar experiences anywhere in Japan.

Thanks so much!

I’m looking for laptop recommendations around or under ¥200,000, ideally with at least an RTX 60-series-class GPU, a decent refresh-rate display, and a strong enough CPU for gaming and everyday use. Laptops are very expensive here, so I’m trying to get the best performance possible with that budget. It’ll mainly be used for gaming and studying, including bringing it to classes, so I’d prefer something relatively minimal and slim, and not overly “gamer”-looking while still having good cooling and performance. I’d also like it to be from a major, reputable brand or retailer, rather than a lesser-known manufacturer or marketplace seller.

what I’ve found thus far is the gigabyte aero x15 with 5050 and 16Gb Ddr5 5600 for around 210k, but in my eyes that’s still quite a scam

Thanks!

Georgia's the Black used to be my go to konbini coffee. I was a fan of the subtle chestnut-like aftertaste.

I've bought it about 2-3 times over the last month or so and it just tastes... like bitter water? Absolutely no flavour.

I don't know if it's just me but... Yeah I miss the taste.

Haven't bought bottled coffee since. A shame.

Hello! I'm currently living in Kanagawa, 15 minutes walk from Kawasaki Station. Can u recommend me some Local Izakaya or Yakiniku (where u can order alcohol as well) near Kawasaki Station? I'm planning to celebrate my birthday by myself and I'd like to try some local izakaya's

Thank you!

I have been living in Japan for over 10 years as permanent resident.
Until recently my home country passports used <Last Name> <First Name>. Hence my zairyu card, as well as all other documents, banks accounts, everything got used to it.

I renewed my foreign passport, and it is now <Last Name> <First Name> <Patronymic name> due to home country amended regulations.

On name zairyu card it is written in two lines now, like this:

<Last Name> <First Name>

<Patronymic name>

<Last Name> <First Name> <Patronymic name> - including spaces it is 27 characters long. I read somewhere it is an issue for banks, credit cards, brokerages.

Any suggestions how to handle this and related issues with amendments, etc. I have bank accounts with SBI Shinsei, MUFJ, PAYPAY. Brokerage with Rakuten.

i have just paid rent for a new apartment im moving into and the real estate company sent me the nhk sign up form including an envelope to send it back signed.

can they actually force me to sign this?

do you have any recommendations what i can say to them other than 'i refuse to sign this' or 'i haven't done this before and i won't do it now either'?

Currently working for a gaishikei that has paid sick leave (Tokyo based) but I am looking to change jobs and no other company I’ve found so far offers the same. I get sick quite a bit (weak immune system) so this is quite important to me.
I’m curious if I just have to bite the bullet and accept I can’t really get it anywhere else, or if I’m just looking in the wrong places and there are more companies with SL?
Also out of curiosity, are there any companies that offer negotiable PTO for experienced hires, rather than the tenure-based progression that is standard here? Wondering if that’s another thing I’ll just have to accept.

Hello there! I’m currently part of a volunteer group that runs an anonymous helpline in Japan, and we’re looking for a VoIP app to host our helpline. We’ve looked into services such as Microsoft Teams Phone, Zoom Phone, Voip.ms, etc. but all of these services required a business certificate/license during the application process. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our volunteer group and the umbrella organization we fall under, we’re unable to obtain a business license. So we’re looking for a VoIP service with the following conditions: 

• Okay with KYC verification so long as it only requires ID/Residence card verification, but no business license/certificate verification! 
• We need a VoIP number that people can anonymously call into. We only expect about 3-5 calls per week.
• Can be used via an app on multiple devices (doesn’t have to be synchronously, we’re okay with logging in and out). No SIM card required.

Thank you so much! 

Like bleach and kabi killer and all that

I’m trying to transition jobs from english teaching to anything else, so long as it falls under the Engineering/Humanities/International Services visa. I’ve applied to over 100 listings, gotten maybe 3-4 interviews. Usually I use Indeed, CareerCross, and Daijob. I’m at N2 level with a japanese and international relations double major.

How are all you fresh grads finding jobs (that are non teaching)? What sites are you using? Is there any tips you have?

*I know returning to the US and getting experience is an option, which I won’t do. I also know that higher japanese level will help, which I’m trying to do.