'My dream is broken': Japan visa rules push out foreign residents

Key Points:

• Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party introduced stricter business manager visa rules in late 2025, increasing capital requirements from 5 million yen to 30 million yen, amid growing opposition to immigration despite labor shortages and an aging population.
• Nepalese entrepreneur Budhathoki, who reunited with her daughter after a decade, faces possible expulsion due to the new visa conditions, highlighting the challenges small business owners face under the tightened regulations.
• The government has also raised visa fees for tourists fivefold and tripled the departure tax to address overtourism and rising land prices, reflecting broader efforts to regulate foreign nationals amid public concerns.
• Critics argue the new rules unfairly impact genuine entrepreneurs and small business owners, while officials emphasize the need to prevent visa misuse and maintain "zero illegal foreign residents."
• The tightening follows political pressure from anti-immigration groups like the Sanseito party, despite Japan's demographic challenges that could benefit from increased immigration to counter population decline.