Useful Columns

 　Audio Description The Arrival of the Black Ships Teaches Us the Chance of "Change" The arrival of the "Black Ships" in Japan in 1853, a fleet of four ships including two steamships led by American Commodore Matthew Perry, had a great impact on Japan at that time. The black smoke-spewing steamships were seen as an unknown threat to...

 Audio Commentary: Treating "Japanese Customers" for Specified Skills Foreigners Introduction: Understanding Japanese Service Culture and Omotenashi 1. from Mentalism to "Behavioral Techniques" Japanese service (Omotenashi) is not just about being kind, but also about anticipating customer expectations, and then...

Voice Commentary For Japan's restaurant industry, specially skilled foreign human resources are a "hopeful star" to solve the serious labor shortage. However, many restaurant operators are facing a "more difficult obstacle than imagined. It is not just a matter of skill or Japanese language ability. Japanese customers seek...

To all companies that support the acceptance of specified skilled foreign nationals. There have been cases of some foreign managers changing the workdays and holidays of their Specified Skilled Foreigners without permission, ignoring the stipulations of the written employment conditions. We are constantly alerted to such behavior. This is in accordance with the Japanese Labor Standards Law...

For foreign nationals whose period of stay (visa expiration date) is approaching during the New Year's holiday period or soon after the New Year, this page explains the cautions for rushing requests for "application for permission for extension of period of stay" and the importance of deadline management by administrative scriveners. ⏱️Risks of applying just before the deadline Application for extension of period of stay...

We will explain the background behind the increase in requests at the end of the year for "family stay" visas (application for issuance of a certificate of eligibility) for foreign nationals living in Japan on work visas, etc., to invite their spouses and children abroad, and what special attention should be paid to this issue. 🚨The barrier at the end of the year and the beginning of the New Year! Time limit for collecting documents "Family Residency...

We explain why international students graduating from Japanese universities and vocational schools should hurry to apply at the end of the year (December to January) to change their visa status from "College Student" to "Technical/Humanities/International Services" or other work visa to ensure their employment starting in April. 🗓️The schedule at the end of the year and at the beginning of the year will determine the fate of...

The Chairman's Statement of the Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers Associations, "The Efforts of the Japan Federation of Gyoseishoshi Lawyers Associations in connection with the Revision of Permission Criteria for Status of Residence 'Management and Administration'" published on December 4, was not published on the 4th and 5th consecutive days in the newsletter of the Kyoto Gyoseishoshi Lawyers Association, which is sent out at 7 pm....

The Chairman's Discourse of the Japan Federation of Administrative Scrivener's Associations (hereinafter referred to as "the Federation"), released on December 4, 2025, is an important document that redefines the role of administrative scrivener against the background of the revised criteria for the permission of "Management and Administration" status of residence (effective October 16, 2025). Overview of the Chairman's Discourse The core of the discourse is the revised criteria (capital and...

Project Proposal: Preserving Kyoto's Heritage through OJT The greatest feature of this project proposal is inviting young adults from North America (in their 20s and 30s with an interest in architecture and culture) to Kyoto to acquire a... The greatest feature of this project proposal is inviting young adults from North America (in their 20s and 30s with an interest in architecture and culture) to Kyoto to acquire a...

In recent years, an increasing number of companies are hiring foreign nationals as regular or contract employees. However, when hiring foreign employees, it is important not to forget about "visa (status of residence) renewal. If the employee does not renew his/her status of residence before it expires, he/she will be in Japan illegally, and the company will be...

Audio Commentary Dear Registered Support Organization, Under the revised Gyoseishoshi Law that will take effect on January 1, 2026, it will be clearly illegal to prepare documents for application for status of residence for specified skills for remuneration, no matter what the name of the act may be. ⚠️ Risk: If the cost of document preparation is included in the support outsourcing fee, etc., the illegal act...

The revised Administrative Scrivener Law will come into effect on January 1, 2026 (January 1, 2026). 1. point of revision: Requests to unqualified persons will be "not permitted under any name! Gyoseishoshi Scriveners are required to submit documents to government offices (e.g., applications for permission to open a restaurant, applications for status of residence for foreign residents, inheritance-related...

As of November 2025, the Immigration Bureau is in the midst of a full-scale transition to IC cards for residence cards, and it has finally become clear that the transition will be complete by the end of 2026. The plastic card will be replaced by a new residence card with an IC chip equivalent to a My Number card. ...

1. can i work even if my "period of stay" is still valid? Many foreign students and employers mistakenly believe that they can work until the expiration date of their residence card. The fact is: From the day you graduate from school (or are expelled from school), the "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence" associated with the "College Student" visa takes effect...

In the midst of a labor shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population, foreign students are a valuable asset to the workforce. However, when hiring them, it is necessary to properly understand the rules specific to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act), which are not applicable to Japanese part-time workers. In particular, the "28-hour-per-week limit" is lenient...

Important: Effective October 16, 2025, the requirements for the "Management and Administration" visa have been significantly tightened. The conventional wisdom of "investment of 5 million yen" or "one-person start-up" no longer applies. October 16, 2025 will be a historic turning point for foreigners who wish to start a business in Japan...

⏳ 1. Introduction: Why is my visa application so slow? Many people spend anxious days wondering when they will be granted a visa (status of residence) after applying for one. The examination period at the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau) is usually from one to three months, but some applicants may wait as long as six months...

Some of you who are currently working under the "Specified Technical Skills 1" status may be considering changing your status of residence to "Technical/Humanities/International Services" ("Gijinkoku") in the future. In this issue, we will discuss the change of status of residence from Tokutei Gijutsu 1 to Gijinkoku...

In order for a foreigner to work in Japan, he/she must obtain a "status of residence" (work visa). However, not just anyone can be granted a work visa, and academic background, work experience, and expertise are important points for examination. In this context, companies and applicants are often asked questions such as, "Do you speak Japanese...?