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

Budhathoki Samjhana, a Nepalese national who built a successful restaurant business in Tokyo, faces the prospect of leaving Japan due to the government's tightening of visa regulations for business managers. Despite Japan's labor shortages and aging population, immigration opposition is growing, leading to stricter rules introduced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in late 2025.

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I always wanted to become a bridge between Japan and Nepal... but my dream is broken.

Samjhana, who spent a decade apart from her daughter to establish a new life in Tokyo, fears she may not meet the new visa specifications. "I always wanted to become a bridge between Japan and Nepal... but my dream is broken," the 38-year-old told AFP. Her restaurant is located in Tokyo's Okubo district, an area known for its diverse international eateries.

The new rules impose a significant increase in the capital requirement, raising it to 30 million yen (approximately $238,890) from the previous 5 million yen ($39,815). "It's impossible," Samjhana stated, expressing concern about her ability to comply. While business manager visa holders have a three-year grace period, many business owners, particularly in popular areas like Okubo, worry about meeting these new conditions.

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The biggest problem is the increase in capital requirement to 30 million yen (S$238,890) from 5 million ($39,815).

Samjhana came to Japan as a student in 2016 and worked for years to open her first restaurant in 2023. After opening her third eatery in January, she brought her 14-year-old daughter from Nepal, who is now attending a Japanese school. "Now, I'm very worried not about myself but about my daughter... What did I do to her?" she questioned, her heart pounding at the thought of the next visa renewal.

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Now, I'm very worried not about myself but about my daughter... What did I do to her?

Indian restaurant owner Manish Kumar, a resident of Japan for three decades, has also been informed his business manager visa will not be renewed, despite the grace period. Visa experts suggest immigration officials are becoming more stringent, demanding extensive documentation. Kumar tearfully explained at a June gathering about the visa issue, "My children only speak Japanese... and we're told to go back to India." A petition opposing the new rules has garnered over 67,800 signatures.

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My children only speak Japanese... and we're told to go back to India.