The YCAPS Pub Talk event, “Japan's Residency Rules: What Has Really Changed and How Do They Compare With Other Places?”, was held on September 28, 2026, at What the Dickens! in Ebisu, Tokyo. The event was presented by the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) and multiple relevant experts. The moderator was John Bradford, Founder of YCAPS, and the event featured Mr. Yuta KATO, Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist, IMS Legal Professional Corporation; Max Xavier REHM, Postdoctoral Assistant at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University; and Ben TANAKA, Founder of RetireJapan.
The discussion focused on the recent changes in policies regarding acquiring permanent residency (PR) and other shifting Visa concerns. The event began with Dr. Bradford drawing attention to the immigration guidelines taking effect in October and followed by exploring the growing uncertainty resulting from the changes, including income requirements, increased application fees, and length of current visa needed to apply for PR.
The speakers spread out the conversation by trying to identify the most significant changes. Mr. Kato explicitly framed the insecurity raised by the uncertainty in the guidelines. While the requirement for an annual income above the national average seems set in stone, the government has not yet released clear numbers nor does it seem likely that they will. Additionally, the elevated application fee and continued difficulty in acquiring a 5-year visa has created obvious hardships for many residents. Mr. Kato suggested the prospective residents to patiently wait for clearer guidelines expected in April, 2027.
Comparing Japan with other countries’ immigration policies, Dr. Rehm indicated that Japan has a relatively liberal environment; while the Liberal Democratic Party can be conservative, private industry and economic organizations such as Keidanren are opening doors to workers with lower skills. Nevertheless, Japan is indeed heightening its overall barriers, decreasing chances for long-term settlement. Also, Dr. Rehm highlighted the temporal asymmetry between politicians' decision-making and the bureau's adaptation; the visa officers might not be able to adjust their working mode to the policies in time, making the process more discretionary.
Mr. Tanaka offered insight about the current situation and advice for people who are still considering long-term settlement in Japan. PR or citizenship are hard requirements for those who wish to retire in Japan. Nevertheless, due to the new guideline, and the government’s intention to revoke PR from those who violated certain rules, the situation is becoming opaque, and lower-paid jobs will not secure a stable status. Mr. Tanaka also mentions a quarter of his clients are considering leaving Japan.
In the Q&A session, members of the audience raised questions about Japan’s comparatively low salaries, potential outcomes of small business owners' desperation, Japanese-language requirements, and whether Japan will remain internationally competitive in attracting foreign workers. The discussion highlighted the distinction between Japan’s rising demand for foreign labour and its attractiveness for long-term settlement. While Japan’s culture and international soft power remain significant attractions; salaries, career security, and family considerations may increasingly influence where internationally mobile workers choose to build their futures. In addition, the "petty" mistakes leading to rejection should also be noted.
The event concluded with an optimistic prospect for the future. Despite the hardships, all speakers genuinely consider Japan a wonderful place of residence. Just keep focusing on everyday matters, and people will eventually navigate through the hardships and worries in the present. An informal networking followed afterwards until the end.
The Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies would thank all of our speakers and our audience for participating in the insightful discussion. We would also like to give special thanks to the event’s patron Oliver Ben Karp, without which, tonight's event could not have happened.