Japan eyes startup visa program
Japan's immigration system seems heavily set up to encourage young people to come, work and then leave.<p>This startup visa is good for getting a toe-hold on Japan but only targets people out of country.  If you live in Japan already (so you might already speak the language and have helpful local knowledge) there aren't any great paths to starting a business without permanent residency. You can't start a side business on a regular work visa. If you change your visa to manage the business and the startup failed you are likely to be "directed to return to your home country", losing all the residence time you have accrued so far.<p>I've been working as an engineer in Japanese startups for the past few years and I'm kept on 1 year visa renewals.  On a one year visa you can never apply for permanent residency.<p>And on top of this, there is the 5 year "technical trainee" visa, which is a means of getting manual labor in the country temporarily without having to publicize it.  All the people on this visa do not have university degrees so after their 5 years are up they must return home and have no chance of residence in Japan (outside of marriage).<p>Of course, Japan is free to set its own laws.  If you look at them the message is clear: "Japan wants your work and taxes, but it doesn't want you"