An Indian restaurant owner in Japan has become the face of growing concerns among foreign entrepreneurs after authorities reportedly rejected his business manager visa renewal under the country’s stricter immigration rules.
Manish Kumar, who has lived in Japan for nearly 30 years and operated a restaurant in Saitama Prefecture for 18 years, said he was devastated after Japan’s Immigration Services Agency denied his visa extension request.
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Speaking during a protest rally in Tokyo, Kumar broke down emotionally while describing the uncertainty facing his family.
“Two weeks ago, ISA told me to go back to my own country. My children were born and raised in Japan, they only understand Japanese, their only friends are Japanese but we are being told to go back to India,” he said.
Kumar’s case has sparked wider debate after Japan introduced major changes to its business manager visa system in October 2025. According to reports, applications for the visa category have dropped by nearly 96 per cent since the new rules came into effect, with monthly applications reportedly falling from around 1,700 to just 70.
Japanese authorities have defended the stricter regulations, saying the changes were necessary to prevent misuse of the visa route by individuals seeking long-term residency without operating legitimate businesses.
However, critics argue that genuine small business owners are being unfairly targeted by the crackdown.
Among the biggest changes is the sharp increase in the minimum capital requirement. Earlier, applicants needed to invest around 5 million yen, but the revised rules raised the requirement to 30 million yen, equivalent to nearly Rs 2 crore.
Authorities have also made it mandatory for applicants to employ at least one full-time local worker. In addition, foreign entrepreneurs must now demonstrate Japanese language ability, management experience and provide professionally certified business plans.
Reports also suggest immigration authorities have intensified checks on tax records, office legitimacy and business operations, while home offices are reportedly no longer accepted.
Many foreign business owners fear the tougher rules could force long-running small enterprises to shut down despite years of contribution to local communities and the economy.
