As you may have heard, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan updated the regulations for the "Business Manager" (Keiei-Kanri) visa. The minimum capital or total invested business asset requirement has been raised to **30 million JPY**.

But first, please take a deep breath. There is no need to panic!

The government has provided a **3-year transitional period (until October 2028)** for entrepreneurs who already hold this visa. This means you do not need to change your business overnight. You have plenty of time to adapt and strengthen your business structure step by step.

Why Did the Law Change?

The goal of this amendment is to ensure that foreign-owned businesses in Japan are highly sustainable and legally compliant. Along with the capital update, the rules now look closer at continuous profitability, specialized business plans, and certain Japanese language capabilities (N2 level) for the team.

Smart Strategies & Solutions for Restaurant Owners

If preparing a massive capital sounds difficult right now, you have excellent alternative paths to maintain your business and visa status in Tokyo:

• Switch to the Food Truck Model: Building a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant burns through cash quickly due to sky-high rents. By running a low-cost, high-yield food truck business, you can maximize your profits faster to build up your business assets naturally.
• Focus on Professional Business Plans: Under the new rules, your financial forecasts must be verified by licensed professionals (like tax accountants or business consultants). A data-backed plan is your best shield.
• Consider Visa Alternatives: If expanding the business scale to 30 million JPY is not realistic for your style, you can smoothly explore transitioning to other stable statuses, such as the "Specified Skilled Worker" (Tokutei Ginou) visa for the food service industry.