Tokyo Networking Redefined at the Andaz

Tokyo Networking Redefined at the Andaz

On a cool autumn evening, more than sixty senior leaders gathered high above Toranomon Hills for a Tokyo networking experience unlike any other. There were no flashing cameras, no forced introductions, just meaningful conversation in the warm glow of the Andaz Tokyo’s Tavern bar.

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The Policy Disconnect: Japan’s Immigration Debate and Business Reality

The Policy Disconnect: Japan’s Immigration Debate and Business Reality

A recent political debate in Japan immigration policy has become a development of note for international business leaders and country managers. As highlighted in a recent Mainichi Shimbun interview with migration expert Naoko Hashimoto, all five candidates in the LDP's leadership race, including eventual winner Sanae Takaichi, called for stricter foreigner policies.

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Japan’s Political Shift: What Sanae Takaichi’s Leadership Means for Business

Japan’s Political Shift: What Sanae Takaichi’s Leadership Means for Business

The landscape of Japan politics is facing its most significant test in years. The upcoming Diet vote for a new prime minister follows the stunning collapse of a decades-old political coalition. At the center of this uncertainty is Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

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Japan Overhauls Business Manager Visa: What Foreign Entrepreneurs Need to Know

Japan Overhauls Business Manager Visa: What Foreign Entrepreneurs Need to Know

Japan is fundamentally reshaping its landscape for foreign entrepreneurs. In a landmark move, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has announced a sweeping overhaul of the Japan Business Manager visa (経営・管理), with the changes set to take effect on October 16, 2025.

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Komeito Exits Ruling Coalition: A New Era for Japanese Politics?

Komeito Exits Ruling Coalition: A New Era for Japanese Politics?

A significant development is altering the Japanese political landscape as the LDP Komeito coalition has officially ended. The junior partner, Komeito, announced its withdrawal from the ruling coalition on Friday, with its leadership citing concerns over corruption within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

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Sanae Takaichi's Victory: What Her Conservative Policies Mean for Business and Foreigners in Japan

Sanae Takaichi's Victory: What Her Conservative Policies Mean for Business and Foreigners in Japan

The rise of Sanae Takaichi to Japan's highest political office signals a significant shift, bringing a renewed focus on the conservative policies in Japan. This transition raises critical questions for the international business community and every foreigner residing in or planning a move to the country.

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Japan's Immigration Shift: A Guide for Foreign Business Leaders

Japan's Immigration Shift: A Guide for Foreign Business Leaders

A palpable sense of uncertainty is rippling through Japan’s foreign business community as significant shifts in Japan Immigration Policy come into view. Recent updates to the Business Manager Visa and new draft rules targeting Permanent Residency Japan status have sparked a critical debate.

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Can You Manufacture Luxury?

Can You Manufacture Luxury?

There are moments in business that crystallize a complex problem into a single question. For me, that moment arrived over a typically tasty lunch at The Oak Door in Tokyo, and the question was this: Can luxury be manufactured? More specifically, can you take a product born from science and imbue it with the “soul of“ luxury?

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A New Era for Business in Japan: Navigating the 2025 Visa Changes

A New Era for Business in Japan: Navigating the 2025 Visa Changes

Successfully launching a business in Japan is a goal for many global entrepreneurs, representing a gateway to one of the world's most advanced economies. However, this venture now requires a far more strategic approach to Japanese market entry and a significantly larger capital investment due to major policy shifts.

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The Shifting Sands of Entrepreneurship in Japan: Navigating New Realities

The Shifting Sands of Entrepreneurship in Japan: Navigating New Realities

The landscape for foreign entrepreneurs in Japan is undergoing a significant transformation. Recent changes to the Japan Visa Rules, particularly concerning the Business Manager visa, are creating new biz challenges and forcing a re-evaluation of strategies for both aspiring and established foreign business owners.

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