Manish Kumar, an Indian-origin restaurateur who has been living in Japan for the past 30 years, would have never imagined that he would be forced to shut down his restaurant. He is the owner of an Indian restaurant in Saitama Prefecture and said Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) denied his visa renewal under stricter rules introduced last year. He broke down in tears in the Japanese Parliament while sharing his story and has now gone viral on social media.
Kumar shared that due to stricter immigration rules, the authorities in Japan have denied his business visa renewal and forced him to shut down the restaurant that he had operated for the past 18 years. Devastated by the decision, he is staring at an uncertain future and feared being forced to leave the country with his children.
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'Go back to India'
In an emotional speech given on May 13, Manish Kumar said, "My children only speak Japanese...and we’re told to go back to India,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.
Speaking in Japanese, Kumar added, “My children were born here and are now in high school; they can only speak Japanese and have only Japanese friends. I worked hard and even bought a house. To tell me unilaterally to go back to India - how is that humane?”
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He further spoke about the years he spent establishing himself in the country with the support of local communities, customers and fellow chefs. “I’ve worked hard to get this far thanks to the support” from fellow chefs and customers, he said, adding, “I’ve done nothing wrong. It’s cruel to tell people to return to their home country just because the rules have suddenly changed. What am I supposed to do?"
According to reports, Kumar had continued renewing his visa over the years instead of applying for permanent residency or Japanese citizenship, and allegedly did not meet the revised immigration requirements.
Japan's new immigration rules
In late 2025, Japan revised its business manager visa rules and it raised the minimum capital requirement for applicants from 5 million to 30 million (around $190,000). The authorities said the changes were introduced amid concerns that the visa system was being misused for migration purposes and following investigations that reportedly discovered shell companies operating under the programme.
According to a KPMG report, applicants or at least one full-time employee in the business, are now expected to demonstrate Japanese language proficiency, typically around the JLPT N2 level. According to The Japan Times, authorities said the stricter norms were introduced to prevent people from allegedly using the visa route to secure long-term residency without running genuine businesses. But critics argue that the crackdown is also affecting legitimate small business owners who have spent years building businesses in Japan.
What Changed In Japan’s Business Manager Visa Rules?
According to The Japan Times, Japan has significantly tightened eligibility norms for foreign entrepreneurs applying for the Business Manager Visa.
The minimum investment requirement has reportedly increased sixfold — from 5 million Yen (around ₹30 lakh) to 30 million Yen (nearly ₹2 crore) — making it significantly harder for small businesses to qualify.
Applicants are now required to hire at least one full-time local employee. Earlier, this was optional if the applicant met the investment requirement.
Applicants or a full-time employee are now expected to show Japanese language proficiency, generally around JLPT N2 level.
Foreign applicants must also provide proof of management experience or relevant business qualifications under the revised rules.
Authorities have also tightened checks around business plans, tax filings and office legitimacy. Reports suggest that home offices are no longer being accepted, and business plans now require professional certification.
