Cases in which permission for permanent residence was granted/denied based on applicants’ contributions to Japan (January 1, 2016)

As per the "Third Proposal for Special Deregulation Zones," it was decided that "successful cases in which those who had been a resident of Japan for more than five years and had made contributions to the country should be presented in order to clarify the requirements to obtain permission for permanent residence in 2004." The "Third Report of the Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform" (December 22, 2003) also stipulated that cases which were unsuccessful should also be published, in addition to moving forward with the other proposed measures. The "Three-Year Plan for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform and the Promotion of Opening-Up of Public Services to the Private Sector" (March 25, 2005) similarly called for the addition and expansion of cases which were approved or denied so as to improve the predictability of the requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency. The following is a selection of applications for permission for permanent residence (taken from 1998 onwards) which were either approved or denied based on the applicants' contributions to Japan. Sample cases will be updated as necessary.

• Cases in which permission for permanent residence was granted

Case 1
　Working as a science and technology researcher, they published their findings in multiple academic journals, thus contributing to advancements in the field of science and technology in Japan. (Resided 9 years and 5 months.)

Case 2
　An amateur athlete residing in Japan who was recognized for their contributions through their participation in the World Cup and as a mentor in the sport. (Resided 7 years and 7 months.)

Case 3
　A music instructor at a Japanese university who, in addition to teaching as a professor, was also recognized for their contributions to education and culture by instructing amateur performers for free. (Resided 5 years and 10 months.)

Case 4
　The applicant had received several awards, such as the Order of the Rising Sun, for their research in the field of Japanese literature. (9 years of cumulative residence; applied 3 months after returning to Japan.)

Case 5
　A well-established university professor who had made considerable contributions to higher education in Japan. (Resided 7 years.)

Case 6
　While working as an assistant professor at a Japanese university, the applicant made considerable contributions to the country's industries/higher education through their published research and the guidance they provided to various academic societies/research groups. (9 years and 5 months of cumulative residence; applied 7 years and 11 months after returning to Japan.)

Case 7
　They made significant improvements to Japan's information and technology industry, marked by their accomplishments in their integral role in systems development. (10 years and 9 months of cumulative residence; applied 6 years after returning to Japan.)

Case 8
　A well-established diplomat who had been recognized for their considerable contributions to international relations. (6 years and 3 months of cumulative residence.)

Case 9
　The results of their research had been published in numerous scientific journals, they had given lectures at international conferences, and received international accolades for their achievements. The applicant also participated in joint business/research studies within the country, thus contributing to Japan's advancement in the field of science and technology. (Resided for 7 years and 9 months.)

Case 10
　The applicant worked for over four years as an assistant professor. In addition to contributing to higher education in the sciences, they are held in such high regard within their field that other countries have requested their assistance on research projects. (Resided for 7 years and 3 months.)

Case 11
　They worked for more than three years as a university lecturer, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of foreign languages. (8 years and 1 month of cumulative residence.)

Case 12
　In addition to working as an assistant professor for more than five years, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of foreign languages, the applicant also assisted with the university's entrance examination procedures. (Resided for 7 years and 2 months.)

Case 13
　They worked for three years as an assistant professor at a university, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of information technology. (17 years and 4 months of cumulative residence; applied 4 years and 11 months after returning to Japan.)

Case 14
　They worked for more than five years as an assistant professor and a university professor, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of international law. (Resided 5 years and 6 months.)

Case 15
　In addition to assisting with physics research at Japanese universities for over three years, the applicant also conducted their own research in fundamental physics, the results of which have been published in multiple academic journals. (Resided 11 years and 2 months.)

Case 16
　They worked for more than three years as a university professor, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of international politics. (Resided 13 years and 7 months.)

Case 17
　Since entering the country, the applicant had spent close to nine years working at a university, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of foreign education and culture. (Resided 8 years and 11 months.)

Case 18
　They had worked for more than twenty-two years as a university professor, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in the field of neuropsychology. (Resided 7 years and 6 months.)

Case 19
　The results they obtained through their research translated to practical application in the field of biology, contributing to the growth of scientific research within Japan. (Resided 10 years and 10 months.)

Case 20
　They had been recognized for their contributions to higher education through their eight years as a university professor, as well as for the accolades their research had been awarded both in Japan and abroad. (Resided 9 years and 9 months.)

Case 21
　The applicant's research in the field of medicine had received commendations from related organizations, and was held in high regard both in Japan and abroad. (Resided 9 years and 8 months.)

Case 22
　They had been working at a foreign diplomatic mission for roughly ten years, and their contributions to the international exchange between the two countries were well known. (Resided for 8 years.)

Case 23
　After entering the country, they conducted research on advanced technology, the results of which have been published in both national and foreign scientific journals and presented at academic conferences. (Resided 8 years and 3 months.)

Case 24
　Since their arrival in Japan, in addition to their involvement with English education in the countryside, they had been promoting Japanese culture through their use of regional dialects and traditional musical performances, offering a foreign perspective at university lectures both in Japan and abroad. (Resided 7 years.)

Case 25
　They had worked for more than three years in the orthopedic surgery department of a university medical school, publishing numerous articles which were featured in multiple scientific journals. Their research has been cited in other well-known publications, thus highlighting their contributions to the field. (Resided 13 years 4 months; 3 years post-change of work status of residence.)

Case 26
　The applicant had worked for more than five years as an assistant professor in the agriculture department of a Japanese university, where their contributions to the field have been duly noted. Moreover, the results of their research are held in high regard, having been presented in prestigious scientific journals and at conferences both within Japan and abroad. (Resided 5 years 7 months.)

Case 27
　Since their arrival in Japan six years prior, they had been engaged in research activities through independent administrative agencies. They had also published a number of papers in several academic journals within their specialization, thus contributing to Japanese research. (Resided 6 years.)

Case 28
　While working for more than six years as a university lecturer, they developed their own language instruction methods in addition to editing/compiling textbooks and educating their fellow instructors. (Resided 6 years 2 months.)

Case 29
　They had been engaged in research activities with the Magnetics Society of Japan, the Ceramic Society of Japan, and the Japan Society of Applied Physics, contributing to academic and technological developments in magnetic thin films and their application through their patents and publications. (Resided 8 years 8 months.)

Case 30
　While employed at a Japanese company, the applicant had multiple papers published by the Institute of Electrical Engineers in Japan (among other scientific journals) and received prestigious awards for their research. (Resided 10 years 4 months; 4 years 3 months post-change of work status of residence.)

Case 31
　They had worked as a professor in the engineering department of a national university for almost eight years, improving the quality of Japan's higher education in that particular field. (Resided 8 years 3 months.)

Case 32
　Since their arrival in Japan, they had worked for almost seven years in English language education at various universities across the country, as both a full-time lecturer and a professor. (Resided 6 years 9 months.)

Case 33
　While working for a Japanese automotive company, they published numerous papers on powder metallurgy in the Journal of the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials and other journals and received awards from other authorities on the subject. (Resided 8 years 6 months.)

Case 34
　Once they had completed their doctorate in economics, they continued on as a member of the university's faculty. In addition to their three years of working as an associate professor, they were also assigned to be the head coordinator of an international networking project. (Resided 7 years.)

Case 35
　In addition to coaching Olympic-bound Japanese athletes and those who had already participated in the games, many of their other endeavors have contributed greatly to the promotion of sporting activities in Japan. (Resided 6 years 7 months.)

Case 36
　The applicant had been participating in sporting competitions within the country for twenty years, opting to continue their competitive career in Japan. They had been commended by an authoritative association for their great contribution to the development of the sport in Japan and were recognized as someone who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of sports and other activities in Japan. (Resided 7 years 6 months.)

Case 37
　The applicant had resided in Japan for close to fourteen years as an exchange student, continuing on as a university lecturer for another four years in the field of intercultural communication. (Resided 18 years a month; 4 years 8 months post-change of work status of residence.)

Case 38
　They had published numerous studies on nanotechnology and the synthesis of full-color semiconductor nanoparticles, presenting the results of their research at meetings for the Chemical Society of Japan and the Society of Polymer Science Japan, among others. (Resided 8 years 8 months; 3 years 7 months post-change of work status of residence.)

 

• Cases in which permission for permanent residence was not granted

Case 1
　Although the applicant was involved with the breeding, care, and exportation of Japanese racehorses, offering lectures and consultation services for ranch management, they had only spent a year and a half in the country. As such, permission was not granted.

Case 2
　While they had produced and/or procured a large number of artworks which they subsequently donated to an art gallery upon its construction, permission was not granted due to their dubious status of residence. (They had been staying illegally).

Case 3
　Permission was not granted on the grounds that activities as an instructor in an institution focused on the education of the children of foreign nationals was insufficient in terms of societal contributions.

Case 4
　Although the applicant had been volunteering as an interpreter for roughly a year in addition to working as a high school instructor, this was determined to be insufficient in terms of societal contributions.

Case 5
　While the applicant had started a business in Japan which they continued to manage, their investments, profits, and other such achievements were not of particular distinction, nor did they show any clear contribution to the Japanese economy. As such, permission was not granted.

Case 6
　They were engaged in research activities at a university, but under the guidance of another professor. As that fell within the accomplishments of a regular student, it could not be said that they had made considerable contributions to the field, and so permission was not granted.

Case 7
　Although the applicant held a directorial position in an investment company, it was difficult to determine their contributions to the Japanese economy through employment alone. Without any other distinctions, permission was not granted.

Case 8
　Although the applicant was the assistant manager of a systems development company, it was difficult to determine their contributions to the Japanese economy through employment alone. Without any other distinctions, permission was not granted.

Case 9
　The applicant had spent roughly nine years working as a composer, presenting their pieces at various concerts. While their application focused on the cultural exchange brought about by their music, as it could not be said that they had made significant contributions to Japanese art/culture permission was not granted.

Case 10
　They had resided in Japan for around nine years, working as an entertainer. While their application focused on the realization of corporate exchange between Japan and their home country through their events, as it could not be said that they had made significant contributions to Japan as a whole, permission was not granted.

Case 11
　They spent three years in Japan as a student, then another five working as a medical assistant at a university. However, as their contributions to higher education could not be ascertained, permission was not granted.

Case 12
　They had entered Japan as an assistant language teacher, and spent three years working in a middle school before spending another four years working as an English teacher in a high school. However, as they were not employed full-time as a university professor (or the equivalent), their contributions to the improvement of higher education could not be ascertained, and so permission was not granted. (Resided 6 years 11 months.)