Japan eases rules on entertainer visas to spur int'l exchanges

Japan on Tuesday eased requirements for entertainer visas, enabling singers, actors and athletes to stay longer and perform at a wider range of event venues to spur international cultural exchanges hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"International cultural exchanges" right.

One of my first standout memories of Japan was at the immigration center waiting for visa processing questions near the counter for "entertainer" visas.

In struts this tiny senior in flashy a flashy outfit , trailed but two younger toughs pushing trolleys of stacks of applications, trailed by a troupe of young women, mostly South East Asian looking.

Went straight up to the counter like he owned the place.

Japanese cultural exchanges at their finest.

Mr Kipling

   24,404 foreigners entered Japan on entertainer visas

> And 24,000 of those were employed in the "Pink" industry. Japan stops its sex tourists by bringing foreign sex workers (I mean entertainers) to Japan.

Not actually correct. All foreign musicians, actors, artists exhibiting, and bands, will enter on an entertainers visa.

My youngest brother works at the Rome Opera House. They are coming to Tokyo next month to perform La Traviata and Tosca at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. All the members of the opera house will enter on entertainers visa.

Under the new rules, those earning 500,000 yen or more each day during their visit can stay in the country for 30 days, up from the previous 15 days.

so..... stars.... in showbiz and/or sports?

So they’re just reimplementing the scheme from the 90’s that brought in hostesses and dancers from across Southeast Asia? Cool. Met many nice Filipino ladies here in their 50’s or older who came over in the 90’s on entertainer visas and eventually married the Japanese club owner, got PR and then divorced.

Under the new rules, those earning 500,000 yen or more each day during their visit can stay in the country for 30 days, up from the previous 15 days.

Those are very difficult requirements. My brother at the Rome Opera House does not earn anywhere near ¥500,000 per day.

Those are very difficult requirements. My brother at the Rome Opera House does not earn anywhere near ¥500,000 per day.

The 'entertainers' are not earning that and never see it.

That all goes to the ' house', the ones holding their passports ànd arranging the visas. and owning the establishments.

Viva cultural exchange !

Under the new rules, those earning 500,000 yen or more each day during their visit can stay in the country for 30 days, up from the previous 15 days.

Rules regarding venues have also been relaxed, allowing entertainers to perform at smaller venues, including live music clubs that sell food and beverages, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Oh wow, what a surprise! If the Japanese can whimsically establish a set of farcical rules around any particular thing, they will. Then they slightly modify said rules, so they can then claim they're making progress on loosening a set of farcical rules they themselves adopted.

Great for the uber rich foreign celebrities like Taylor Swift - but again, for everyone else, just a totally absurd and meaningless policy. What is the justification here?

If it's so much trouble for the average Joe who can't fill a venue of 100 seats and can't pull 500,000 yen a day, why not just enter as a tourist then? Mind boggling.

If it's so much trouble for the average Joe who can't fill a venue of 100 seats and can't pull 500,000 yen a day, why not just enter as a tourist then?

Because you're not allowed to work in Japan on a tourist visa? Is that a trick question?

Things are not clear to me. Do they mean make or take home ¥500,000 in one day? How many days a month?

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