Aug 01 (the-japan-news.com) - The Justice Ministry plans to introduce a new residency status for fourth-generation Japanese descendants living abroad that will enable them to work in Japan under certain conditions, such as acquiring a set level of Japanese language skills.
About 1,000 people will be accepted each year in the early stages, sources said. The ministry will solicit comments from the public soon, and then decide when to roll out the program.
The aim of the new system is to help fourth-generation Japanese descendants deepen their interest in and knowledge about Japan, and nurture people who would be a bridge between Japan and the communities of Japanese descendants abroad in the future.
Those who are accepted will be aged 18 to 30 and given "designated activities" status, which will allow them to work during their stay in Japan, according to the ministry's plan.
Participants will be required to have Japanese skills equivalent to the N4 level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test - able to conduct basic everyday conversations - at the time of their arrival. When they renew their residency status, they will be required to have skills equivalent to the N3 level - understanding complex sentences. They will not be allowed to bring family members.
The residency status will need to be renewed each year, with the maximum stay set at three years. It will be possible to stay longer if they are allowed to change their residency status due to marriage, employment or other reasons.
