Japan opens up to foreign entertainers

Aug 01, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Starting next month, the visa requirements for foreign entertainers visiting Japan will be significantly relaxed.

According to a report in the Yomiuri Shimbun dated July 31, it is expected that from August 1, foreign singers visiting Japan for concerts and other events will benefit from a substantial easing of the requirements for the "Entertainment Visa."

Previously, foreign singers were unable to obtain the Entertainment Visa unless they met at least one of several requirements, such as receiving a daily fee of at least 500,000 yen, staying in Japan for 15 days or less, performing at venues with at least 100 seats without selling food and drinks, or participating in official events organized by the Japanese government or schools.

However, going forward, the stay period for popular singers earning 500,000 yen or more per day will be extended to "within 30 days." This change will allow well-known idol groups from Korea to conduct "tour concerts" across Japan.

Additionally, the Japanese government plans to permit foreign musicians to perform at live houses that sell alcohol.

Previously, if foreign musicians did not meet the requirements for any of the three types of Entertainment Visas, they were subject to a restriction that required them to have a performance history of at least two years overseas and perform on a stage larger than 13 square meters. However, this restriction will be waived for concert organizers who have invited foreign musicians for at least three years.

These two measures are expected to not only benefit well-established singers with a large fan base but also make it easier for new musicians and indie bands to enter the Japanese market.

The relaxation of the visa requirements will be implemented through amendments to the Ministry of Justice Ordinance related to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

Typhoons No. 28 and 29 Bring High Waves to Japan's Pacific Coast

Two typhoons moving across the Pacific southeast of Japan are expected to remain well away from the Japanese mainland, but powerful swells could bring rough seas to a wide stretch of the country's Pacific coastline throughout the three-day holiday weekend, according to forecasts updated at 3 a.m. on October 10.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Tamori Among Three Recognized as Honorary Tokyo Citizens

Entertainer Tamori and two other prominent figures were named Honorary Citizens of Tokyo on October 1 in recognition of their contributions to the capital's development and the lives of its residents, with an award ceremony held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government headquarters on Tokyo Citizens' Day.

Candy Caries Wins Grand Prize at Ottawa Animation Festival

Japanese director Tomoki Misato's stop-motion animation Candy Caries has won the Grand Prize in the children's category for ages 7 and up at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada, one of the world's three major animation festivals.

Composer of Kobe Earthquake Recovery Song Remembered in Special Tribute

Makoto Usui, the composer of "Shiawase Hakoberu Yoni," a song written in the aftermath of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that has become a symbol of hope for disaster survivors across Japan and overseas, died in July at the age of 65, leaving behind a musical legacy that his former students are determined to carry forward.

No Time Off for Kyoto Actors

While millions of people across Japan enjoyed this year's five-day Silver Week holiday, workers at Kyoto's Toei Uzumasa Eigamura film studio theme park and a 24-hour smartphone repair service faced packed schedules, with some working late into the night to keep holidaymakers entertained and respond to emergencies.

AI Enka Singer to Debut With Neo Kobushi

Japan's oldest record company is turning to artificial intelligence to reshape one of the country's most traditional musical genres, unveiling an AI-generated enka singer as part of a new label combining the technology with the distinctive vocal style of Japanese ballads.