More Resourceful Foreigners to Japan

Japan relaxed residence restrictions three years ago and now more masterful foreigners are coming with families to work in Japan.

Statistics show the number of such quality foreigners has  increased since the conditions for the stay were relaxed now sixfold to 3,000. Nikkei Shimbun reported some stories of those foreigners. Those episodes introduce some cases that might suggest what Japan can do to further draw more quality resources from abroad.

An American investment consultant Peter Hennessy, 34, who is living in Tokyo with his wife to support the newborn Japanese leg of US Everstream Capital Management. He obtained a residence permit for the maximum five years. "People are surprised to hear I've got it right off", says Hennessy.

Foreigners coming to work for Japanese firms normally get a residence permit for one year or three the longest. Hennessy's case is rather rare but not under a newly installed point system for accepting excellent human resources. This framework was set to open in May 2012 to induce resourceful foreigners with high professional backgrounds.

The system targets professionals in foreign affiliates, college researchers, developers, IT experts, etc. The total points on age, academic background, professional career, annual income, etc. over 70 qualifies "excellent human resources".

An Italian businessman Perlo Enrico, 61, qualified as one of those when he came last May. His age and career background won him 85 points, way over the passing grade.

A Chinese researcher working at a national university figured his own points to find his annual income too low to qualify. The income indices for his age bracket, mid 30's, are 40 points for above 10 million yen, 15 for 5-6 million and nil for less than 5 million.

The age limits for children were also relaxed from under three years of age to seven. An American male, 41, working at a financial institution in Tokyo called his wife's mother to look after their daughters, a 3-year-old and a 5-month. "We are now fit for our life in Japan."

The population falling by 200 thousand per year, Japan needs more workforce from abroad, not only excellent human resources but common workers for simple labor. It is high time more comprehensive measures were drawn out to stimulate inflow of manpower from abroad.