An Indian restaurant owner living in Japan for three decades has been ordered to leave the country after his business visa renewal was denied under new immigration policies. Manish Kumar, who has run his restaurant in Saitama Prefecture for 18 years, shared his distress at a protest in Tokyo, saying he and his family, who have grown up in Japan, now face forced return to India.

The case has become a symbol of growing anxiety among small foreign entrepreneurs in Japan following major changes to the country’s business visa regulations. Since the new rules took effect in October 2025, applications for business manager visas have dropped by about 96 percent, from around 1,700 per month to just 70.

Japanese authorities say the stricter requirements aim to prevent misuse of long-term residence by non-operational businesses. Critics argue that genuine small business owners are being disproportionately affected. The minimum investment requirement for visa eligibility has also been raised from 5 million yen to 30 million yen.