Japan plans to tighten the foreign entrepreneur visa, the business/management visa, raising the required capital from 5 million to 30 million yen, and tightening criteria such as a master's degree or proven management experience, plus a requirement to hire at least one employee who is Japanese or a permanent resident, and now adding a language competency requirement for the applicant or staff. The changes could take effect as early as October. The move has sparked wide concern among Chinese residents in Japan and those considering moving to Japan, who fear visa renewals, family impact, and children's schooling. Lawyers and Chinese visa holders say the real cost of starting a business in Japan is higher than the nominal capital, with annual costs including office rent, social security, health insurance, and living expenses often reaching 7–8 million yen, making renewals challenging. Yet many say they are studying Japanese hard and hope to integrate, while the new rule could threaten SMEs and family plans.