Japan's immigration authorities are tightening management and administration visa requirements from October 16 amid concerns that some firms are shell companies used to obtain residency. In Osaka, investigators observed what appeared to be Chinese-linked firms operating from a single building, photographed the exterior, and questioned executives as they inspected records. Official data show Chinese applicants for these visas rose from about 8,700 in 2015 and have increased about 2.5-fold over the past decade. The new rules raise the capital requirement from 5 million to 30 million yen, require either three or more years of management experience or a related master's degree, and mandate at least one full-time employee. The change is intended to curb illegal stays and reduce neighborhood disputes linked to private lodging operations.