Welcome to Japan, or should we say, 日本へようこそ (pronounced Nihon e yo-koso).

For the past 1,400 years or so, the world has referred to Japan as Nippon, the land of the rising sun; and for those who have decided to take that leap and emigrate, the sun will be rising over pastures new. More and more people are choosing to take advantage of the Japanese government’s eagerness to attract migrants to their beautiful country. But why is Japan so eager to attract an estimated 340,000 high-skilled and low-skilled foreign workers over the next five years?   more ...

In the past, Japan limited working visas to people with professional knowledge and high skills, such as doctors, lawyers and teachers. However, on the first of April 2019, new rules regarding the foreign workers bill were introduced, making it easier for all types of workers to migrate to this beautiful, rich country.   more ...

Japan's geographical location sits in the middle of four bodies of water. In addition, it has a temperate climate, sufficient rainfall and fertile soil for agricultural farming and fishing, all of which provide a wealth of food sources for the country. A world-leading commercial fishing industry means seafood constitutes the base for dishes eaten by local people, alongside regionally grown rice, soybeans and vegetables. A meal often consists of steamed white rice, miso soup and a few side dishes (okazu) such as pickled vegetables. This balance of food types represents the traditional cuisine of the country (washoku).   more ...

Singapore has been regarded as one of the best Asian destinations for expats from all over the world for a long time now. This island managed to upgrade itself from the third to the first world within a couple of decades after achieving independence from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965.   more ...

Not every expat destination is created equal. Some cities will offer greater variety in entertainment or leisure activities while others will be focused entirely on work. One location may be surrounded by peaceful countryside; another might be a bustling concrete jungle.

Whatever might suit an expat best, exciting metropolis or sleepy hamlet, the reality is that most expats follow the money to their destination. The majority of expats will be travelling to a town or city that affords them the best job opportunities or where work is already waiting for them.   more ...

In the future, foreign professionals as well as entrepreneurs, academic researchers and technical experts will be classed as highly skilled workers and have the privilege of being fast-tracked for permanent residency.

This means they will be able to apply after five years of living in the country, which is around half the time other expats looking for permanent residency will need to live there, though some skilled professionals may need only three years.   more ...

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Japan and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.   more ...

Along with their own national dishes, the Japanese also give a twist to many popular foods (baked potato flavour KitKats, anyone?), including pizza and ice cream.

However, while many flavours may be available for these popular western choices, there are also lots of other unusual sounding and tasting creations and if, as an expat, you can get used to ice cream with jellyfish or beef tongue flavours or even fried chicken or octopus, then this country is for you.   more ...

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Japan and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.   more ...

The Land of the Rising Sun was once a shining beacon of high-tech innovation with an economy that burned brightly. Sadly, this has not lasted. After the boom, the inevitable bust has lead to a long-lasting decline.   more ...