Company executives and Chinese national held over visa fraud

Tokyo police have arrested two company executives and a Chinese national over a fraudulent application for a visa for highly skilled professionals. One of the executives, Hotei Aizawa, has denied all charges, police said on Wednesday.

Police suspect Aizawa, 39, of having fraudulently applied for visas for rich Chinese nationals over several years.

Aizawa is believed to have submitted false applications for visas for between 30 and 40 Chinese nationals beginning in 2020, charging each of them $600,000, of which he pocketed $450,000. Police are investigating the details.

The two others arrested are company executive Emi Makino, 45, and Zhuang Yi, a 57-year-old Chinese national whose occupation is unknown.

The suspects are believed to have worked together to have Zhuang enter the country under a highly skilled professional visa in December 2025. They falsely stated on his visa application to immigration that he holds a Master of Business Administration, and Makino said he would be working at her company.

Aizawa is said to have promised Zhuang he could legally obtain permanent residency for him, and so the Chinese national paid him $600,000.

While generally only those who have lived in Japan for at least 10 years can apply for permanent residency, the time required can be shortened for those holding a highly skilled worker visa.

Makino said Aizawa handled all of the paperwork and processing for Zhuang, according to the police.

Police had previously arrested Aizawa in June on suspicion he illegally brought into the country a babysitter for rich Chinese nationals. Further investigations brought the case involving Zhuang and Makino to light.