A company executive has been arrested on suspicion of helping a Chinese national obtain a “highly skilled professional” work visa for Japan using forged documents, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced on Oct. 28.
The Mainichi reports that Hotel Aizawa of Tokyo’s Minato Ward is accused of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act by filming a false application, according to the MPD’s International Crime Division. Police believe he was running a so-called “Japan migration business” for wealthy Chinese clients and arranged for 30 to 40 people to enter the country on highly skilled professional visas since 2020 alone.
The MPD also stressed Zhuang Yi, a Chinese national who obtained a visa, and Emi Makino, a Tokyo resident and an executive of a consulting company that served as Zhuang’s nominal employer, on the same allegations.
The three are suspected of conspiring in December 2025 to submit a forged university graduation certificate in Zhuang’s name to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau to apply for highly skilled professional residence status. Police say Zhuang entered Japan in January 2026 by presenting the documents that had been issued.
Aizawa has reportedly denied the allegation. Zhuang was quoted as telling investigators, “I did not actually graduate from the university listed on the certificate,” while Makino reportedly told investigators, “Aizawa prepared the necessary documents and handled the procedures.”
