Three arrested in Japan for fraudulent highly skilled professional visa scheme

Tokyo police have arrested three individuals, including company executives Hotei Aizawa and Emi Makino, and a 57-year-old Chinese national, Zhuang Yi, for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent visa scheme. The group is suspected of submitting false applications for ‘highly skilled professional’ visas to facilitate the illegal entry of wealthy Chinese nationals into Japan.

Investigators believe Aizawa submitted false applications for between 30 and 40 Chinese nationals starting in 2020. In one instance involving Zhuang, the suspects allegedly falsely claimed he held a Master of Business Administration and would work at Makino’s company. Zhuang reportedly paid $600,000 after being promised a path to legal permanent residency, a process that can be expedited for highly skilled workers.

Aizawa has denied the charges, while police are investigating the full extent of the operation. This follows a previous arrest of Aizawa in June on suspicion of illegally bringing a babysitter for wealthy Chinese nationals into the country.