Moeka Iida
speaker
279 appearances
5 recordings
1 series
first heard Jun 2026
last heard 22 Jul
Moeka Iida’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
Trend
recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 5 in all, peaking in Jun 2026 with 3.
Appearances
Many Japanese, especially conservatives, had grown suspicious that some wealthy foreigners, especially Chinese nationals, are exploiting the visa by setting up shell companies just to get residency.
The Humble Curry House was never the point, but it's become an unexpected casualty.
In October, the government raised the visa's capital requirement from 5 million yen, or roughly $30,000, to 30 million yen, or $190,000.
It also requires that applicants employ at least one full-time Japanese worker or a permanent resident.
Existing holders have a three year grace period, but people are worried what happens after that, because a lot of these curry shops, like a lot of businesses in Japan, may not be able to reach that threshold.
I spoke to Andrew Katry, who runs another curry house in Tokyo.
She says because of aging and a shrinking labor force, even Japanese firms can't find Japanese workers.
So how are people like her supposed to?
has a point.
If you walk into a convenience store in Tokyo these days, you're more likely to spot a Southeast Asian worker than a Japanese one.
If these restaurants disappear, the broader laws would be cultural as well as economic.
A lot of Japanese people are fond of these curry houses, and in fact, I'm a fan as well.
I go regularly.
Some Japanese people have even launched an online petition titled, Stop the 30 million yen rule that is destroying Indian curry shops.
It's gathered tens of thousands of signatures.
Back at Himalayan Caravan, Sanjay is slapping out naan and stirring pots of curry for a hungry crowd.
He says that if these restaurants disappear, it would be a loss for Japan as well.
Immigrant cooks are what gives Japan its extraordinary culinary range, and this variety and diversity is what makes the city's streets feel alive.
If these restaurants disappear, that's something Japan won't easily get back.
Showing 261–279 of 279 · page 14 of 14
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