[jasonbvr]

Osensei, I am going to respond to that question in the Teaching English in JP thread.

As for your question Takushimazu, you are going to have to give me a few days, but I will get an answer on the spousal visa/work situation. I am going to wait till my company's office openings on Monday and just ask if they would consider hiring my friend.

Right now, I am going to say yes. There is one newly arrived teacher who has just been married to a Japanese girl and I don't think he has any higher education than what they taught him in the Australian army. If I had his contact info, I would ask him right now.

As far as after three years, you will have to have the visa renewed or change of status to that of say long term resident. You shouldn't have to leave the country in order to do this.

But yeah, Monday I will have an answer about working.