[jasonbvr]

So what you are saying is your mother is Japanese, correct? I know that half Japanese qualify for descendant visas, but I don't know about quarters, eighths, and sixteenths. Check out what you to qualify for the descendant visa. If that is not a possibility, find out about a dependants visa and when the cut off for that is. I know a guy who owns an English school, and his kid is 18 plus and he can still stay in Japan. Google something like descendant visa Japan and MOFA's website should come up. If you have questions after that, just let us know. Also, a descendant visa will free you up for just about any type of work such as teaching part time at Gaba or something. A dependant visa you have to get some special stamp or something so you can work, I believe.