[Nyororin]

In Japan - having a bachelors is something akin to having a high school diploma in the US. I think that there was a 95% high school graduation rate, with 85% of the graduates going to to a 4 year university. Even those who don`t go on to a 4 year university usually go to a 2 year (mostly women) or enroll in some sort of higher education.
So we`re talking about more than 90% of the current job seekers having a university degree.

Also keep in mind - Japan also PREFERS to hire people with little or no experience. Companies all have their own extensive education and training programs. It`s easier to teach someone from scratch than to try to change habits that are already set.
A fresh university graduate has considerably more appeal than someone with 10 or 15 years of experience.
Unless you have a VERY specialized skill that is in high demand and that can`t be filled via the university graduate route (Think very exotic things, like someone who can repair and rebuild antique clockworks, or who has developed a new and unique manufacturing process that is in very high demand... etc) they will almost ALWAYS choose the graduate over you.

While you may be technically eligible for the visa - you have quite a few hurdles. The first is finding somewhere that will hire you over the huge selection of fresh graduates and university graduates with experience (Remember, even farmers out in the middle of nowhere here usually have degrees). And then, if you do find a place willing to go through all the paperwork and costs involved in sponsoring a foreign employee... You have to prove to immigration that you are more qualified for the limited visa spots than , say, someone with visible qualifications.

Both of these are VERY difficult. Unless you`re one of the only 5 people in the world capable of doing something, it`s worse than an uphill battle. It`s like trying to walk up the side of a wall.

There is no advantage in a Japanese company hiring someone from outside Japan who has fewer skills and qualifications than someone in Japan, who they can talk to 100% from day one. It costs a lot of money, takes a lot of time in paperwork, and involves a lot of legal responsibility. Where is the appeal for the company?