Why Foreigners Are Rethinking Japan Investments and Permanent Residency | Ep. 151

In this collaboration episode, the team sits down with Ziv Nakajima Magen, co-founder and COO of Nippon Tradings International (NTI). With 15 years in Japanese real estate, Ziv shares his perspective on shifting market dynamics, anti-foreigner sentiment, changes to visa regulations, and what it takes to navigate Japanese property today. The hosts also discuss their major rebrand from Akiya Mart to Mokomoko, explaining why they outgrew the original name and expanded their scope to cover condos, houses, and beyond.

Key Takeaways

• Market Trends: A post-COVID wave of holiday home buying has elevated prices across rural areas, but political sentiment and shifting visa policies are creating new hurdles for foreign buyers.
• Immigration & Visas: Tighter rules around the Business Manager Visa and Permanent Residency requirements are pushing some long-term international residents to rethink their strategies.
• Rebranding to MokoMoko: Why Akiya Mart transitioned to Mokomoko to eliminate pronunciation hurdles, remove negative connotations around "akiya," and represent a full-spectrum real estate search platform.
• Investing Beyond Akiyas: The sweet spot in Japanese real estate often sits just above empty country homes, including multi-unit buildings and move-in-ready properties.

Main Conversation Points

• 15 Years in Japanese Real Estate: Ziv recounts the evolution of international demand since starting NTI after the 2008 financial crisis.
• Policy and Sentiment Shifts: Discussion on recent government sentiment, language test requirements, pension checks, and the risk of blanket regulations hurting rural communities.
• The Tourism Impact: How tourism fatigue in cities like Kyoto influences local attitudes toward non-resident buyers.
• Property Inspection Tips: Guidance on assessing older concrete and wooden multi-unit buildings before committing to a purchase.
• What's Next: Ziv's upcoming projects, including an AI property deal analysis tool and a new e-commerce venture.

Resources Mentioned

• Nippon Tradings International (NTI)
• Mokomoko (Formerly Akiya Mart)
• Dr. Jonathan Tam on YouTube (Asia-Pacific Economics)

Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend looking into Japanese real estate. If you want to explore over half a million properties across Japan, visit mokomoko.com or drop an email to podcast@mokomoko.com!