[throwaway2037]

Overall: This is a great article. I am not surprised that Japan granted the visa, considering his long work and live experience in Japan. It was relatively low risk for they to grant him the initial 4 month visa, followed by a 1 year visa. If his business failed, he would have closed up after 16 months and returned home.

To me, the most important part about why Japan continues to approve his visa extensions: He income is high enough and he pays local + national taxes. Paying your taxes is the number one reason why Japan will extend your visa! Even if you earnings are overseas, but you declare them while living in Japan and pay Japanese taxes, they will grant you visa extensions.

On a more personal note: It is interesting that he wrote "I have recently remarried, to a Japanese national". The term "~ national" is quite specific in North American English, as it implies the person's origin (and original nationality) is different than the country. For example, Canadian national, but born in Jamaica. This implies, at some point, that the person nationalised as a Canadian.