The rumors are true. Bjorn is moving back to Japan

[pandacular]

As someone who spent a decent amount of time there, I'll say that Bjorn got an incredible about of aesthetic and cinematographic value out of what he had set up. I was a little surprised to see the garden the first time I was there. The area immediately around the workshop is gorgeous, and the rest was a little simpler

That does explain why we almost never saw the backside!

 

[Maiden69]

Continuation video.

 

[Sansokuu]

Continuation video.

Thanks for posting this! His videos are too short... I love how sellers and buyers can meet, it really brings so much more of a human touch into real estate transactions. I understand why it is anonymous in the states but I would so much prefer to know and choose who my land goes to or know who I am buying from. So many questions about our house that could have been answered if we talked to the original owner ! A local blueberry farm was selling their property and overheard the new buyers saying they were going to remove all the blueberry bushes which was definitely against their wishes.. things like that. And I really love that in Japan they clean up the property before selling. That in itself is a huge expense here.

My biggest question though is how is Bjorn able to live in Japan as a citizen? Does he have a work visa or sponsorship?

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

Neither he nor his wife should be permanant residents after so long away, so my guess is they applied for a business manager visa. If I remember correctly, the main component of this is a fully flushed out business plan, and a certain amount of capital beyond startup costs to keep the business afloat (starting around 10,000 USD). Then, the business must turn a profit after the first 12-18 months to be renewed. if I remember correctly. There are also some rules about employing Japanese citizens, but I think it depends on the size of the business.
The only other possibility is that he is simply employed by somebody else who is startig a nursury and wants him to run it. Seems unlikely.

 

[Adamski77]

Neither he nor his wife should be permanant residents after so long away, so my guess is they applied for a business manager visa. If I remember correctly, the main component of this is a fully flushed out business plan, and a certain amount of capital beyond startup costs to keep the business afloat (starting around 10,000 USD). Then, the business must turn a profit after the first 12-18 months to be renewed. if I remember correctly. There are also some rules about employing Japanese citizens, but I think it depends on the size of the business.
The only other possibility is that he is simply employed by somebody else who is startig a nursury and wants him to run it. Seems unlikely.

not going to get into reconciliation of his private matters but his wife is Japanese? Right? I'm away from Poland for 22 years and still have Polish passport. Does it work different way in Japan?

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

She's Chinese. Neither of them have Japanese citizenship, and the avenues to get a working visa or residency in Japan are limited. One can become a citizen, but because duel-citizenship is not allowed you have no renounce your other citizenship(s) to do it.
What's impressive to me, is because they are new residents it's very likely that they would be paying for everything in cash. In principle, banks here do not give out home/business loans to non-permanent residents. Good thing real estate is still relatively affordable. (Don't tell anyone)

 

[Adamski77]

She's Chinese. Neither of them have Japanese citizenship, and the avenues to get a working visa or residency in Japan are limited. One can become a citizen, but because duel-citizenship is not allowed you have no renounce your other citizenship(s) to do it.
What's impressive to me, is because they are new residents it's very unlikely that they would be paying for everything in cash. In principle, banks here do not give out home/business loans to non-permanent residents. Good thing real estate is still relatively affordable. (Don't tell anyone)

I see... my wife half-Korean half-Chinese... so also kind of complicated. Let's not speculate too much... I'm sure they have a solution out there and will set it up beautifully. Crossing fingers for them.

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

I see... my wife half-Korean half-Chinese... so also kind of complicated. Let's not speculate too much... I'm sure they have a solution out there and will set it up beautifully. Crossing fingers for them.

It's not easy succeeded in life and in business in Japan, and I agree, it seems like they must have a good plan.
Very exited to see what he does here, and hope to visit soon!

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

Edit: For those curious, I was way off on my 10,000 USD factoid. It's in principle 5 million yen. Probably closer to 30,000 USD given the current weakness.
There are some new entrepreneur visas being rolled out in certain cities/prefectures though, and I believe they are meant to be "diet" versions of the current national system.
It's also a 2 year grace period to turn a profit.
Hoping to see more people doing stuff like this in the future.

 

[Paradox]

Wow, its really not a big piece of property and it gets a bit of shade from the neighbors houses.
Will be interesting to see how it works out for doing a bonsai nursery.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I'm not sure if he will start the nursery on the land he just bought because in the video before Bjorn said the nursery could also be just outside of the city on another piece of land.

After watching the video I also found out that there are thousands of abandoned houses in Japan which are practically wortless becaue most houses are fully rebuild after around 30 years.
I never knew this and I'm very surpriced this is the case in Japan. In the Netherlands there is a big shortage for (affordable) houses.

 

[RJG2]

Wow, its really not a big piece of property and it gets a bit of shade from the neighbors houses.
Will be interesting to see how it works out for doing a bonsai nursery.

I think in the first video he said they are doing two pieces of property, one for the home (and modest bonsai garden?), and one for the nursery. Unless I missed something.

 

[Adamski77]

I think in the first video he said they are doing two pieces of property, one for the home (and modest bonsai garden?), and one for the nursery. Unless I missed something.

You did not… based on first video nursery will be in different place. This land is just for house and garden.

 

[Wood]

After watching the video I also found out that there are thousands of abandoned houses in Japan which are practically wortless becaue most houses are fully rebuild after around 30 years.
I never knew this and I'm very surpriced this is the case in Japan. In the Netherlands there is a big shortage for (affordable) houses.

If I recall correctly, the frequency of earthquakes made it significantly harder to keep houses in usable condition for a long time, thus reinforcing the depreciating value of a house. Definitely a unique real estate market

 

[Maiden69]

Neither of them have Japanese citizenship, and the avenues to get a working visa or residency in Japan are limited. One can become a citizen, but because duel-citizenship is not allowed you have no renounce your other citizenship(s) to do it.

It's not easy succeeded in life and in business in Japan,

Completely agree with your last statement, but remember that he is a very well known bonsai artists, which is a hobby well supported by wealthy Japanese business people. So I am kinda confident that he may have friends in high places, not to count his oyakata, Master Keiichi Fujikawa at Kouka-en. Also, he is actively conducting business with Japan to include his bonsai convention tours. He would need at least a working visa for that.

I think it would be harder for a complete stranger to go into Japan and establish a business than for him.

Wow, its really not a big piece of property and it gets a bit of shade from the neighbors houses.

See below, he does state that he is buying a separate location for the nursery, this one is house and garden.

You did not… based on first video nursery will be in different place. This land is just for house and garden.

 

[Ruddigger]

There are some new entrepreneur visas being rolled out in certain cities/prefectures though, and I believe they are meant to be "diet" versions of the current national system.
It's also a 2 year grace period to turn a profit.
Hoping to see more people doing stuff like this in the future.

He has said that this was what he is doing. And that its cheaper if he can pass a Japanese language test, which he is studying for.

 

[Paradox]

I think in the first video he said they are doing two pieces of property, one for the home (and modest bonsai garden?), and one for the nursery. Unless I missed something.

ok I missed that somehow probably because my dog decided to start barking at one point while I was watching
Makes more sense

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Continuation video.

Does anyone else watch these videos and realize that the neighbor keeps bonsai trees?

 

[Ruddigger]

Does anyone else watch these videos and realize that the neighbor keeps bonsai trees?

Yes! I was wondering if they were bonsai or just nice garden trees.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Does anyone else watch these videos and realize that the neighbor keeps bonsai trees?

Definitely noticed