FEATURE: Foreign entrepreneurs in Japan hit hard by visa law changes, some leave

TOKYO - On the same day Matthew Thomas moved into his new apartment in Tokyo, he discovered he had no choice but to leave Japan.

"I laid on my floor for a week in shock, surrounded by boxes," said the 34-year-old American, recalling the moment he received confirmation from his lawyers that one of the new requirements for the business manager visa he was applying for was to have capital of 30 million yen ($189,000), up sixfold from 5 million yen.