Suspected of obtaining ``highly skilled professional status'' with false information - 70 million yen reward for wealthy Chinese people - 3 company executives arrested, Metropolitan Police Department

As of the 28th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's International Crime Control Division had arrested three people, including Hojo Aizawa (39), a company executive from Takanawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Act (false application) for allegedly lying about their academic background and obtaining the ``Highly Skilled Professional'' residence status, which gives preferential treatment when applying for a permanent residence permit. Suspect Aizawa stated, ``I deny everything.''

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According to the division, Aizawa fraudulently applied for residence status for wealthy Chinese people. The cost per person was $600,000 (approximately 95 million yen), of which they are believed to have received $450,000 (approximately 70 million yen) as compensation. The department is suspected of being involved in the applications of approximately 30 to 40 people, mostly Chinese, since 2020, and the division will conduct a detailed investigation.

The other suspects arrested were Zhou Yi (57), a Chinese citizen whose occupation is unknown, and address unknown, and company executive Saki Makino (45), Toyosu, Koto Ward.

The suspects are accused of conspiring to submit false documents to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in December 2025 stating that they have a master's degree in business administration and work at a company where Makino is an executive, and allowed Sho to enter the country with the residence status of ``Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 B.''