Japan cracks down on foreign musicians

By Steve McClure

TOKYO (Billboard) - Japanese concert promoters say the country's immigration authorities are taking a tougher stance on international touring acts.

Japan remains a key touring market -- such acts as the Police, Kanye West and Rihanna have already played here this year. But the government last November refused to issue visas to Velvet Revolver, even though the rock band had toured in 2005 without incident. The rejection was something of a watershed moment for the industry.

Insiders said there have been many similar -- if lower-profile incidents -- although, due to their confidential nature, they declined to name specific examples.

With this in mind, Billboard presents four things every touring artist and manager should know about playing Japan.

1. APPLY WELL IN ADVANCE

Standard procedure when applying for entertainers' visas -- which are valid for three months and cost 3,000 yen ($30) for single entry and 6,000 yen ($60) for multiple entry -- is for promoters to submit applications with the immigration bureau in Japan, which issues certificates of eligibility. These certificates are then submitted abroad at consulates/embassies, and then the actual visas are issued.

"If the person is doing any professional work at a concert, onstage or backstage, they need a working visa," one Tokyo-based promoter says, and the November 2007 introduction of biometric screening for all foreign nationals entering Japan means it's increasingly important to do advance background checks on all members of a tour group.

"I strongly recommend preparing visa documents two to three months in advance," says Carolin Sackmann, press officer for the Tokyo Summer Festival concert series, a favorite stop-over for international acts.

2. CHECK OUT YOUR PROMOTER

A Justice Ministry ordinance states that for international performers to obtain entertainers' visas, "the operator or manager of the inviting organization should have at least three years' experience in show business involving foreign nationals."

3. KEEP CLEAN

Many thought Japan's hard-line anti-drugs stance had been relaxed, but now "it's clear immigration authorities are taking (drugs) more seriously," Tanaka says.

Industry sources say the members of British alternative band the View were refused visas in late 2007 because of one member's drugs conviction. However, some high-profile acts, including the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney, have been allowed into Japan despite previous drug-related brushes with the law.

"Japan's immigration-control law bans foreigners who violate drug laws from entering Japan permanently," a Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau representative says. "But some people whose cases are recognized as special by overseas Japanese diplomatic establishments have been permitted to enter Japan."

4. THINK SMALL

For niche bands, the "live-house" route is a good option that cuts out much of the red tape. If bands aren't paid upfront, they can enter Japan on tourist visas, rent one of thousands of small (50-500 capacity) "live-house" venues, do promotion and sell tickets.

"It's important for the band to have someone in Japan who is bilingual," says Keitaro Kamo, associate GM in EMI Music Japan's domestic administration department, "to act as a coordinator with the live house so everything is clear before they fly to Japan."

Reuters/Billboard