<declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1155000693.962887.269250@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> TXZZ wrote:
>> declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:
> <snip>
>> > The Cultural Activities visa covers academic or artistic activities
>> > that provide no income, activities for the purpose of pursuing specific
>> > studies on Japanese culture or arts, or activities for the purpose of
>> > learning and acquiring skills in Japanese culture or arts under the
>> > guidance of experts (for example, ikebana, tea ceremony, judo, etc.).
>> > Any activities covered by this visa must be organised through an
>> > organisation or with an expert in a particular field - you cannot just
>> > apply for the visa and then look for something to do when you come to
>> > Japan. Activities are generally not considered to include the Japanese
>> > language, but you may be able to study Japanese on this visa after
>> > completing your other activities.
> <snip>
>> Dunno why i didnt pursue this more vigourously IN japan, but japan is a
>> very confusing place when you have no money.  Anyway someone told me
>> there that the japanese can be very felxible with cultural visas but
>> who knows.  Do martial arts count?
>
> 1. The visa cannot be obtained IN Japan.
> 2. It is a CoE, so there is no greater flexibility than with any other
> application.
> 3. Is Judo a martial art, and do you actually read any posts that
> answer your questions?
>
He just read the subject line and first two or three sentences (short 
attention span)
Personally I found that to be very informative.
>
TXZZ,
This should help you understand the complexity of the matter
quoted from the Negi  www.seekjapan.jp/article-1/724/The+Negi
Christ Chooses Japan for Second Coming, Can't Get Visa

Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, was rejected at the Japanese Consulate for 
his application for a visa to work and reside in Japan. Jesus, who had 
originally intended to come as a teacher, failed to find a sponsor among the 
major language schools due to his inability to conform to the dress code and 
lack of an undergraduate degree.
After applying for an entertainer visa, he was rejected on the grounds that 
his main talent,  "healing the sick", fell under the much stricter health 
worker designation. That designation, however, would require the Risen Lord 
to first attend a three-year Japanese language medical course before he 
could begin basic nursing duties.
However, the visa officer who decided on Christ's application admitted: "We 
pretty much just look at the photo and I thought, you know, I think we've 
got enough Brazilians as it is."
Due to his inability to attain a visa, Jesus decided to put off his second 
coming another millennium or so. The decision was a huge relief to the 
hundreds of fake wedding ministers that rake in the Yen at weekends. It was 
suggested that The Shepherd was here to "open a can of matrimonial 
 whup-ass."