What is kojin jigyo?

Kojin Jigyo means self-proprietor.  It costs absolutely nothing to become one, and there are no fees associated with it. In fact most English schools in Japan are not KK (LTD.) but kojin jigyo. There is no limit to the amount of money you can make. You can become a kojin jigyo even while working full time at another place.

How would becoming a kojin jigyo benifit me?

Once you are a kojin jigyo you will have to fill out a Blue Tax sheet along with your regular white one. This doesn't sound very good...but it is! With the Blue sheet you can now write off anything related to your business.
Let's use private teaching as an example:

You teach privately at a coffee shop. Now you can write off your transportation, coffee, books, 25% of your rent for office space, telephone, and internet for communications etc. You will end up saving if not getting back money at tax time.

Is it difficult to become a kojin jigyo?

No, go to your tax office ask to become a kojin jigyo you will need to fill out one piece of paper hanko it and you are done. It takes longer to fill out a cell phone contract then a kojin jigyo.

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Kojin Jigyo
written by Hendo, July 01, 2008

Hey Sparky,
Thanks for the info mate.
I am thinking about doing this as an importer on a part-time basis first while continuing to teach.
I'm on an 'Instructor' visa. Do you know if I can keep this status or do I need to change my visa.
Any info would be appreciated.
cheers

...
written by Sparky, July 01, 2008

I wish I had done this along time ago. Tax season just past and here is my tale.
It took me about 1 hour to complete a B5 size paper at the tax office which is the only official documentation of your Kojin Jigyo business. It only took so long because I was struggling to understand every single word on the paper before signing. Anyway after that it was official I had a business in Japan. Because I did this just before tax season and I had been earning income for the previous year I was able to write off all my expenses without any official accounting documentation. They said that the following year I would need to have everything documented in double entry form. The tax office also will do this for free.

To answer your question you do not need to change your visa any visa will do.