What "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" actually is

日本人の配偶者等 (spouse or child of a japanese national) is a status of residence, not a visa. It is granted to the spouse of a Japanese national, to a special adopted child, and to a biological child of a Japanese national. It carries no restriction on the kind of work the holder may do, which is what makes it more valuable than most work statuses.

Two things follow from that. First, because it is generous, it is examined closely: the office's central question is whether the marriage is genuine and continuing, not whether the applicant is qualified for a job. Second, the status depends on the marriage. If the marriage ends, the holder must notify the ISA within 14 days, and a status held for more than six months without the marital activity can be revoked.

Periods granted are 6 months, 1 year, 3 years or 5 years. A first grant is most commonly 1 year; longer periods tend to follow once the marriage has a track record in Japan.