My Japanese may not be the best so please feel free to point out if my understand is not correct. Based on this article, if japan is to make such changes you will need to get a 5-year visa in order to be qualified to apply for a PR. To my knowledge this means even if you get 80+ points in high skilled visa, as long as you do not have a work visa that's 5 years in your next visa renewal, you won't be able to get a PR.
Edit: Original quote "永住資格を得る要件の一つに「最長の在留期間を有していること」がある。現行法で「最長」は主に5年だが、入管は5年でなくても3年の在留期間を有していれば「最長」の要件を満たしたとみなす経過措置を取っている。この規定の「廃止」を検討する。"
Context:
Today, to apply for PR, you need your current status of residence (SOR) to be 3 years or more. So if you go to immigration and they renew your visa for 1 year every year, you can never apply for PR, even if you fulfill other conditions.
They want to change this SOR requirement to be 5 years instead of 3. This would make many people on 3 years SOR ineligible to apply in the future.
Credits to u/sebjapon
Note: This post is not about naturalization. It is about the requirement of getting the final conversion of your visa to PR which affects ALL types of visa including anything from HSR, Business Visa, and even marital visa.
2nd Edit: All HSP are 5 years: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa16.html
Credits to u/PoloniumPaladin
3rd Edit: Thanks for the award!
by innovaldragon