easy to start a business in Japan?

How easy/difficult is it to set up your own business in Japan, compared to, let's say the US?
And, what opportunities are there in the Japanese market?

Need to employ 2 Japanese staff full time.
Need to present a viable business plan, preferably for a business you have operated elsewhere before.
Need to show you have the cash to do those two things.
If you can do this we can look at the next steps :)

Need to employ 2 Japanese staff full time...

can you elaborate on this one for me. thanks

Pete,

can you elaborate on this one for me.

If you wish to start your own business, you need to employ at least two Japanese nationals as full-time staff.

If you start a internet business (like a e-shop or a e-service) than there is no need for 2 Japanese full-time employees. Another exception is free-lancing

my friend and i have just started our own language school. we thought we were doing everything by the book - we even hired a lawyer to set up a company etc. we don't have any japanese staff though - we are too small. what will happen?

Pete,

The Japanese staff stipulation is a requirement for obtaining a visa, but if you already have valid visas, then I don't think it is an issue. Hopefully your lawyer will be able to give you a more accurate answer than us amateurs.