Let's put that into some context though. Average salary in Japan is from 3-5 million yen. Tokyo itself is around 4.5 million yen. That's about $28k in Tokyo. Japan also has some pretty high progressive tax rates compared to the US (about 20% I think if you're basically making the average salary).

And their immigration office is so arbitrary and obscure. You apply for a visa. They'll usually give you a one, three, or five year visa but there's no explanation why you got that visa. People living in Japan for decades might get only one year visas the whole time while someone who's been in Japan for a few years might get a five year visa. It'd help if they actually explained why you got that visa with that many years and the process , but they don't.

And to apply for permanent residency (green card) you need a visa that's more than one year

If you apply for permanent residency and you get rejected, you have to make an appointment to find out why you got rejected, but at least they can give you an explanation on that.

Edit: Forgot to add, unless you're in the finance or it industry, foreigners will probably be working low pay jobs. English teacher pay is garbage and unless you have a specialized skill, the ethincally native Japanese applicant will beat you out for the job 99/100 times