Japan has long been a point of interest for economists worldwide, picking itself up after World War II to create a gargantuan economy that, despite the post-Bubble crash, is still one of the largest in the world. But these stats do little to shed any light on what it's like doing business on the ground level.

So how is working as an entrepreneur or freelancer in Japan?

According to one interviewee, working in Japan can be akin to "sticking a pencil in your eye." But recent changes to laws designed to stimulate the economy make starting and owning your own business here easier than ever.