Foreigners are entitled to own 100%, either as individuals or companies.

This is an investment, and Japanese law also treats and protects it like an investment. The country is in line with respecting your investment and you have rights, and pay real estate taxes that then guarantee those rights. Japan has real estate laws that are familiar to westerners, there are parallels in the law between Japan and the US, and Japan has the most sophisticated precedential history in Asia-- meaning that Japan has more or less globalized, and more or less follows international standards. Continuing, much of the "structural" reform that Japan has gone through in the last decade, has been to align the laws and permissible actions to come into sync with international standards. Morgan Stanley has at least a US$17bn real estate portfolio in Japan, and Soros Fund Management has something of similar size. Goldman Sachs too. Don't feel as if you're pioneering. Indeed it may be a new experience for you to be buying property in Asia, but the truth of the matter is there are lots of people--and professional investors-- who have done this ahead of you, and who put a lot of resources into fighting to make sure the laws are corrected where there are discrepancies to western law, and defended where there needs to be strong precedent.

 

Generally, no. Foreclosure purchases will require all-cash.
What may be possible is equity release after the purchases. Unlocking the value of your real estate will require satisfying certain conditions set by lenders.

 

Not to buy.
But you WILL need to be in Japan to sell.

 

You may view the outside, inspect the neighborhood, etc., but it is not permitted to enter foreclosure properties in Japan.
A professional assigned by the court does inspect the properties, and carefully records any damage or issues. This is also the source of the photos.