A Cultural Visa to stay in Japan can usually be issued for a one year period with a possibility for further one year renewals.
The applicant must show that he or her has studied the relevent subject in his/her own country and must have a teacher or school prepared to teach them further in that subject.
The subject should bean aspect of Japanese culture that is somewhat unique to Japan.
The aplicant would need to prove the ability to support his/herself financially while in Japan.

If you have any more questions or experiences of Japanese Cultural Visas please post them here.

One question we are having trouble answering..
Someone has asked how many times a cultural visa can be renewed.
We have checked everywhere we can and havent found an answer..
anyone know????

I don't want to claim to be an expert in this but I have seen that for most people the max is 2 renewals. Every renewal after that seems to result in a lot of hassling except in certain special cases where the applicant is studying some very special or obscure art like sword making.

I know of two people doing the sword thing and both of them told me they have been given a hard time after their 2nd or 3rd renewal but have both been able to work it out with a little persistence and help from their teachers.