Doesn’t everybody need to known/try to speak japanese ?
There are Western companies and Westernized Japanese companies in Japan that don't require any Japanese level for IT, although they require English. Sometimes they only require a certain TOEIC score, which is only reading and writing comprehension, no writing or talking test. Also, in my case, it seems it is more lax with sub-contractors.
Only requiring English for IT is common in the startup ecosystem all over the world.
There's a visa type for engineers and specialits, sponsored by the recruiting company, that lasts 5 years. But it depends on your country of origin too and diplomatic relationships, a recent Chinese joinee only has a 3 months visa for now.
It's made to look like that on purpose, but it's kept. It's the counter reaction to the biodiversity disaster of loan monoculture style like you often see in USA suburbs. I actually enjoy the feeling of wilderness.