Thank you to all who have responded thus far. I've received a number of PMs with some good leads as well as connections on LinkedIn.

As creagdhubh pointed out, simply keeping your eyes and ears open, while it may not seem like it's helping very much, is actually VERY helpful. Most experts, including my own career coach agree that up to 90% of all jobs are NOT posted on any website or job board and that the great majority of jobs are obtained through personal (or professional) connections.

Again, I am happy to provide additional info via. PM, including links to my personal/professional website if anyone thinks they may know someone (or know someone who may know someone).

Seanachie: every company is different, (as is every country), but for the most part, where there's a will there's a way. In Japan, obtaining a work visa is not terribly difficult. If someone is university educated and a company can show that they need your experience and skill set, you're good to go. I remember a couple years ago, this actually backfired on some poor Chinese chef living in Japan. They tried to deport him because they alleged he started cooking Japanese instead of Chinese noodles at the restaurant where he worked, and therefore he no longer possessed a unique skill that the restaurant couldn't fill with a locally-obtained, Japanese worker. In the end, I think the courts ruled in the chef's favor, but it was quite the runaround and bureaucratic nightmare for him.

Otherwise, for some companies/countries, it may be necessary to hire an immigration lawyer or specialist to help do the paperwork. But seriously -- if a company wants someone somewhere badly enough, they'll get them!