Sorry about your plight!
4. My girl bailed on me last week leaving me with a large stack of bills to pay with my lottery winnings. I never won the lottery..
Now that was funny!
Maybe you should be more open-minded and do english teaching for a short period of time, even though you would be screwing ur employer over if they sponsored you (Visa) and then you left for greener pastures.
Not having a degree may be a problem, BUT you may of had enough years of experience to be classified in the same class as a person with a degree. (Something like 10 years, not positive on that one)
You should consider all options if you are REALLY serious about staying in Japan, not just doing IT.
Well good luck anyway - You never know what's going to happen!
Cheers