No JP visa in my renewal passport

...and I'd like to stay in Japan for another year or two, legally, before going back to the US.

In 2013 I received a renewal passport from the US Embassy in Tokyo. Prior to that I received my Gaijin Card stating all the information on my original visa. Perhaps because I had my Gaijin Card, I didn't have any visa-related problems, as it seems to prove my visa status without providing my passport.

Questions:
1) To be honest, I'm very confused: Do I even need a new visa stamped in my passport?
2) To whom would I submit my passport for the new stamp, and how long would it take?
3) Would I be able to submit a copy of my Gaijin Card while looking for new work until I receive my renewal visa?

JAPAN : visa, immigration, working visa, spouse visa

Scroll down to the end.

Forgive me, I forgot to mention I received the renewal passport to replace the one I had lost. I'm searching for answers online, and my head is abuzz, sorry.

I would contact or visit Immigration with my new passport and my gaijin card in hand and start whatever process needs to be done to have the visa status reflected in my passport, regardless of whether they do it right away or it takes a while.

You can search for answers online, but you're only to get the stamp in person, from Immigration....

That makes sense. Thanks a million. Should I delete this thread? I don't know that it would be helpful to anyone else.

Over time it will compost down into the substrata with the zillion other dead and forgotten threads. Nothing to worry about.