Renewing Zairyu Card (as a PR)
Easy but not effortless My zairyu card was due to run out in a few weeks, so I popped into immigration on Thursday to renew it. In the seven years since I renewed it last, the process has become slightly smoother, but it is still not as effortless as it could be. Before you go […]
The Monday Read
At Work in the Middle of Golden Week Edition Looking at data from the last few years of sending out this newsletter and running the forum, it seems most of our readers only log on while they are at work. Seems legit, for a site that aims to help people retire 😉 So if you […]
Spending a Retirement Bonus
Or annual bonus, inheritance, proceeds from selling a company, or any windfall Well, my (curiously inflated) retirement bonus just hit my bank account. So far so good. Now I just need to figure out what to do with it. Spend It This is the default for many people, and me from 15 years ago would […]
Retiring in Japan
Health Insurance and Retirement Bonus Regular readers will be aware that my contract at the university I was working at finished at the end of March. I was supposed to be unemployed/retired now, but due to a series of unfortunate events will instead be helping my wife with her language school (and getting a small […]
The Monday Read
How Low Can We Go Edition Seems the question on everyone’s mind is how low is the yen going to go, and how long is it going to remain weak? Sadly no one knows. It’s 128 yen to the dollar as I write this. Personally I am hoping for the yen to strengthen, as I […]
My Number card health functionality
Something truly useful for My Number cards I haven’t been a fan of the My Number system, but since getting my card last year I have been slowly coming around. Last week I saw a sign in a hospital that may well accelerate the process and turn me into an advocate for My Number. It […]
The Monday Read
Sakura Edition Once again I have totally missed out on sakura season by being too busy to breathe. Hoping that will be different next year! Japan Times article I was asked to contribute to a Japan Times article, and it came out yesterday. I think they did a great job! Money matters: Fight inflation with […]
The Monday Read
Too Busy to Eat Edition This is rare for me (normally I make sure I eat too well). This week though, I was too busy to eat on several days. It was not a pleasant experience. The silver lining is that I lost some weight! But still, hopefully things will turn around soon. Working on […]
Signing up for Kokumin Nenkin
Quick, grumpy, done on paper I went into the ward office to sign up for kokumin nenkin today (this is pretty much the only thing involving pensions you should do at the ward office -make sure to ask questions at a pension office or by calling the national helpline). The process must be done within […]
The Monday Read
Unemployed Edition Well, as of last Friday I am now unemployed (again). Actually, it’s even worse than that. Due to a series of unfortunate events, I am now working for my wife full-time. Hoping to learn a lot and super-charge our school. The Forum The Forum is doing well (20,204 posts so far). Here are […]