Input needed: Invest or not...

[Robertky]

Hi,
I am an EU citizen living and working in Japan and thinking about investing. I don't know much about it, I've been reading a lot here in the forum and watched youtube videos - but still I have too many questions and I would like to ask for your opinion.

I'm 42, permanent resident, have a stable job (not rich ) but I am not sure how long I'm going to stay in Japan. Maybe 10 more years, maybe until retirement - and then go back to Europe.

Is it worth to start investing here? I am about to open a Monex/Nisa account. For the beginning I'd like to invest 400.000 Yen (still haven't decided in what, any ideas?), later I'll be able to invest 20-30.000 Yen monthly. 
What if I decide to leave Japan in 8 or 10 years? Would I be able to transfer my ETFs and shares to a depot in the EU? Selling would be risky...Right now I am not able to open a depot in my home country because I do not have an address there.

Any advice? I appreciate your input! 
Thank you,
Rob

[RetireJapan]

Hi Rob

Welcome! If you leave Japan you will probably have to sell everything and transfer the money to your new country of residence.

If you don't want to do that you could invest with an international broker like Interactive Brokers.

However investing with Japanese brokers is easier in terms of paperwork and costs.

Anyone else?

[Spa06Jc]

I'm hedging my bets between a Nisa account in Japan and an IB account abroad. I have dreams of returning to the UK in the future, but I've had them for the last 8 years and I'm still here, now with a family of my own.

My thinking is if I move back at any point, I will still have to transfer my money whether it is invested or not, and will likely re-buy the same/similar assets anyway.

Keen to hear other people's thoughts.

[RetireJapan]

I am planning to stay in Japan, but I still have some assets abroad because I am obsessive about having back-up plans

If I were planning to leave at some point, I would probably do some investing in Japan and some through IB or similar.

[kansaifolk]

Being able to open up a tax free trading account here through NISA is a gift. Opportunity for tax free growth on any capital gains. I would suggest a NISA account. You will have to sell everything when you leave (you won't be able to transfer in kind to a new stock in your home country). But as long as you plan well and know a couple years in advance of you leaving, you can make decisions when you sell certain holdings.
Will your home country allow you to open a non-resident account? So you could be sending some home and investing some here?
Good luck.