You may have learned about personal finance in your home country, but how much of that knowledge is applicable to your situation in Japan? As a foreigner living in Japan, it can be confusing to learn about a new economic system, including the banks, payment methods, and finance apps. Whether you are staying in Japan for one year, ten years, or permanently, here is what I think every international resident in Japan should know about managing personal finances in Japan. Choose the Best Banking Service for You When I moved to Japan as a CIR on JET, I was automatically signed up with Ashikaga Bank, a major bank…
Recommended Articles |
The Silent Disappearance – About the Phenomenon of Hikikomori
They sit in their tiny rooms, in front of their computers, and lie on their beds during the day. They only go outside at night, and only if they can’t avoid it. Out into life? No,…
Japanese Women Shave Their Faces. So Do I.
Let’s talk about shaving–and to me, no conversation about shaving is complete without discussions of socialization. Yes, in Japan, many women also shave their faces. No, they don’t shave their faces as men do. I, too,…
Beginner Japanese Tip: Overcoming the Ambiguity of “Daijobu”
One of the more challenging aspects of learning Japanese is dealing with words that have multiple—often opposite—meanings. For beginners, one prominent example of this phenomenon is the word daijobu. Essentially, this word represents the concept of…
Norio Tera: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Japan’s Media and Entertainment Industry
Following the news is critical for getting a pulse on what’s really happening in Japan—the events and trends that are shaping Japanese culture in real time. Additionally, Japanese entertainment such as television shows, video games, and…
How to Reduce Your Cost of Living in Japan and Thrive on a Tight Budget
There’s no beating around the bush: Japan is not a cheap place to live in Asia. Of course, especially compared to many European and North American countries, Japan’s cost of living is not particularly expensive either….
The Best Advanced Japanese Language Podcasts to Learn Something New about the World in 2022
I am a huge fan of podcasts, but as an advanced Japanese speaker, sometimes I have struggled to find engaging content at the right level in Japanese. I consider myself fluent, but of course, I am…
Why the Japanese Nintendo 3DS Is an Amazing Device for Learning Japanese
In my ongoing (and perhaps never-ending) quest to achieve full Japanese literacy, I’ve developed a reputation for being a digital flashcard addict. However, effective as they are, flashcards alone are not enough to become fully literate…
How Ikkyu Built Trust with Kyushu Tea Producers
Aldo and Joëlle arrived in Japan more than ten years ago. Attached to good terroir, they wanted to import Italian products. However, unpredictable events made them move to Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu. There, they…
Richard Katz: Inflation, Startups, and Japan’s Economic Future
The longer you live abroad, the more vested you become in the economic stability and success of the country you now call home. Having lived in Japan since 2009, my livelihood is firmly rooted here, and…