Japanese Pension Secrets Every Indian Employee in Japan Should Know

When I first came to Japan, I was only thinking about salary, tax, rent, savings, and how to survive in Japan. Pension was the last thing on my mind. Like many of us working in Japan, I thought, that retirement is too far and let me first understand how to separate the garbages properly. 

But as years passed, I realized that Japanese pension (年金 – Nenkin) is something we foreign employees cannot ignore. Especially if we plan to return to our home country at the age of 60.

Today, I want to share how Japanese pension amount is calculated, and what difference it makes if we take pension at 60 versus 65.

If you are working in a Japanese company as a full-time employee, most likely you are enrolled in:

National Pension System (Kokumin Nenkin) – Basic pension

Employees' Pension Insurance (Kōsei Nenkin) – For company employees

As a company employee, you are usually paying into both (basic + employees’ pension). The good thing is: your company pays half of the premium. In India, many private employees don’t get this kind of structured retirement system, so in that way Japan is quite systematic.

National Pension

If you pay full National Pension for 40 years (from age 20 to 60), you receive full basic pension from age 65. As of recent figures, full basic pension is roughly around ¥800,000 per year (this amount changes slightly every year).

But most foreign employees don’t stay 40 years in Japan. Suppose:

You worked in Japan for 20 years.

You paid pension for full 20 years.

Then your basic pension will be approximately:

(20 years ÷ 40 years) × full amount

= 1/2 × ¥800,000

= Around ¥400,000 per year (from age 65)

 Actual amount depends on exact months paid.

Employees’ Pension (Kōsei Nenkin Part)

This part depends on:1) Your average monthly salary 2) Number of months you contributed

In simple terms: Higher salary + longer contribution = higher pension. For example: If someone earned an average monthly salary of ¥300,000 and contributed for 20 years, the Employees’ Pension part may give something like ¥500,000–¥700,000 per year (very rough estimate).

So total pension (basic + employees) could be:

Basic: ~¥400,000

Employees: ~¥600,000

Total: ~¥1,000,000 per year from age 65

What If I Return to India at Age 60?

Now comes the real question many Indians ask. If you leave Japan at 60 and go back to India, you have mainly two options:

Apply for Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment (if eligible and within time limit)

Keep your pension record and receive pension from age 65

Japan and India have a Social Security Agreement, so in some cases your contribution period can be combined for eligibility. That agreement is between the Governments of India and Japan, not a private arrangement.

Receiving Pension at 60 vs 65

Normally, standard pension age in Japan is 65. But you can choose early pension (as early as 60) with reduction. Here is the important part. If you start receiving pension at 60, your pension amount is reduced permanently.

Reduction is about 0.4% per month early (this percentage can change by law, so please always check latest information).

If you take pension 5 years early (60 instead of 65):

5 years = 60 months. So, 60 × 0.4% = 24% reduction

So if your pension at 65 was ¥1,000,000 per year, then at 60, it may become: ¥760,000 per year (after 24% reduction). This reduction continues for life.

Simple Comparison

If You Wait Until 65:

Annual pension: ¥1,000,000

No reduction

Higher monthly income for lifetime

If You Take at 60:

Annual pension: ~¥760,000

24% permanently reduced

You get money earlier

If you have other income in India (rent, business, family support), maybe waiting till 65 is better. If you urgently need money at 60, early pension may help.

If you permanently return to India at 60, you must maintain a bank account that can receive international transfers. Also, you must submit “proof of life” documents regularly. In addition the exchange rate (Yen to Rupees) also affects your real income.

When Yen is weak, pension value in INR becomes less. This is something we Indians naturally calculate in our heads. We always convert to rupees.

When I first heard about pension reduction, I felt it was slightly strict. But when I compare with many private sector situations in India where there is no guaranteed pension at all, I feel Japan’s system is at least stable and predictable.

If you are also an Indian in Japan thinking about retirement, I hope this small explanation helps you understand the difference between taking pension at 60 and 65.

Considering Indian Life Expectancy – Is 60 Actually Smarter?

When we discuss pension in Japan, most advice says:

“Wait till 65. You will get more money.”

That is mathematically correct.

But let us think from an Indian point of view.

In India, average life expectancy is around 67 years (approximately, based on recent public data). Of course many people live much longer — 75, 80, even 90 — but statistically speaking, average is not very high compared to Japan.

Now let us do very simple Indian-style calculation.

Case 1: Take Pension at 65

If you start at 65 and average life expectancy is 67:

You receive pension only for about 2 years.

If annual pension is ¥1,000,000:

2 × ¥1,000,000

= ¥2,000,000 total lifetime pension

Case 2: Take Pension at 60 (24% Reduction)

Annual pension becomes about ¥760,000.

But now you receive from age 60 to 67:

7 years × ¥760,000

= ¥5,320,000 total lifetime pension

Even though yearly amount is lower, total lifetime amount is much higher. Many of us return to India at 60. Those years between 60 and 70 are usually, time with family, attending children’s weddings, doing small business, travelling within India etc.

Money at 60 may actually be more useful than higher money at 75. Waiting till 65 is beneficial only if you expect to live much longer

Japan’s average life expectancy is above 80. So the pension system is designed assuming long life. But if we plan to settle in India, our lifestyle, healthcare access, stress level, and genetic factors are different.

So decision should not be emotional — it should be practical.

Pension may look like a boring topic, but after 60, it becomes very interesting. Please check official sources and consult pension office before final decision. I am only sharing what I learned from my search and understanding.

 

Why We Can't Change Our Nation Like Japan?

Why We Can't Change Our Nation Like Japan? This was the heading of a message that I received in one of the WhatsApp groups from an Indian friend. Indeed, there are many points in the list that every Indian should seriously think about and consider. We had a lengthy discussion about this topic in our group. Since I am in Japan, friends in the group were eager to check how far the points are true and the real facts in Japan.

The message I received without any editing is shared below:

Some very good and interesting points about Japan and its people. Read it till the end.

******

1. Did you know that Japanese children clean their schools every day for a quarter of an hour with teachers, which has led to the emergence of a Japanese generation that is modest and keen on cleanliness?

2. Did you know that any Japanese citizen who has a dog must carry a special bag to pick up dog droppings? Hygiene and their eagerness to address cleanliness are part of Japanese ethics.

3. Did you know that a hygiene worker in Japan is called a "health engineer" and can command a salary of USD 5000 to 8000 per month, and a cleaner is subjected to written and oral tests?

4. Did you know that Japan does not have any natural resources, and they are exposed to hundreds of earthquakes a year, but it did not prevent her from becoming the fourth largest economy in the world?.

5. Did you know that Hiroshima returned to what it was, economically vibrant before the fall of the atomic bomb, in just ten years?

6. Did you know that Japan prevents the use of mobiles in trains and restaurants?

7 - Did you know that in Japan, students from the first to sixth primary years must learn ethics in dealing with people?

8 - Did you know that the Japanese, even though they are some of the richest people in the world, do not keep servants, and the parents are responsible for the house and children?

9 - Did you know that there is no examination from the first to the third primary level?Because the goal of education is to instill concepts and character building, not just examination and indoctrination.

10. Did you know that if you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan, you will notice people only eat as much as they need without any waste? No wasteful food.

11. Did you know that the rate of delayed trains in Japan is about 7 seconds per year?!!

They appreciate the value of being on time, being very punctual to the minute and second.

12. Did you know that children brush their teeth after a meal at school? They maintain their health from an early age.

13. Did you know that students take half an hour to finish their meals to ensure right digestion? When asked about this concern, they said: These students are the future of Japan.

Do forward, please, as maximum Indians should learn about these good points...

The above message is being shared among Indians for a positive cause, and it deserves appreciation. As a nation, India needs to grow more from now on to reach near the developments that Japan had achieved. It may take many more years. It is a good thing that at least some of the youngsters think about bringing positive changes to the nation.

The change can be forced into the society, but a change will be successful if it comes from the society. People should feel that they need change. Japan also might have gone through such a phase in the past. India should also go through a similar social revolution that would establish positive attitudes deeply at every layer.

In our group discussion, I expressed my doubts about the points mentioned in 3 and 6, but in general I agreed with other points, though many of them are exaggerated.

What do you think? Let me know your opinion in the comment box.

Definition of a Lucky Man and an Unlucky Man

One day, I was talking to my Japanese colleagues and a few friends from London at a restaurant in Dubai about the life in Japan. They were eager to hear about the differences in life in Dubai and Japan. I thought of engaging them with a classic joke that I have heard from one of Japanese language classmates a few years ago when I was in Japan from one of my Japanese language classmates, Alex-san. 

During a coffee break, Alex-San explained what a lucky man and an unlucky man are: 

A lucky man is one who gets American Salary, French Cook, British House, and a Japanese Wife!. An unlucky man is one who gets American wife, French Salary, British Cook and a Japanese House!

Alex-San was curious to humorously describe the lower salary levels in France, but I was curious at the ‘Japanese wife’ and ‘Japanese house’ part of that joke. Though it is a joke based on the stereotyped observations, there are some truth, especially in the sizes of houses/apartments in Japan.

The salary from one of the American MNCs is considered to be the highest, and represents wealth and high earning potential. A French cook is celebrated for exceptional cuisine and gourmet expertise.Traditional British houses are known for their charm and architecture. Japanese wife is stereotyped as being graceful, caring, and family-oriented.

Contrary to the life of a lucky man, the life of an unlucky man is more miserable. The misery starts with an American wife, stereotyped as being demanding and a French salary generally considered lower compared to American salaries, with high taxes. A British cook adds more misery to his life with bland or uninspired cuisine. On top of the above he is living in a Japanese house, notorious for being small and compact with limited living space!

Jokes apart, in general, Japanese apartments are the smallest compared to the ones that we have lived in Dubai, India and Riyadh. There are apartments in Japan that are extremely small, typically ranging from 6 to 20 square meters. Such tiny apartments are popular among students, single professionals, and people on tight budgets, especially in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where real estate prices are high. Our apartment in Tokyo was about 88.82 square meters, with three bed rooms, one hall and a kitchen.

Personally, I consider myself was a person having Claustrophobia, fear of closed, tiny spaces. I experience a fear of suffocation or restriction, and desire to escape even at the imagination of a tiny room. Therefore I was conscious not to enter a “Coffin Apartment”, where only a bed and small shelf are provided.

Interestingly, tiny apartments often feature clever, space-saving designs such as lofted sleeping areas, foldable furniture, and built-in storage. They provide minimum amenities such as compact kitchens and bathrooms. Cost-wise, these tiny apartments are are affordable by city standards. In effect, these tiny apartments are still expensive considering their size due to the location.

My Japanese colleague shared his information about Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, which is an iconic building with ultra-small, modular living spaces, now largely abandoned. The Notorious tiny living apartments in Japan are often referred to as “geki-sema” 激狭 (ultra-small spaces). These are shared houses that are tiny, living spaces with rooms barely larger than a closet. Even, some Japanese people rent booths in internet cafes overnight because they can’t afford apartments.

Often highlighted as Japan’s innovative approach to urban density, these ultra-small living spaces raise questions about the challenges of affordable housing and quality of life in dense urban areas in Japan.

Learn to Write and Remember Numbers in Japanese Kanji

Learning Japanese Kanji is one of the toughest areas in the process of Japanese language learning, especially for non-Chinese foreigners in Japan. Kanji has its origin in China, and hence for Chinese people, that toughest part of the learning is discounted heavily. 

I have been searching for a better method to memorize Kanji in the shortest possible time. As part of my study to pass the Japanese language proficiency test level N4, I had studied 300 kanji. That was almost 3 years ago, and most of those kanji were buried deep somewhere in the brain.

Starting with simple kanji is one method. Some of the most frequently used and simple kanji are those of numbers. I was revising those kanji today and thought of writing about them (in an effort to reinforce my learning too).

一 いち、いつ、いと Examples of this kanji appear in the number one (1), which is pronounced as "ichi." This Kanji is used to write "January" as 一月, which can be written as いちがつ in Hiragana. The reading is "Ichigatsu." Another example comes in 一番, いちばん (ichiban), meaning "the best." Ichi is used in 世界一 (せかいいち). When it is used in 一つ (hitotsu or first), the reading becomes ひと (hito). Hito is used in 一人 (Hitori, ひとり), meaning "one person" or "single.".

二(に)、ふた、 Pronounced as Ni or Futa, this kanji is used to write the number 2 (ni). Ni is used to write February as 二月 (Nigatsu, にがつ), literally meaning the second month. When this kanji is used in 二人、ふたり (futari), the meaning is two people, and the reading becomes futa. This kanji is used when we want to say two months as 三か月 (Sankagetsu, さんかげつ).

三、さん、みつ. When it is used alone, reading as さん (san), the meaning is "three" (3). It is used in 三人 (さんにん San nin, three people) and also in 三角 (さんかく, Sankaku, meaning "Triangle"). When used in 三か月, Sankagetsu (さんかげつ), the meaning is three months.

The kanji for 4 (四、よん yon, し shi, or simply よ yo) is a bit confusing as it looks similar to 西、にし nishi, which means West. If you remember this similarity of 四 with 西, it is helpful to learn the kanji for the east. Since this kanji has two readings for the number four itself, it is often confusing to students. Yon is used to say the number, and shi is used when we say April, shigatsu しがつ 四月. This Kanji when used to mean "fourth" in Yottsu is written as 四つ (よっつ). We need to stress the "tsu." Yon is used in Yon kyuu, meaning "fourth grade," as 四級.

The number 5 is written in Kanji as 五, go ご. It can be read as itsu when used to mean fifth (itsutsu, いつつ). Thus, 5 months can be written in Japanese as 五ヶ月, ごかがつ, gokagatsu. Number 6 is written as 六、ろく roku. It is pronounced as mu む also. Thus number 6 is roku ろく. Six trees can be written as Roppongi 六本木 (which is a popular meeting spot for foreigners with a lot of pubs and is one of the famous happening places in Tokyo). The sixth day of the month is called Muika in Japanese, which is written as むいか 六日.

The number 7 has two readings, such as Nana (なな) and Shichi (しち). Nanatsu ななつ becomes seventh (7th). Seven wonders of the world is written as 世界の七不思議 (Sekai no nana fushigi or in hiragana せかいのななふしぎ). The number 8 is written as 八. It is much easier to write はち in kanji than in hiragana. Also pronounced as ya with a stress on t, when used to say eighth as yattsu やっつ. Hachinenkan (はちねんかん, 八年間 is 8 years.

The number 9 is ku く or kyuu きゅう, and the kanji is 九. In this case also, Kanji is easier to write than きゅう. It is pronounced as kokono ここの when used in Kokonotsu ここのつ, which means 9 months. September is くがつ kugatsu (九月). The number 10 is juu じゅう and is written as 十. Remember the + sign. This kanji is pronounced as too, とお. Example for too とお is 十日, とおか tooka, or tenth day. December is the 12th month, and in Japanese it is written as 十二月 じゅうにがつ juunigatsu. The numbers from 11 onwards are combinations of two numbers from numbers from 1 to 10. Thus eleven is Juuichi, 十一 じゅういち. The number 34 is さんじゅうよん, 三十四, and the number 87 is はちじゅうなな, 八十七.

One hundred is called hyaku in Japanese and is written as 百. In hiragana it is ひゃく. 100 yen shops are popular in Japan, and they are popularly known as hyakuyen shops, 百円店. This kanji is pronounced also as momo もも. 1000 is Sen せん and is written as 千. In 千円 せんえん sen yen, or the 1000Yen note, you might have seen the picture of a famous Japanese novelist, Natsume So-seki. The kanji for 1000 is pronounced as chi ち also when used in combination with other kanji.

The number 10,000 (ten thousand) has a leading role in Japanese accounting and sales, finance, and in almost every walk of life. Japanese people use the base of 10,000 when they shorten large numbers. 10,000 is 万, まん, man. Thus, 100,000 yen is juumanyen. 1,000,000 yen, one million yen is hyakumanen. See the common man, まん, which is used for 10,000. It is pronounced as banばん and yorozuよろず.

Correct me if I have made any mistakes.

Unexpected Costs For Rental Apartments in Tokyo

You may wonder why there are unexpected costs while renting an apartment! Some people call it unknown costs or hidden costs of living. You have to pay for it, but you did not expect such expenses. At the end of the day, you need to pay it.

The decision to rent an apartment and the type of apartment depend on some conditions. Are you going to be in Japan for quite a long time? for example, more than 2 years? If you plan to be in Japan for more than10 years, you can consider to buy your own house or apartment. If you know that your stay in Japan would not be longer than two years, it is better to look for a fully furnished apartment. All you need to do is making a payments for the utilities, phone and internet bills. 

During the process of searching for a new apartment, I became more aware of some of the "hidden costs". These hidden costs depend on the apartment type you choose. If you are going for a private apartment, a guarantor company should support and you need to pay for them. Some private apartment owners ask for renters insurance and lock exchange money. Public housing corporations such as UR and JKK do not have such hidden costs. However they also deduct "Damage and Cleaning" money from your deposit. 

Good things with UR and JKK are the exception of Key money, Agency commission, Guarantor fee, renters fee and lock exchange money. Deposit of two months is required for UR and JKK. Private apartments have more hidden costs, but apartments of public housing corporations are not free from hidden costs. 

When I approached the real-estate agent to look for an apartment in JKK housing complex in Komatsugawa, at first the agent talked about the attractive feature of Two-months Rent free campaign for couples with children. Then he informed that there is no gas stove installed in JKK apartment. Tenant needs to buy and install. Some of the rooms do not have lights. I bought lighting fixtures and fixed it myself. JKK apartments in Komatsugawa have lower wall heights compared to that of UR apartments. Hence some of the lighting fixtures became useless and we had to buy new ones. 

Some private apartments offer washing machine, Refrigerator, Television, Microwave oven, Heaters, Air conditioners and furniture such as Sofa, Dining table, study table and chairs. Apartments of Public housing corporations such as UR and JKK have started providing air conditioners. UR apartments in Komatsugawa provides Gas stove. JKK apartments have lighting fixtures fixed on the ceiling of entrance area, veranda, toilet, kitchen, Washing-bathroom area and Service room.   

In summary, the unexpected costs during the recent change of apartment from UR to the JKK were for Gas-stove and the light fixtures. The cost was around 60,000 JPY. 

Fifteen Years and Five Apartments

As the heading of this post indicates, I have lived in five apartments over a span of fifteen years of stay in Japan. The current one to which we moved in 2018 is the fifth apartment. 

The first apartment was in Kiba, near the office, where I lived for 4 months. The office was just 5 minutes walking-distance away. The apartment was 2 DK type and had enough space when I was alone. There was a shopping mall, Ito Yokado and tall buildings nearby. A lively place called Gatharia, where people gather with their kids. My dining room was so big during those days as I was dining at Mc Donalds, KFC, Japanese restaurants, and Mister Donut.

The second apartment was in Sakura, Chiba prefecture. I lived there for 3 months. I had to walk 10 minutes to reach the nearby supermarket and 22 minutes to the nearest railway station. That was like a village life, but could drop body weight a lot due to walking and running. Silence was the only companion while watching Japanese television programs. The branches of darkness played hide and seek game outside from where the shrilling sound of Cicadas tried to invade the silence. I was inclining towards spirituality, but occasional visits to Tokyo and its neon lit streets helped me to return to the world of ether.

The third apartment was a private apartment in Komatsugawa, near the 7-11 shop. It was one minute walking-distance away from Higashi Ojima station of Toei-Shinjuku line. The size of the apartment was 2DK. When wife and kids came to Japan, we started feeling the importance of moving to a little more larger apartment. Komatsugawa park, with 1000 Sakura trees was an attractive point of that apartment. Our social connections were growing and hence we hesitated to move away from Komatsugawa.

The Park and the growing social interactions with the expatriate community in Komatsugawa were the reasons behind choosing the fourth apartment near the Komatsugawa park itself. There was a thought of moving to an apartment near to the kids' school. Consideration social connections dominated our decision finally and we chose to stay near Komatsugawa park. We contacted Sakuma-san who manages a real-estate agency in Komatsugawa. He proposed some vacant 2LDK apartments  owned by UR housing corporation. The size was 65 sqm.

The 10th building of UR housing complex is a 33 storey building with garbage disposal room and the bicycle parking space at the ground (first) floor. We preferred the second floor since the bicycles would not complain about the footstep sounds. That 2LDK apartment was nice until our kids grew up and demanded separate rooms. 

All those 10 years and 7 months, company had made contract with apartment owners (almost 5 years in Private apartment and 5 years plus in UR apartment)

We started searching for a little more spacious apartment. We approached Sakuma-san (real-estate agent) again. He proposed JKK apartment, which is again in Komatsugawa. The size of the apartment we selected was 3SLDK with 88.8 sqm. JKK has an apartment complex in Komatsugawa 1-chome, near Higashi Ojima railway station. Our current apartment, which is on third floor has a spacious balcony with Arakawa river-view.

Will grouping Kanji by their shape be beneficial to Memorize?

I have been trying to organize and categorize the 常用漢字 (Jōyō Kanji) based on their form, structure, and so on. A few of my friends referred to this activity as tedious. They inquired whether there is any reasoning for doing this.

Japanese children practice Kanji by writing them over and over. Continuous practice is essential for retaining Kanji characters. For numerous working foreigners, who lack sufficient time for study, this iterative learning technique may not be feasible. This understanding motivated me to organize the Kanji according to their structure.

What have I done?

What I did was straightforward; I merely organized the Kanjis that appeared similar to me at first glance.

What made me do this?

I had trouble recalling the Kanjis that appeared alike. They left me feeling confused. Numerous Kanji appear alike, yet they possess distinct meanings and pronunciations. The slight disparity between them ranges from a mere dot or line to the connection of radicals.

How did I do?

I have a compilation of all the Kanji in an Excel spreadsheet. There was a column containing a list of Kanji. I relocated the Kanji that were completely dissimilar in appearance to their respective columns and began searching for Kanji resembling that initial Kanji. Eventually, I received a table of Kanji arranged in columns. I subsequently organized them based on their appearance. The simpler ones are at the top, while the more complicated ones are at the bottom.

Here are some samples:

I am not sure about the actual effect of this method in memorizing the Kanji for others, but it significantly assisted me (when I prepared for JLPT test) in distinguishing between kanji that appear alike yet have different meanings and pronunciations. I would appreciate your thoughts in the comment section.

Call and Reserve a Taxi Using JapanTaxi Application

Japan Taxi株式会社, Japan Taxi Company Limited has introduced a new feature to attract more users to its application. Suggest a friend and get a \1,000 coupon added to your account. With approximately 70,000 taxis covering all 47 prefectures of Japan, Japan Taxi is one of best taxi app that can be used when you are in Japan.

Expatriates often face difficulty to call a taxi and explain travel details to drivers in Japan. Most of the Japanese drivers communicate only in Japanese language. During initial days of settling in Japan, we had faced trouble in calling a taxi and had to depend on friends.

The new application from Japan Taxi aims to reduce the difficulties of foreigners to book the taxi by phone by introducing an App in English. One of my friends forwarded a link to download the app, with a coupon code. By clicking it, I downloaded the application and set up the account.

If you set up your credit card information on the app, you don't need to carry cash. The application allows you to tap to call a taxi, make a reservation or find your fare instantly. Some users have complained that the fare shown in the app and actual fare are different. 

To Call a Taxi using the app

Select your pickup location on the app to request a taxi. You can customize your order by selecting a drop-off location, type of car and payment method. You can even order multiple number of taxis if required. When your order matches with a nearby taxi, it will give you an estimated time of arrival. 

Making Reservation

If your travel plans are fixed in advance, you can place an order in advance by selecting the date and time. All you need to do is just follow the same steps as “Call a Taxi.”

Know the Fare

Go to Calculate Fare and enter pick-up and drop-off locations. It will show you an estimated fare and travel time. The actual fare will vary depending on traffic, road conditions and route taken. Probably this was the reason some users complained about the difference in fare shown in the app and the actual fare they paid. Fare Calculation is based on the calculated route offered by Google Map Service. Therefore, the actual route may vary.

Fixed fare for Airport Travel

Airport fixed-rate service is available to/from selected airports and limited pickup/drop-off points. Service is available to/from Haneda International Airport, Narita International Airport, New Chitose Airport, Chubu Centair International Airport, Kitakyushu Airport, Aomori Airport, Misawa Airport, Kansai International Airport and Itami Airport. The flat rate taxi service is available in selected cities and the fee may vary by participating taxi company. 

Japan Taxi Wallet and Cashless Payment Options

Users can link their payment method to the Japan Taxi account and pay the fare seamlessly. The Online Payment feature accepts credit cards and other online payment services. Payment with Google Pay is available with Google Play Services version 11.4 or newer.

Japan Taxi Company Limited has two more applications such as Driver乗務員アプリ and Kids Taxiキッズタクシー.

Daily-Life Japanese Language Lessons in Komatsugawa

After passing the level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), I have been planning to start a volunteer Japanese language study class for kids of foreigners living in the Komatsugawa area. Started gathering some ideas to start such a language class and was writing down points to make the classes effective for all foreigners, not only limited to kids. It was then we met Yumiko-san in the Edogawa ward office. 

I went to the Edogawa ward office to change the residence address. The front staff informed me that I needed to change the address on the children's insurance card as well after the change of address on the residence card (Zairyou card). The staff guided us to the second floor, where the child welfare office is located. After a few minutes wait, our turn came, and a lady staff member came and told us to fill out an application form. While seeing me filling up the application form in Japanese, with curiosity she asked from where I had learned the Japanese language. She told me that her daughter Nagisa-chan, who is a second-year university student, is interested in becoming a volunteer to teach Japanese to foreigners. What a coincidence! 

We exchanged contact numbers and then later met in Funabori to make basic planning for the volunteer classes. The idea to start a daily-life-supporting Japanese language class came out as a result of our discussion. Nagisa-chan can travel from her house to Komatsugawa on some weekdays and on Saturdays. We decided to make a WhatsApp group of students interested in the classes. 

Foreigners, especially housewives, face a lot of difficulties in daily life communicating in the Japanese language. In most cases, the husbands take a holiday to assist them to go to the hospital, banks, post office, etc. In most cases, both husband and wife are not able to communicate in the Japanese language. 

Daily Life Japanese language lessons in Komatsugawa aim to provide basic communication skills in the Japanese language. This would be a free class, but the participants need to share the expenses for booking the classroom, costs of printed materials, marker pens, and such related accessories. 

Some Best Movers in Tokyo for Expatriate Community

I have been preparing to move from the current UR apartment to a new apartment in JKK. The address up to the Komatsugawa 1-Chome would not change. The new apartment is approximately 400 meters away from the current apartment., "Find a cost-effective mover" comes on the top five among the list of things to do.

Majority of the expatriates in Tokyo is floating community. As expatriates we do not stick to one single place. The need to move from the current apartment may be simply due to change in work place, children's school, accessibility to public transportation, presence of friends, desire to move to new and larger-size apartment etc. 

I have started gathering addresses of movers by asking friends and the real estate agency. One of my friends suggested XPS Tokyo owned by Mr. Mike. At first I contacted him over phone and as per his suggestion, I did send a mail detailing my requirements as below;  

I guess I had used the service of XPS Tokyo for moving from a private apartment to the current UR apartment in 2013. When I heard his name this time again from one of my friends, it prompted me to think the quality of his service and the reputation he keeps among his customers. As expatriates, we have lot of concersn beginning from the communication problem and the procedures that should be followed while moving to a new apartment. 

The reasonable cost of 'service' is confusing, not only in Tokyo but also any part of the world. It is interlinked with the minimum salary level, Qualtiy of service and the market demand. Cost of moving on weekdays is cheaper than that on weekends. Most number of moving/shifting in Japan happens in the months of January and April   

Here are the reasons why I chose the service of XPS Tokyo for moving;

1. Competitive rate per load

Everything in Japan is costly, especially the work that requires more man hours. Moving business needs man hours. XPS Tokyo offered a very reasonable and attractive rate per load (2000 kg mini truck). We need a lot of money during moving for example to buy new furniture, household appliances etc. Shifting of the things from one place to another place will not offer any benefit and hence should be of reasonably economical

2. Easy to communicate 

My communication from the beginning with XPS Tokyo was in English You don't need to worry that you still know 'Ohayou gozaimasu' 

3. Easy to negotiate 

(You must be an expert in Japanese language to negotiate or you need to ask the help of someone either in your office or among the friends.) 

4.Friendly Staff:

Mr. Mike, who is basically from UK has been in the moving business in Japan for over 17 years. He and his staff were very cooperative during the whole process. If you missed out some items before the cost estimation, you don't need to apologize!

5. Quality of service

XPS Tokyo offers reasonably good quality of service, customized to the customer's requirement. We had packed most of the items and made ready for moving. XPS Tokyo brings basic jigs and tools required for the safety of furniture and home appliance.

I was satisfied with his service. If you are looking for a mover, I would recommend XPS Tokyo. Below is the mail that was sent to XPS Tokyo to inform the list of items and get an estimated cost.

Contact details as below;

Mr. Mike: +81 90 1217 4445

Tips to Pass JLPT Level N2 in Three Months

You might be curious whether it is feasible to clear the Level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) within 3 months, right? In July 2017, the N2 level passing rate in Japan was 38.3%; however, that did not deter me from taking the test.

Certainly, it is feasible, and I accomplished it in July 2018. On September 10th, I got my Test Result from the entity administering JLPT exams. The total is 103 from a possible 180. Level N2 consists of three (3) parts: Reading (読解), Listening (聴解), and Kanji/Vocabulary/Grammar (文字、語彙、文法). A minimum score of 19 marks is required for each section, and a cumulative total of at least 90 marks out of 180 must be achieved. The challenging aspect of N2 is the individual scoring, which is the main cause of the increased failure rate.

The entity established by国際交流基金 Japan Foundation and日本国際教育支愛協会 (Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, JEES). Japan Educational Exchanges and Services administers the test within Japan, while the Japan Foundation oversees the test abroad in partnership with local host institutions.

An individual who has passed the N2 exam should be able to read clearly written materials on diverse subjects, including articles and commentaries found in newspapers and magazines, along with straightforward critiques, and understand their meanings. Additionally, those who passed N2 level is supposed to have the ability to read texts on various subjects and comprehend their storylines, as well as grasp the writers' intentions.

I was able to achieve 53 out of 60 in Listening. I was sure that I could accurately understand over 80% of what I listen to. We should be able to comprehend the verbal presentation of content, including the logical and rational aspects of an argument or theory, as well as news articles. These discussions and reports are delivered at almost natural pace in common scenarios and across different environments. We need to respond to questions regarding the information they listened to. We must be capable of tracking their thoughts and understanding their meanings. Also, it is necessary to comprehend the connections between the individuals involved and the crucial aspects of the materials presented.

So, what do we need to pass JLPT N2 in 3 months?

Dedication

This applies not just to the JLPT, but also to accomplish any goal in life; a committed approach is essential. JLPT particularly requires a significant amount of it. We must not stray from our objectives under any circumstances. Many foreigners arrive in Japan for employment and may have already surpassed the age appropriate for studying. A study released by NHK reveals that 84.8% of foreign residents are aged between 15 and 64, which constitutes the working age demographic. Individuals in their 20s and 30s account for 51.9% of that demographic. Younger individuals tend to find it relatively simpler to stay committed. I likely studied for 2 to 3 hours daily from April 14 to June 30 on weekdays, in addition to over 7 hours of lessons on Saturdays at the JLPT Academy. On Sundays, I would go to a volunteer Japanese class in Ogikubo.

Organized Approach to Remember Kanji

There are designated texts like those from 日本語総まとめ(Nihongo Soumatome) for both Grammar and Kanji. Study 20 to 30 Kanji daily. Review them the following day and study an additional group of 20 to 30. On the third day, we will review 40 to 60 Kanji and study an additional group of 20 to 30.

Read, Read, and Read.

In addition to studying Kanji, read the book 新完全マスター読解日本語能力試験N2. This book serves as an excellent collection of earlier examination resources. Reading this book multiple times will provide a strong understanding of common sentence structures and vocabulary often found in JLPT N2. After a couple of months of consistent reading of this book, you will notice that you can successfully answer most of the questions without even having read the entire text! Gratitude to Tamegai-Sensei of JLPT Academy for effectively guiding on time management during the Reading test.

YouTube Clips

There are many videos on YouTube to assist individuals preparing for every level of the JLPT. One of my preferred You tube channels was 日本語の森.Listen to the lessons multiple times while you walk and travel to work. Hearing the same words and phrases multiple times would be etched in your memory. You can also find previous years' listening question papers on YouTube. Hear them over and over.

Grammar Study

I owe my gratitude to Nozawa-sensei from JLPT Academy, as all the grammar I learned for the N2 exam was what she taught in her Saturday classes. She assigned a great deal of homework...a great deal. I made errors consistently, but she rectified each one with patience.

These activities were what I engaged in from April to June 2018, and the outcome was 103 out of 180. It’s not an impressive score, but Japan Educational Exchanges and Services was able to evaluate my level quite accurately. Driven by curiosity and to confirm my N2 proficiency, I took the online J-CAT test and achieved a score of 224, which corresponds to JLPT N2.

Achieving a total score above 90 in JLPT N2 and 19 in each section is not difficult. Sustaining that standard and progressing from it requires a significant amount of commitment and hard work.

Things You Need to Do in Priority When Shifting to a New Apartment

Japan is known for systematic procedures. Japanese people are trained to do everything systematically. In other words, if anything deviates from the order, it would be very difficult for them to find a short cut to proceed. Most often they go back to the original position and restart again. Order is very important and hence if we follow the order, the life and the activities would be smooth and hassle-free.

When I made a plan to move to a new apartment, the first thing I did was making a list of items to do in priority. This really helped me to do the things systematically. The things to do and their priority may change from individual to individual, but there are certain common things. The dates may later change a bit here and there, the list will definitely help as a reminder for pending things.

S #	Item	Date	Status
1	See the Vacant JKK Apartment (along with real estate agent)	3-Nov	Done
2	Make online application (Real estate agent will do)	3-Nov	Done
3	Prepare necessary documents for application (start the work before the arrival of original application form)	4-Nov	Done
4	Fill-up the JKK Apartment application (with the help of real estate agent)	8-Nov	Done
5	Application for JKK Parking (with the help of real estate agent)	8-Nov	Done
6	JKK Confirmation expected	12-Nov	Done
7	Contact Movers and send list of items	13-Nov	Done
8	Get application form for apartment Contract cancellation with UR (after confirmation from JKK)	12-Nov	Done
9	Get application form for Parking Contract cancel for UR Parking (after confirmation from JKK)	12-Nov	Done
10	JKK Rent payment form at Bank	15-Nov	Done
11	JKK Parking advance payment	15-Nov	Done
12	Fill-up and submit the contract cancellation for Apartment and Parking	16-Nov	Done
13	KDDI address change	16-Nov	Done
14	Change Internet service provider change to au hikari	16-Nov	Done
15	Confirmation of date with Movers company	16-Nov	Done
16	Contact Tokyo Gas (Inform New address, date of service start and date of disconnection at old apartment)	17-Nov	Done
17	Contact TEPCO (Inform New address, date of service start and date of disconnection at old apartment)	17-Nov	Done
18	Contact Water company (Inform New address, date of service start and date of disconnection at old apartment)	20-Nov	Done
19	Order New TV Stand, Cupboard, chairs	22-Nov	Done
20	Contract with JKK for house and Parking (Go to Shibuya office)	26-Nov	Done
21	Address change at ward office	26-Nov	Done
22	Prepare Juminhyo with new address	26-Nov	Done
23	Address change at Child health insurance section at ward office	26-Nov	Done
24	Buy new Gas stove	26-Nov	Done
25	Final packing of utensils	26-Nov	Done
26	Moving to new apartment (by XPS Tokyo)	27-Nov	Done
27	Arranging furniture at new apartment (Partly by XPS Tokyo)	27-Nov	Done
28	Address changes at Bank and Credit card	28-Nov	Done
29	Address change information by application at Post office	28-Nov	Done
30	Address change information at School	28-Nov	Done
31	Address change information at office	28-Nov	Done
32	au Hikari router installation work (by au hikari staff)	28-Nov	Done
33	Shift lights and lamps from old apartment	28-Nov	Done
34	Unpack boxes/bags with important items	28-Nov	Done
35	Throw garbage at old apartment	29-Nov	Done
36	Cleaning of old apartment	29-Nov	Done
37	Gas disconnection at old apartment	30-Nov	Done
38	Electricity Main switch off at old apartment	30-Nov	Done
39	Water disconnection at old apartment	30-Nov	Done
40	Unpack the remaining boxes/bags at new apartment	30-Nov	Done
41	UR Key handover	30-Nov	Done
42	Furniture Delivery by Nitori	30-Dec	Done
43	UR Inspection at old UR apartment	1-Dec	Done
44	Address change for American express	1-Dec	Done
45	Address change (Amazon)	1-Dec	Done
46	Address change (Rakuten)	1-Dec	Done
47	Address change (Seven-eleven card)	1-Dec	Done
48	Address change in Driving License (Koto driving license center)	4-Dec	Done

As you can see, almost within one month, the whole activities were finished. We are in a new apartment now!