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!

Documents to be Prepared for Applying for a JKK Apartment in Tokyo

I have been preparing the documents that are necessary to make an application to move to JKK apartment. Living in a UR Apartment in Komatsugawa for the past five years, we felt the need to move a little more larger size apartment. One month before moving, I had a talk with Sakuma-san, who runs a real-estate agency near the convenience stores in Komatsugawa. He was the one who showed me the current UR Apartment five years ago

For selling and buying property in Japan, we need to approach a real estate agent. Only registered real estate agents are authorized to do this transaction. Sakuma-san has good knowledge about the properties that are vacant and ready for occupancy. He is calm and cool guy with a pleasant face. His polite nature is a kind of compensation for his lack of fluency in English to deal with expatriates.

He showed us a vacant apartment, which was 3SLDK with 88.82 sqm area. The apartment is south-faced, which is considered as auspicious by Japanese people. "Minamimukhi" is the term they use for such houses. Our current apartment is also Minamimukhi. The apartment is designed to have two western style bed rooms (wooden floor) and one Japanese style bedroom (Tatami floor), a living room with a size of 13.8sqm and a service room having an area of 2.1sqm. Kitchen is separate from the living room. A long veranda and the spacious entrance made this apartment matched almost with our expectations. 

Our decision to select the apartment was quick and therefore we requested Sakuma-san to proceed with application. Within two days of online application, we received a big envelope containing documents that are required to be filled-up, one setsumeisho (an explanation leaflet), and sample application forms. 

Before listing out the documents, let me say that you need a guarantor, who does not live in a JKK apartment. The guarantor needs to write his/her name and address and also stamp some of the documents. He/she shall also prepare the Seal Registration Certificate 印鑑登録証明書　(いんかんとうろくしょうめいしょ)

Here is the list of documents that I received from JKK and prepared from my side;

Documents Received from JKK Office

1. House Leasing Agreement (住宅賃貸借契約書　じゅうたくちんたいしゃくけいやくしょ- 2 Nos Original. Applicant needs to write Address, full name as per the Zairyo card and stamp. Guarantor shall also write his/her name, address and stamp.

2. Confirmation sheet for Current Appearance Status Contract 現状有姿契約に関する確認書

3. 覚書 Memorandum in which the applicant and the guarantor write their name and put stamp.

4. 公社有り駐車所場使用申込書 Application for the use of Parking lot for the public

5. お友達紹介フェア　（紹介票）Friend Introduction fair (Introduction slip): JKK campaign includes a payment of 10,000 Yen to a friend living in JKK apartment. If the JKK apartment is introduced to you by your friend, JKK will pay him 10,000 Yen! I filled up the form

6. 情報登録カード　Information Registration card, where one need to write personal particulars of the applicant and the guarantor.

Prepared by me

1. Tax Withholding slip of Previous Year's Total Salary: I had to submit for the year 2017,that is Heisei 29. 平成２９年分　給与所得の源泉徴収票This is a kind of salary slip issued by your company stating the amount of tax paid to the authorities. Usually Japanese companies issue this slip at the beginning of a year, which they attach with the salary slip. If not available, a Taxation Certificate　課税証明書　(かぜいしょうめいしょKazei shoumeisho) should also do the job. Confirm with your real estate agent.

2. Residence Certificate 住民票 (じゅうみんひょう　Juuminhyou) issued by the ward office.

3. Seal Registration Certificate 印鑑登録証明書 (いんかんとうろくしょうめいしょ inkan tourokushoumeisho). Inkan shoumeisho can be obtained from either from the ward office or from the nearest convenience store

3.1 My own Seal registration certificate (original)

3.2 Guarantor's Seal registration certificate. If guarantor is your friend, ask him to give this seal registration certificate (original). 

4. Copy of Vehicle Inspection Certificate (車検書 shakensho). This is required if you want parking space also to be moved to the same JKK building.

Useful Link: JKK東京＜東京都住宅供給公社＞JKK Tokyo <Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Corporation>

http://www.to-kousya.or.jp/

Is it Possible to Pass JLPT Level N2 in Less Than Three Months?

Here is a good news to share; I passed JLPT N2 !! やっと日本語能力試験Ｎ２級に合格したよ！！

After a two and a half months of literally vigorous and focused study at JLPT Academy that started from April 14, 2018 to June 23, 2018, I took the N2 exam on July 1, 2018 in first attempt. Before the exams, I used to search on the internet to get tips on how to pass JLPT N2 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level N2) in 6 months. Their posts were inspiring and when I realized that the time is not enough, I started searching to check if it is possible to pass JLPT N2 in 3 months. It was unbelievable while reading the blogs written by those people who had achieved their target in 6 or even 3 months. Now, it is possible to say that if your current level is N3, you can pass level N2.  

The first thought to try for the JLPT N2 exam surfaced on the mind somewhere in December 2016, but came to know from one of my sensei that I was not even near to the Level N3 (After her evaluation of Japanese reading/listening ability). Before those classes, in 2015 and 2016 I had attended a few classes at a volunteer organization in Gyotoku. The classes were conducted by an organization that supports 'Hikikomoris'. Those classes helped me to refresh what I studied for JLPT N4.

In December 2016, one of the ads in Craiglist offering Japanese language lessons for 1000 Yen per hour triggered my desire to prepare for the N2 exam. I contacted the sensei who had given the ad and went for the trial lesson/interview. Though my desire was to start preparation for N2, I was informed by the Sensei that my level of Japanese was not sufficient to read and understand the text books for Level N3!! That was tough for me to accept, but unfortunately that was the fact.

A gap of more than 6 years, it was too hard to bring back the interest in Japanese language study. The classes started in February 2017, were in Yokohama and I had to travel from Higashi Ojima on weekends. More than one hour travel to the classes, I had to keep myself motivated and energized on weekends. Support from wife and kids were commendable. Continued the classes for almost 6 months, which in total had given me around 80 hours of study of materials for Level N3.. At the end of the lessons, I had started talking in Japanese.

Later I realized that level N2 is not a simple task and need more focused and systematic preparation. In February 2018, I came across an ad of JLPT Academy in Facebook regarding their JLPT preparation courses. Applied for N2 exam in March and started the power-packed JLPT N2 level preparation course from April 14. The nearest train station I used to reach the classes was Ogawamachi in Toei Shinjuku line. The lessons were on Saturdays, starting from 9:30 in the morning and ending at 5:45 in the evening with a one hour lunch break.

All grammar, vocabulary, Kanji, Reading and Listening practices were included in the classes, taught by two teachers, one in the morning session and another in the afternoon session. In total, ours was a group of 3 students. Initially it was hard to catch up to the tight schedules and targets that the teachers set on us. A lot of homework and self study were required to memorize especially the new vocabularies learned in the classes.