TODAY”S QUESTION:

I will be receiving cash gifts in Japan during an upcoming trip (wedding party!) I’m certain that the envelopes will all contain YEN, but I will be immediately returning to the U.S. afterward. How can I avoid fees on exchanging large amounts? Can I open a bank account in Japan that is accessible at a U.S. ATM machine?

As previously covered on the 3Yen, it’s not hard to open a Japanese bank account. The obvious place to go for access to ATMs internationally is CitiBank Japan. However, this isn’t gonna be a big savings for you…..

As far as “avoiding fees on foreign exchange” — there’s just about no-way Jose. (See a exception below.)
However, fees do differ. The Japanese Post office does cheaper wire transfers. Mitsubishi-Tokyo Bank offers good rates to walk up customers.
Lloyds “Jet Set Japan” has:
“The service allows you to use your local ATM and any of the 28,000 across Japan to transfer money home. There is a flat fee for the service, of 2,000yen per remittance. It costs nothing to register for the service.”

Normally I just use the Japan Post Office’s international money orders (”giro”) for amounts under $3,000.This requires paying 780 yen and filling out this longish form sometimes several so I fill them out in advance. They will give up a paper money order or wire your money directly into a foreign bank account ( you need to know the routing number, account number, addresses, branch names, etc.)
Of course if you’ve got 20 million yen or more to spare….

Standard Chartered makes Tokyo retail banking debut
Japan Times, July 7—
Britain-based Standard Chartered Bank on Tuesday opened its first
branch for retail customers in Japan, aiming to gain a foothold in an
increasingly focused market. The branch, located in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, targets
customers with assets worth some 20 million yen or more by providing Japan’s first no-commission foreign-currency accounts ..more….

The best advice is leave your pets at home. Japan is bad place to be a pet. Hell, it’s tough to be a human. If must and you are on “The Package” (all expenses paid move by a company) here are the rules.

Importing Pets into Japan (Update)
Via the American Embassy Tokyo, Community Update - July 2005
This is the latest update regarding Japanese Government regulations pertaining to importation of pets into Japan.
The Japanese Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) is the official source of information regarding the import and export of pets in Japan. Their very helpful English website may be found at the URL here
It is imperative that persons who wish to import their pet to Japan consult the AQS website and make the proper coordination directly with the AQS in order to avoid any misunderstandings. The personnel in AQS have proved to be very helpful and they encourage direct communication through email or fax. For Narita airport arrivals, AQS can be reached at:
Terminal 1: FAX 81-476-30-3011; EMAIL na-k1@maff-aqs.go.jp
Terminal 2: FAX 81-476-34-2338; EMAIL na-k2@maff-aqs.go.jp
Check with your airline for the terminal at which you will arrive. Other phone numbers and AQS offices around Japan are listed on their website. Note that due to strict quarantine laws of Japan, AQS is unable to grant exceptions and that animals which have not met all requirements as described on their website are subject to being held for extended periods of quarantine, or possibly deported back to the origin of the flight.
The following is a summary of the rules for importing pets into Japan:
The full procedure with time-lines is outlined at the AQS website.
The animal must have microchip identification. This must be done before the rabies vaccinations. The only microchips that can be read at Japan AQS facilities are ISO 11784 and 11785 Standards. For any other chips, you must bring your own microchip reader.
After receipt of the microchip, the animal receives the first of two rabies vaccinations. These must be inactivated rabies vaccinations. Be sure to obtain certification of the period of validity for the particular vaccinations that you obtain (some are good for two years, others for only one). The pet must be at least 90 days old at time of first vaccination.
- The animal receives a second vaccination at least 30 days after the first vaccination.
- Anytime after the second vaccination, the animal must receive a Fluorescent Antibody Viral Neutralization (FAVN) Blood Test to ensure that the rabies vaccinations have provided adequate rabies antibody levels, and must be approved by a facility approved by the Government of Japan. Approved sites are listed at the AQS website (currently there are only two in the U.S.).
- No later than 40 days before arrival in Japan, you must fax a formal notification to AQS on an Import Application Form. This notification form and all other recommended certificates and forms can be found here. AQS will send an acknowledgement upon receipt of the form.
- Obtain a health certificate for the animal verifying that it is free of rabies and, in the case of dogs, leptospirosis. The certificate must be approved by the national government in the country of export (USDA’s APHIS if coming from the U.S.).
- On arrival be prepared to present completed forms “A” and “C” from the AQS site, Acknowledgement of Advance Notification, and completed Import Quarantine Application.
- Animals that arrive with all documents in order, including readable microchip, are normally cleared at the airport in under two hours although AQS states “within 12 hours” on their website.
- Animals that arrive without the appropriate health certificate, without making advance notice to AQS, without a readable microchip ID, or without the proper blood test and 180 day waiting period, will be subject to additional quarantine periods, or possibly deportation upon arrival in Japan.
- Kennel rates while in quarantine in Japan are approximately $30-35 per day.
- For most travelers, the process will take at least seven (7) months from the date of the first rabies vaccination, so advance planning is critical.
For pets transiting Japan, even for overnight stays, Japanese importation laws do not apply. Each individual airline is responsible for transit pets through Japan. It is important for persons transiting Japan to make close coordination with the airline to ensure that all necessary requirements are met.

Yes, I have official Japanese government proof that I’m an ALIEN.
Above is a picture of my Japanese Alien Registration Card, hee, hee.
Every foreigner in Japan longer than 90 days has to go down to their ward office to get one. It’s a pain in the ass but the gaijin card has been a mostly harmless process until now.
The current alien registration card (Gaikokujin Toroku) contains the holder’s name, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, address, passport information, visa status, occupation and company or school. The new IC card will be tied into a new “intelligence center,” and will hold fingerprint data to compile database on foreigners.
Think “666, the mark of the Beast” and put on your tinfoil hat because it is unclear whether these will RF capable cards that can be read at long distence. I say tinfoil hat because if you were paranoid about broadcasting all your personal information, all you have to do is wrap this IC card in tinfoil to block any transmission of your data.

Japan Gov’t will require all foreigners to carry IC card IDs
….plan to require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, with all data to be kept at an “intelligence center,”
…the new system, intended to replace the current Certificate of Alien Registration that foreigners have to carry…
Under the plan, foreigners will have to carry with them at all times IC cards that contain information such as their name, nationality, address, birth date, passport number, visa status and place of employment or study. Holders will be required to report any change of address and obtain permission to change jobs.
…..Under the new policy, companies and schools where foreigners work or study will also be required to report to the authorities about when the foreigners move or change jobs, and will be subject to penalties for any falsified information….

More worrying to some gaijin in Japan, is that these new Alien Registration rules and IC cards will be require them to obtain permission to change jobs.
Sounds like slavery, doesn’t it?
Well it is.
Welcome to Japan Inc.
ALL Japanese have to follow a simliar rule because they have to obtain a “Permission to Leave the Company” certificate to quit a company. It sucks to have to grovel to ask for this even though your soon-to-be-ex-boss is more or less required to give it to you.
Actually, all foreigners must report to their ward office in 30 days any changes of address or job in the current Alien Registration system. The new IC card for Alien Registration system is simply codifying the present rules on a national database scale.

But wait there’s more fun.
There’s the new-n-improved ” Immigration BLACKLIST.”
In the past, the Immigration blacklist was just that a paper list on names and passport numbers of evil gaijin who had been caught at such evil deeds as failing to notifying their ward office of overstaying their visa one week or quiting and getting new job. Needless to say the paper blacklist was not effective. Now the national blacklist will have more effect. It’s actually been computerized for two years now and at every Japanese airport the authorities now know that I was arrested for running an illegal frog jumping contest in 1981.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, KRT Wire | 06/11/2005 | Japanese government plans to compile database on foreigners
TOKYO - The Justice Ministry…. can currently search online only text information, such as an individual’s name and nationality, and plans to upgrade the system to download images, such as people’s photos and fingerprints.
Records on individuals who in the past were deported after committing crimes also will be able to be accessed online under the new system, according to the sources, adding that those records are now available only by fax from the local immigration bureau that deported the individual….

UPDATE:
The reports are the Japan is still at “working team” on the IC card for Aliens. Therefore there gonna a lot more time and a bunch more changes before this Mark-of-the-Beast-666 IC card law goes into effect.

Kyodo via Yahoo: Japan eyes tightening control of foreign residents
The Japanese government decided Tuesday to set up a working team to consider ways of tightening its control of foreign residents as an anticrime step. The team will consider such measures as requiring long-stay foreigners in Japan to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, government officials said. Envisaged to comprise senior officials from various ministries, the team is expected to come up with specific steps in about a year and present a bill to revise the foreign resident registration law, possibly in the regular Diet session in 2007, one official said.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party earlier proposed that the government require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry ID cards with chips recording their identity data. The LDP and the government claim the new policy is aimed at keeping track of foreigners as part of its measures to prevent terrorism and crimes. The working team will also consider easing restrictions on foreign residents such as enabling them to stay longer in Japan, the officials said.

Also read News.3Yen.com’s report: Japan landing announcement: “Please take your free IC ID cards at the airport and always carry them.”

Q. I don’t live in Japan but for business purposes I need an Japanese address. Can I get a post office box?

A. Yes. You can rent post office box at most central post offices and have the mail forwarded to you.

However it’s not a true ‘accommodation’ address. The mail is just held at the post office for you so you need to tell whoever is writing to you the name of the post office and the box number. Access times may also be restricted.

A better solution that provides a true Japan address at a reasonable cost is the Pakmail company which has various size mail boxes for rent at all of it’s locations You get a regular Japanese address (the address of the Pakmail office) 24 hour access and can have the mailed sorted, forwarded or remailed very easily. Prices are quite low.

Japan Pakmail Website

Q. If I divorce my Japanese spouse in Japan can I expect to get custody or access to the children.

A. Regrettably Japan has a very poor record when it comes to child custody. In almost every case full custody will be awarded to the Japanese spouse.

This will happen irregardless of the capability of such a spouse to support themselves or the children. The feeling is that the child living with the Japanese spouse will then be brought up in Japan and have the wider support of the Japanese spouse’s extended family.

Depending on how well or acrimonious the divorce was the non-Japanese spouse may have almost no access to the children despite any court ordered visitation rights. Simply put it all comes down to the willingness of the Japanese spouse to allow access.

Further even should the divorce be overseas and custody granted to the non-Japanese there is a good chance the child or children could be illegally brought back to Japan by the Japanese spouse and access restricted to the non-Japanese spouse

Once the child is with the Japanese spouse and in Japan it’s very much a closed issue as far as the courts are concerned.

Q. I need a Japanese bank account so my company can transfer my salary.

A. Anybody can open a Japanese Bank account. There a several different kinds of accounts (mostly concerned with savings) so be sure you get a normal account a so called Futsu Koza.

Simply fill in the application form, it may be bilingual but if not get one of the lobby helpers to guide you. You will need two forms of ID. Your passport is best and one other. Deposit some starter cash and you will receive a bank book with your account number in it. It’s that number your employer will need along with the name of the branch when they transfer your salary.

Thinking ahead, if you are living for some time in Japan get yourself a simple personal stamp with your name on it, so called Hanko. It’s not necessary but it saves a lot of time when doing business in Japan.

After opening the account the Bank will post on to you your ATM cash card.

Remember it’s not a credit card. Applying for and getting a credit card from Japanese Bank requires more qualifications and more paperwork.

Q. Can I drive in Japan with my own countries license?

A. No. If you are stopped by the police for even the smallest thing they will always ask to see your driving license (please don’t pretend you can’t speak Japanese, that will only get you either detained or arrested until an interpreter can be found and also these days a lot of police can speak basic ‘traffic English’)

If you can’t produce a Japanese license the police will hold you and probably prosecute you. Not having a driving license can be a serious matter if you have been involved in an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault!

You can drive in Japan on an international driver’s license (for up to one year only) but it is better to get a Japanese license. This can be done quite easily by taking your current license and your passport to the local motor vehicle office. If you have a clean license and your visa is not a tourist type visa then you should be able to simply convert to a Japanese license

Important - If you have lived in Japan for more than one year then have no choice you must convert your current driver’s license into a Japanese license.

In Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road and have their steering wheels on the right side. The legal minimum age for driving is 18 years.

Q. Do I have to join the National health system in Japan?

A. No. The Kokumin Hoken system is not compulsory, although many people will tell you it is. You can ‘opt out’ by going to your local ward office or town hall and signing a form to that effect. It may require quite a bit of explanation but you can ‘opt out’ if that is what you want to do. Caution, you may have to pay a back fee for the time you have already been in Japan and were, probably without you knowing, automatically enrolled in the system. After ‘opting out’ you are solely responsible for paying for all and any medical expenses in Japan. Even a simple visit to the dentist can be very expensive. So think carefully.

Getting medical treatment (including dental) in Japan is made much simpler by being a member of the Kokumin Hoken system and the charges are not so high so for most non-Japanese keeping up their membership even if they have private insurance is a good decision. One extra benefit, the Kokumin Hoken membership card is considered a very acceptable means of identification if you don’t have a Japanese driving license and you don’t feel comfortable producing your alien registration card.

Read all about the Kokumin Hoken and all other taxes paid in Japan here.

Taxes in Japan

Q. Is it possible to leave Japan with only a visa application stamp on my US passport? I’ve decided to quit my job and go back home permanently but I’m a bit worried after reading about all these immigration horror stories.

A. Technically your visa is ‘extended’ during your application waiting time therefore leaving Japan will not be a problem especially as the new nationwide immigration ‘real-time’ computer system is now on-line.

Immigration officials at any port of entry/departure can call up any visa/personal details almost instantaneously.

If you have a valid waiting stamp in your passport they will no doubt tell you that it will become invalid the instant you leave but other than that you should be ok.

Just make it clear you understand that you will lose any visa status when you leave. If at some time in the future you intend to return you will have to apply for a new visa just like everybody else.

Q. I really think I need some legal advice but I don’t want to go to see an expensive lawyer straight away. Is there an alternative?

A. Yes. Most town or ward office offer something called a ‘horitsu sodan’ - legal consultation on a weekly or bi weekly basis.

You should have a competent Japanese speaker with you and be able to explain your problem in clear simple terms. You will need to call ahead and make an appointment. Don’t expect much more than general guidance and possibly a reference to a lawyer specializing in the field that you are inquiring about. If possible bring a written explanation of what you are talking about

Here’s a good link for Tokyo that has more information such as places and times. If you are from another part of Japan they will tell you where to call.

Tokyo Metropolitan Foreign Residents’ Advisory Center