Job Discussion Forums

[shmooj]

In all likelihood, I'm into my last three months in Japan. As that period of time runs over the Christmas/New Year break and will be busy as anything, I'd like to find out now what I need to do to tie up loose ends here.

I searched the board to find stuff on what official hoops you have to jump through to leave but couldn't find anything. I have had a good employer. I don't want to leave him any headaches so want to do this properly even though I know, with my re-entry permit, I could just walk out the door as it were.

So, what should I do to ensure I cover all the formalities leaving Japan? Also, does anyone have any other suggestions on things I should do before leaving these fair isles for good?

Appreciated...

[markle]

This will be of absolutely no help whatsoever...

First, pity your'e leaving, just as I'm looking to start my Japan adventure a good source of info is lost.

Second, be careful the 'real' world bites, or sucks, depending on your POV. Be prepared for appaling indifference at your Japanese experience, including from employers, it will often translate not as a few years gaining overseas experience but rather as a number of years of missing 'at home' experience (this will become bleakly apparent when they ignore your impressive list of o/s references)

Good luck

[Gordon]

Look into a good shipping company if you're sending things onward. I have used Nippon Express twice and they were good (door to door service).

[Wolf]

You'll leave in February? I left in February last year... (by the way, I might be "coming" back . . . $$$ . . . or should I say YYY . . . .)

I bought all of my furniture via sayonara sales from the International Center (3rd Floor of the Nagoya International Center Building, on the Sakura - Dori subway line, one stop from Meieki.) I put up a (free) ad and sold everything back into the expat community. I don't know if this helps you or not.

I sold most of my Japanese books to Book Off. I used the Kurokawa store (closest to my home) but they've got a few branches in town, I think. Too heavy to carry, and too expensive to ship. I do miss my manga collection . . . .

I sent my books to either China or Canada via the post office because a) the post office was close b) the packages were heavy c) I was too cheap for a taxi d) that's what the post office is for e) the NIC monthy recommended it. Mind you, these were just a few boxes of books (and one taped up suitcase.)

I got off national health by going in to my ward office the day after New Year's and showing them a one way ticket out of Japan.

I had had a multiple entry permit in my passport (just in case.) I had a vaild work visa for Japan until two days ago, actually. . . . If you don't care, just give your card back at immigration at the airport and they'll stamp your visa cancelled/used/whatever.

I used the travel agent just north of the really big Doutour in Yaba - cho. You have to go up an escalator to the second floor. They were really good, even when I had to make an emergency change of destination from Dalian to Nanchang. I don't know if they speak English, though.

I gave my landlord notice as soon as I could. It was supposed to be two months in the contract, but he and I got along well (I'm a friend of the family, you could say) and I managed about 5 or 6 weeks' notice. I didn't get my security deposit back, but I had expected that from day 1 anyway.

I called the gas and power people to come the day before and shut stuff off (spent my last night at a friend's.) Water for my building didn't need to be shut off. I just paid the technicians what I owed then and there.

I went to a Tuka office and told them to cancel my phone the day before I left too. They gave me a number I could call, and a furikomi number I could use to find out what I owed and pay it just before I left.

I sold part of my furniture to used furniture shops. There was one guy in Kita - ku who was a bit of a jerk and gave me quite the run around, but I found someone else. the NIC has information on such stores (for each ward.)

I also had a doctor's and dentist's appointment, and some Hepatitis shots, but that was because I was going into China and such things were necessary.

Thinking back on how excited I was . . . coming to China was the change I needed (I can sympathize with the "I must leave Japan" feeling) but . . . I feel I got a raw deal . . . and I can't help but think of giving Japan another shot in the summer/fall . . . .

I hope something in there helps. Except at the NIC and selling things to other expats, I did all that in Japanese, so be prepared to trot out your language skills and/or bring a friend.

[shmooj]

THanks guys, those were helpful hints.

However, I think I'd better narrow the field a little.

I know many many travel agents.
My apartment and utlities are taken care of by my school.
So is all the furniture.
Shipping advice is welcome although I may get it paid anyway.
I'd appreciate more on the health insurance. Wolf - does that mean that from the 1st of January, you weren't covered?
What about city tax? I'm supposed to make a payment two weeks before we are due to leave - can I get out of this?
What about income tax stuff? Can I just walk out of the country?
I will be keeping my alien card and my multiple entry though (who knows - heck I've paid for them) so do I actually need to tell city hall I am leaving?

Thanks everyone

BTW, I think I should state for the record that I will seriously miss Japan and its people and this is by no means inspired by a need to get out of Japan. It is simply that working here is, for me, not viable any more.

[Wolf]

[nomadder]

So Wolf and Shmooj, you must have(had) time left on your visa I assume.
For those who leave at the end of your visa remember to bring your alien card to hand over or I don't think you'll be getting out that day or so I've heard.

[april]

This is what I have heard about not handing over your alien card when departing Japan: If you ever return to Japan to live sometime down the track, 'the tax people' will take that to mean that you have been living in Japan this entire time and must pay back taxes. This is what the recruitment guy at one of those Big 4 told me. Who knows if that is correct. I've heard so many different stories similar to this. For example, when I left Japan I had only paid the first installment of my local ward tax. Someone told me that when I re-enter Japan they will pull me aside at customs and not allow me to go anywhere until I coughed up the rest of what I owe. I thought that this sounded a bit much, and asked this person who their source was and they said something like "Well it happened to my friend's co-worker's roommate." Yeah right. Urban myth. Anyway, I just came back from a holiday in Japan and no, I was not marched off into a containment room!

There seems to be this big myth that if you leave Japan with anything owing (phone, tax, rent etc) then you will get bailed up at the airport upon return. I think it's all a crock. The only problems I can see is if you go back to the original source, eg. you left a huge J-phone debt, then a couple of years later try to get another J-phone...then you'll have problems.

[Brooks]

well if you will have been in Japan for less than 2 years you don`t owe any tax as far as I know. But if you have stayed longer than that I think you have to. You will have to pay it in a lump sum at the ward office before you depart.

For example, I plan on moving to the Osaka area in March, so I have to pay what I owe in local taxes to the city hall where I reside in Kanagawa Ken in March.

[shmooj]

Brooks I assume that what you say is negated by the fact that I have been paying income tax monthly since I arrived and that my employer sorts this out.

As for city tax, I'm hoping to get out of my last payment by arguing that it is payment in advance not arrears. Don't know if it is but I'll try it anyway!

[ScottishMike]

[Wolf]

That sounds fishy to me. Making up for what? I told the ward office I was leaving and they just said bye bye. They even refunded me the portion of the money that I had paid for that month and had not used. They never said anything about "making up" for the low payments of the first year. That was just part of the system.

As to tax, I stopped paying taxes in November because my job ended, and left in Febuary. I do not see how I could mystcially owe more tax just because I happened to leave the country. In fact, I was on unemployment insurance until the day I left, and they didn't seem to think that I owed the government any money. (I was in regular contact with the unemployment insurance office as I tried to find work.)

Re: paycheques and apartments. I got paid in arrears but paid rent in advance. If both job and apartment contracts start at the same time - day 1 let's say - then I'm probably paying my first month's rent on day
-15 or so. First paycheque is going to come some time between day 30 to 45. I've heard it's also rare to get much, if anything back from a security deposit.

[Brooks]

it depends on when you came to Japan to know if you owe city tax.
I will have to pay what I owe by March, since I am moving.
I will have to pay for 2003 .
I started paying city tax in October. I did not pay tax the first two years as the US has a tax treaty.
My city taxes this year have been small and they carry over into the next year.