Job Discussion Forums

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

Ha ha - just went through this dilema last weekend.

First question - does anyone know of an inrefutable source from which I can get information that states that it is an obligation to pay the fee. I'm currently unconvinced.

Certainly nothing happens to you if you refuse, it is just a matter of how to best refuse and avoid.

Glenski's figure of 2,690 is what I was asked to pay, and did, last Feb. Fortunately, I did not sign up for the auto withdrawal. I also felt obligated to pay to set a good example as a non-permanent resident, until I spoke to my girlfriend (Japanese) about the issue. She told me not to worry about being a good gaijin because refusal has nothing to do with that. In her circle, at least, the NHK man is seen as a pain and alot like a door-to-door saleman that you'd rather avoid.

So, I'm having a nabe party, Japanese, Americans, MEasterners, non of whom want to pay NHK, and I got the knock. The guy was quite rude, was halfway in my genkan and said that I had made a kind of contract by paying the first month. 12 months had past now, but (after a minute or 2 of this) he would let it go if I just paid another month's worth of NHK. I refused and told him we were busy with a party and he finally said he'd come back later. I won't be answering the door for awhile.

Don't worry about the gaijin thing. Don't pay if the system is inequitable. If the system is not equitable, NHK should seek a better system of funding (they do issue govt agency bonds as well to fund NHK, btw. Source = Securities Maket in Japan 2002).

Bob

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Yes it's true, NHK's way of collecting fees is not very efficient. I read in the Japan Times ,a few years back, that it costs about 20% of all the money collected to do it this way.

The same article also said something to the effect that the reason NHK collects door to door rather than mailing bills is to avoid government interference in it's operations. Rcent attempts to pass legislation under the auspicies of protecting privacy that would curb press freedoms show this to be a real threat.

As the media is already too passive in this country, and NHK seems to do a little critical reporting from time to time, I pay the the fees.

Although reasons may vary, many Japanese don't pay it because they don't like the programming. Whether functioning as an independant source of news or not it is certainly a bit dry.

Also in a country whewre the same party, LDP, has been in power for most of the last 50 years one does wonder whether the Japanese have much use for voting and or a critical, free press anyways. I don't think so.
Where does that leave NHK? Prviding a service to many who don't appreciate it and who won't pay for it.

ProdigalSon · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 8

Bottom line:

You don't have to pay. Simple as that.

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Prodigal Son - I am not having a go at you. But please quote the relevant legal statement or whatever that will convince me that the NHK tax is, as I suspect, nowadays a purely voluntary scheme and not an obligation like other taxes.

THAT is what we are all after - the relevant documentation that proves we do not have to pay. Please - you will be a hero if you do!

ProdigalSon · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 8

cafebleu- I can't quote any documentation on this. I have lived nine years in tokyo and have never paid a yen to NHK. I have never been threatened with penalites or jail time. The NHK man just stopped coming around after my excuses exhausted his patience.
I never watch NHK.

Toosey-Jay · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 28

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject:

Just tell them you're American military and you won't have to pay. Promise! Laughing

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Eva Pilot · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:24 am Post subject:

People I know have just disconnected their TV and said that they never watched it because they speak no Japanese.

Of course, these people were getting live streams of TV channels from their home country via the internet, so they didnt use their TV as often as most of us perhaps.

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

Prolly so.

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

I watch NHK and I'll admit, I didn't really have any intention of paying. I live in the inaka, but was spared the wrath of neighbours because when the NHK man appeared at my door, he took one look at me (giant gaijin) and backed away quickly muttering "sumimasen". Wink

Ichigo · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Japan

I've met one of those NHK people right after I moved into my apartment a few years ago. As we have almost the same kind of crap in my home country I was prepared and just told him in English that I don't have a TV.
NHK people have been showing up ever since then again and again.
Sometimes I open the door, pretend not to understand them at all and tell them "no TV". They usually leave after a while.
Or I don't open the door at all.

When I came home from work yesterday there was a notice from NHK, saying they'll come again. And today they came again. They rang my bell, but I didn't open. They rang again and again and they knocked on my door like crazy. It was really scary!

Maybe I should just open and blabber in my native language, hopefully that helps.

But if I don't let them in and keep on telling that I don't have a TV, is there ANYTHING they can do? Seeing (or rather hearing) how aggressive they are, I wouldn't be surprised if they just knock me over to run into my apartment just to see if I really have no TV.

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

Seems like this thread loves to be revived every 2-3 years