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July 16, 2024
 

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Ken Joseph Jr.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 21, 2006
Insurance snubs and damages
Insurance snub My husband recently passed away. I have a three-year visa and a valid driver's license, but when I went to renew my insurance, I was told by the insurance company that they could not insure me because I was a foreigner.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 7, 2006
Guarantors and leaving the country
Guarantor Is there an organization in Japan that serves as a guarantor for foreigners in Japan who want to rent apartments?
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 3, 2006
Landlords, car repairs, and city hall
Landlord Five years ago my landlord asked for access to our apartment in order to fix a water problem in another premises directly under ours. Damage done to this apartment during that work still has not been repaired. Recently we had a problem with our electrical system and the electrician discovered...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 20, 2005
Names, cards and insurance
Naming a child I have heard that Japan does not allow middle names, even for children with foreign parents. Why not? Is there a way I can "sneak in" a middle name? Can I use a hyphen? I really want my children to have middle names.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 6, 2005
Pensions, wills and helplines
Pensions I will be leaving Japan soon -- I've been here for two years -- and have been paying into the National Pension System. How do I go about applying for the refund? I have also heard that there are agencies that do the paperwork for a fee.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 13, 2005
Counseling, insurance and prints
TELL counseling Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) is accepting applications for the Telephone Counselors Training Program, that begins in September.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 16, 2005
Moving and bank hassle
Moving expenses We need help negotiating with the new owner of our building. It is going to be demolished, and we have been told to leave.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 26, 2005
Inheritance, swimming and men
Property tax I am building a home here on land jointly owned by my wife (Japanese citizen) at a 50:50 recorded proportion (land only).
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 14, 2005
What's the deal with leaving Japan?
...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 31, 2005
Residency, repairs, finance and printing
Permanent Residency You've probably addressed this question before, but if you could enlighten me once again, I'd be grateful, indeed.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 3, 2005
Rail passes, credit and changing your cash
More credit queries I notice lately you've had a lot of queries regarding credit cards in Japan. One question I'm curious about is -- why?
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 5, 2005
Burned out, wills and tax advice
Fire! Last week our house had a fire We had just moved into a rental house and paid all the key money, real estate fees etc. and nine days later our neighbor's house had a major fire, which spread to ours. The neighbor's house is completely burned, and one person died. My family all escaped unhurt,...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 15, 2005
Insurance, selling your home and pet care
Insurance query Isn't health insurance in Japan different from "kaigo hoken?" And, is it true that if a permanent resident with a legitimate visa stops paying the health insurance premiums that basically nothing can be done? In other words, the "kuyakusho" will eventually remove the person's name from...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 18, 2005
Repairs, old CDs and disaster information
Apartment problems My wife and I have lived in our small apartment for 7 years. In that time, we have had virtually no contact with our landlord or real estate agent.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 4, 2005
Aged care, drivers' license woes and an alert
'Kaigo hoken' I have been in Japan many years but have never applied for permanent residence. I had personal insurance under Pacific Star until last year. Their present carrier will not insure past renewal at age 64. I do not know how much longer I will be in Japan but I am positive that at the time...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 7, 2004
The guy, tax worries and cops
The guy Reader David has a question for "the guy who answers them for the foreign community."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 9, 2004
Classes, groups and driving
Japanese classes I am on a month-long holiday travel staying here in Tokyo. I am interested and looking for Japanese beginner level language courses.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 26, 2004
Dodgy landlords and police
Dodgy landlord I was two weeks late with my rent and the landlord locked me out of my apartment. Is there anything I can do?
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 5, 2004
Alien card concerns and a visitor
Fall is a beautiful time in Japan. If you have a chance, try and get away to to the mountains somewhere -- Nikko, Chichibu . . . it is absolutely beautiful.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 21, 2004
Office space and garbage
The office I am starting a small business and looking for an office. I hear that you have to pay many months -- up to a year -- to rent an office. Is this true and is there anything I can do about it?
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals
Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

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