The RetireJapan Bite-Sized Podcast

Stock market volatility is back, with 10% daily swings happening this month.It can be very stressful.Our portfolio is down about 20m yen from its all time high a few months ago. But I'm not too worried.

The new NISA accounts that were launched in 2024 have two sections: tsumitate and growth, but which should you try to fill up first?

In many countries, the standard advice is to try and pay your mortgage off as quickly as possible for financial stability and peace of mind, but is this also true in Japan?(spoiler alert: no, it is not)

The tax filing system in Japan is pretty user friendly! Most people don't need to file a return as their employer does it for them, and if you do need to file you have several options.

Dishwashers are not as common here in Japan as they are in other countries, but they are available.What are your options? And which one is going to work best for you?

There are a huge number of options in Japan now in terms of gyms, but which is the best for you?

There are a lot of misunderstandings about inheritance tax in Japan. Who needs to pay it? How much is it? And can it be avoided?

I have a lot of experience dealing with the police in Japan. Today's question is about a common situation: how should you deal with the police if they knock on your door?

What is Japan's permanent residence like? What are the pros and cons? Who should get it? And what alternatives are there?

I know I should ignore the nuisance streamers on social media, but they do my head in.As long term residents here, should be be actively policing public spaces?

NISA and iDeCo are the main tax-advantaged accounts in Japan, but which one should new graduates focus on?

Sometimes we have a lump sum that we are planning to use soon (up to a year or two away). What can we do with it in Japan?Are there any investment options?

We hope it won't happen, but if you die suddenly it is a good idea to have things set up so that your family is okay.What happens to NISA and iDeCo accounts if you die? They are actually treated differently...

What changes did I make to our investments when I finished formal work and as we get closer to retirement age?Not as many as you might think!

Is there anything specific we should know about managing NISA accounts? Particularly when we have the old legacy NISA and also the new NISA.

If you get a loan to buy your home in Japan, you can often get a sizeable tax break on the mortgage interest. But there is one thing you should be aware of to avoid problems with the tax office.

Onsen (hot springs) and sento (bathhouses) are a big part of Japanese culture, but are norms changing? Should we be enforcing the rules? And does anyone not like rotenburo (outside baths)?

For most people having an emergency fund they can access quickly if they need to makes sense, but where should they keep it?

When it comes to buying a home in Japan, the two main options are a house or a manshon (condominium). But which is better?

For the first time in a long time mortgage interest rates are going up in Japan. I have a floating rate mortgage at the moment, but if I was taking out a home loan today which would I choose?

iDeCo is Japan's version of the US 401k. You put away pre-tax money and invest it for retirement, getting an income tax break along the way. In December iDeCo contribution limits went up for public servants, and new increases were announced for everyone else.

Living in Japan is pretty good, but sometimes you need to complain about something. What's the best way to do so effectively?

Have you decided what to do with your NISA account this year?