Last updated: August 2025
You may have heard or read (or even just experienced) it but almost every JET buys stuff from their predecessor. Your predecessor might give you a flat rate just to take it all, or they might give you a line-by-line price tag on each item, or they might realize that the used couch that they paid 1000 yen for isn’t worth haggling over, and just give you their stuff for free. In most cases, JETs are honest about what they have and what condition it’s in. Unfortunately, every now and then there’s a new JET who gets to their new apartment only to discover that their predecessor have ripped them off. This rarely happens, but unfortunately if it does, you won’t really have any recourse but (hopefully) to vow not to do the same to your successor.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you are thinking of buying, and don’t worry about saying that you don’t want to buy something, it’s entirely optional. If your predecessor is offering it all for a flat rate, it might not be worth it to refuse certain things to bring the price down, but if you have no need for a $2000 video camera (even at the amazing price of $800), then feel free to say no. Here are some questions you might want to ask:
- Who owns it or who paid for it? If your predecessor bought it, how much did they pay for it? (make sure you’re not getting tricked into buying an item that belongs to the BoE)
- How old is it?
- How much do they want to sell it for? You can hopefully come to an agreement that you are both happy with when it comes to price. When you do set a price that you both accept, stick to it. Be fair.
- Is it something you will definitely need? You might have an built-in aircon/heater and the one they are offering you is a spare.
- For bigger purchases, don’t hesitate to ask for pictures.
Be forthcoming. If there is something you know you don’t want to buy, then give your predecessor enough warning so that they (hopefully) will get rid of anything they can’t take home if no one will buy it.
Purchasing a car from your predecessor
If you’re placed in one of those areas that really requires driving, one of the few things that your predecessor might offer is to purchase their car from them. Once again it is ultimately up to you whether you want to or not purchase it from them and you can absolutely say no if you feel unsure about getting it from your predecessor.
If you’ve asked for pictures and quite like and agree to purchasing the car off them, make that both you and your predecessor follow these procedures:
Predecessor’s responsibility:
- Receipt of car registration
- Proof of car ownership transfer
- Certificate of Inkan Registration (from the city hall, within three months of transfer application)
- Inkan
- Proof of address certificate (may not be needed)
- Proof of car insurance certificate (may not be needed)
Successor’s responsibility:
- Proof of parking space certificate (dated within 40 days of transfer application)
- Proof of address certificate
- Proof of car insurance certificate
- Receipt of automobile tax (may not be needed)
When you’re purchasing a car, you will need to get a certificate that proves you have a parking space. You will have to bring some items along with you to the police station, where the certificate will be issued.
- Application form (from the police station)
- Map showing the parking space location relative to your home
- Map showing the layout of the parking space
- Document showing the parking space owner’s consent (usually the landlord)
- ¥2,200 for white plate cars
When making big purchases, you will need to register your seal at the city/town hall. This is called an inkan shomeisho (印鑑証明書) and costs around ¥250 each time you request for a certificate.
