Prefectural Orientation aka Yashiro Orientation (note: as of 2018 the orientation location is under review, thus the arrangement and coordination of the the prefectural orientation may change) After attending the Tokyo Orientation , SHS ALTs won’t have too long before they are reunited for three days of fun at Yashiro Orientation. Yashiro Orientation is held in […]
In Japan, personal appearance is often taken as a reflection of one’s attitude toward work. Dressing professionally will go a long way toward being taken seriously by your Japanese colleagues. You don’t have to erase any signs of personal style or imitate the way your Japanese coworkers dress, but try observing your work environment for […]
Depending on your country of origin, when doing your home country tax return, you may have to include a statement from your Contracting Organization in Japan about your annual earnings. This statement is known as your gensenchoshuhyo, and is issued to you in January of each year. It covers the period from January 1st to […]
Resident tax (住民税, juuminzei) is a tax charged by the local government every June that covers the period of the previous calendar year. Who Has To Pay The Resident Tax Depending on your job status, nationality, and how long you have been living in Japan, you may or may not be excused from the resident […]
In Japan, employers have a duty to provide their employees with a yearly health check. They are required to pay for it, and they will let you do it during work hours. The contents of the examination are specified by law, and without a physician’s explicit authorization, nothing may be omitted. For many professions, including […]
Taking care of vaccinations can be quite a challenge and expensive in Japan. Because many vaccinations are illegal in Japan, many people will tell you that it is impossible to get certain vaccinations or that you don’t need them. Consult the US Center for Disease Control home page for the most up-to-date information. The Quarantine Center at […]
National Insurance We are all enrolled in the national health insurance system of Japan. You will soon receive a pink or blue card. If ever you need treatment, take it with you, and you will only have to pay 30% of the bill – check beforehand that the hospital in question accepts the insurance for […]
Japanese Health Care System Appointments Most doctors see their patients on a walk-in basis. Expect some waiting, as it is usual practice here for people to go to the hospital, or clinic, for a common cold or cough (remember that you can’t use sick leave unless you go to the doctor…) If you are very […]
After you go back home, some programs in some countries will require that you get a police clearance certificate (犯罪経歴証明書). For example, if you want to become a teacher in New Zealand, you will probably need a police clearance certificate to become registered. If this is the case, make sure you get one before you […]
At some point after you arrive, and every time you re-contract, your contracting organization will present you with a small certificate that officially recognizes you as one of their employees. It should have your name, details about what you will do, the date when your contract begins, and the date when your contract ends. This […]