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Navigator Japan
Navigator Japan
Home page
Relocation
Finance/Legal
Daily Life
Freebie Shelf
Your experience
About us
Contact
Blog
Home page
Relocation
Finance/Legal
Daily Life
Freebie Shelf
Your experience
About us
Contact
Blog
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  • Career & Residency 45
  • Daily Navigation 28
  • Finance & Retirement 37
  • Senior Care & Family 19
Resignation in Japan: Legal Rights, Cultural Traps, and Expat Essentials
Career & Residency Aki 11/9/25 Career & Residency Aki 11/9/25

Resignation in Japan: Legal Rights, Cultural Traps, and Expat Essentials

Learn how to resign from a Japanese company the right way. This complete 2025 guide explains your legal rights, notice period, final pay, non-compete clauses, and visa steps — plus cultural tips for a smooth and professional exit as a foreign employee.

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Japan Tax Returns for Employees in 2026: Filing Rules, Refunds, and Deadlines
Finance & Retirement Aki 11/5/25 Finance & Retirement Aki 11/5/25

Japan Tax Returns for Employees in 2026: Filing Rules, Refunds, and Deadlines

Tax season in Japan is just around the corner. If you’re employed full-time, you might assume your company has already taken care of everything through year-end adjustment (nenmatsu chousei). In most cases, that’s true — but not always.

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Retiring in Japan as an Expat: Pensions, Retirement Allowances, and iDeCo/NISA Explained (2025 Update)
Finance & Retirement, Career & Residency Aki 11/1/25 Finance & Retirement, Career & Residency Aki 11/1/25

Retiring in Japan as an Expat: Pensions, Retirement Allowances, and iDeCo/NISA Explained (2025 Update)

Understand Japan’s pension, retirement allowance, and iDeCo/NISA systems. Clear guide for expats on eligibility, payments, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

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Japan's Mandatory Health Checkups for Foreign Workers: What's Required, Costs, and English Support
Senior Care & Family, Career & Residency Aki 10/28/25 Senior Care & Family, Career & Residency Aki 10/28/25

Japan's Mandatory Health Checkups for Foreign Workers: What's Required, Costs, and English Support

Discover how Japan’s mandatory health check system works. Learn what to expect, how to handle Japanese forms, and why annual checkups reflect Japan’s culture of preventive Medicine.

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How to Prepare for Japan’s New Business Manager Visa Rules (Effective October 16, 2025)
Career & Residency Aki 10/24/25 Career & Residency Aki 10/24/25

How to Prepare for Japan’s New Business Manager Visa Rules (Effective October 16, 2025)

Learn what Japan’s 2025 Business Manager visa reform means for entrepreneurs — new capital rules, staffing, and qualification requirements explained.

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Returning to Work in Japan: What to Know after Medical or Child-Care Leave
Career & Residency Aki 10/18/25 Career & Residency Aki 10/18/25

Returning to Work in Japan: What to Know after Medical or Child-Care Leave

Taking a leave of absence in Japan—whether for mental health, physical illness, maternity, or family care—is usually straightforward. But returning to work can be far more challenging.

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Convert Your Foreign Driver’s License in Japan (2026 Update): What Changed and How to Pass Under the New Rules
Daily Navigation Aki 10/14/25 Daily Navigation Aki 10/14/25

Convert Your Foreign Driver’s License in Japan (2026 Update): What Changed and How to Pass Under the New Rules

Updated March 2026: Japan tightened foreign driver’s license conversion rules. Learn how the written and driving tests work and how to prepare to pass.

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Employer’s Duty of Care in Japan: What Safety and Health Responsibility Really Means
Career & Residency Aki 10/10/25 Career & Residency Aki 10/10/25

Employer’s Duty of Care in Japan: What Safety and Health Responsibility Really Means

Learn about Japan’s employer duty of care—health checks, stress checks, overtime rules, and workplace safety laws that protect employee well-being.

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Living Between Currencies: What We’ve Learned About Social Security, Credit Cards, and FX in Japan
Finance & Retirement Aki 10/6/25 Finance & Retirement Aki 10/6/25

Living Between Currencies: What We’ve Learned About Social Security, Credit Cards, and FX in Japan

Learn from our real-life experience managing U.S. Social Security, credit cards, and foreign exchange (FX) while living in Japan.

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Pain Control in Japan: Why So Little Medication, and What’s Changing
Senior Care & Family, Daily Navigation Aki 9/28/25 Senior Care & Family, Daily Navigation Aki 9/28/25

Pain Control in Japan: Why So Little Medication, and What’s Changing

In the U.S., pain control is seen almost as a right. In Japan, it’s often the last resort. That single line captures the cultural and medical gap I’ve experienced firsthand—first while living in the U.S., and later upon returning to Japan.

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Reality of Remote Work + Digital Nomad Visa in Japan
Career & Residency Aki 9/24/25 Career & Residency Aki 9/24/25

Reality of Remote Work + Digital Nomad Visa in Japan

Remote work in Japan is a tug-of-war between tradition and flexibility. Discover 2025 survey data, Digital Nomad Visa rules, productivity trends, and practical tips for employees and nomads navigating Japan’s evolving work culture.

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You Need CPAP in Japan? No Problem – Here's How
Senior Care & Family, Daily Navigation Aki 9/20/25 Senior Care & Family, Daily Navigation Aki 9/20/25

You Need CPAP in Japan? No Problem – Here's How

Need CPAP in Japan? Discover the step-by-step process, costs, insurance coverage, and key U.S.–Japan differences to make treatment stress-free.

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Can Your Employer Stop You from Switching Jobs in Japan?  Non-Compete Rules Explained
Career & Residency Aki 9/16/25 Career & Residency Aki 9/16/25

Can Your Employer Stop You from Switching Jobs in Japan? Non-Compete Rules Explained

Worried your employer could block your next career move in Japan? Non-compete agreements are common for professionals here, but their enforcement is far from guaranteed.

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How the Whistleblower Protection Act Can Protect You - From unpaid overtime to harassment
Career & Residency Aki 9/12/25 Career & Residency Aki 9/12/25

How the Whistleblower Protection Act Can Protect You - From unpaid overtime to harassment

Whistleblowing may sound distant—something you would only do, if you discovered major corporate misconduct like fraud. But the reality is much broader. Under Japan’s Whistleblower Protection Act, labor issues can fall under protection.

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Senior Care in Japan: Costs, Choices, and What Foreigners Should Know
Finance & Retirement, Senior Care & Family Aki 9/8/25 Finance & Retirement, Senior Care & Family Aki 9/8/25

Senior Care in Japan: Costs, Choices, and What Foreigners Should Know

Discover Japan’s senior care system for foreigners: costs, care options, language barriers, and tips for aging with dignity.

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Behind Japan’s Salary System: Why Pay Works Differently
Career & Residency Aki 9/4/25 Career & Residency Aki 9/4/25

Behind Japan’s Salary System: Why Pay Works Differently

Why do foreign firms in Japan pay more? Learn how person-based pay and competitive benchmarking drive higher salaries, and what it means for your career.

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How We Moved from Chicago to Japan with a Dog — and What Went Wrong
Daily Navigation Aki 8/27/25 Daily Navigation Aki 8/27/25

How We Moved from Chicago to Japan with a Dog — and What Went Wrong

Moving abroad with a pet? See how Marco relocated from Chicago to Japan with his dog Jager—setbacks, lessons, and a must-watch video.

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Probation in Japan Explained – Contracts, Visas, and Pitfalls
Career & Residency Aki 8/23/25 Career & Residency Aki 8/23/25

Probation in Japan Explained – Contracts, Visas, and Pitfalls

Probation in Japan can affect your job security and visa status. This guide shows foreign workers what to expect, how to resign, and common pitfalls to avoid.

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Better Than Fear: Experiencing a Seismic 7 Earthquake Simulation in Tokyo
Daily Navigation Aki 8/19/25 Daily Navigation Aki 8/19/25

Better Than Fear: Experiencing a Seismic 7 Earthquake Simulation in Tokyo

Curiosity led me to the Tokyo Fire Department’s Disaster Prevention Hall (Honjo Bosai-kan), where visitors can experience a seismic intensity 7 earthquake. I’ll share what I experienced and the lessons I learned.

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Upcoming Year-End Tax Adjustment in Japan – What You Need to Prepare
Finance & Retirement Aki 8/15/25 Finance & Retirement Aki 8/15/25

Upcoming Year-End Tax Adjustment in Japan – What You Need to Prepare

A practical guide for foreigners in Japan on preparing for the 2025 Year-End Tax Adjustment. Learn required documents, deadlines, and common mistakes to avoid — plus a free checklist to make the process stress-free.

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