Making a plan for the future

9月21日(土)に四日市市で「ライフプラン」のセミナーが開催されました

2013/10/11 Friday Daily life and laws.

A very difficult subject to a foreign national resident in Japan is to make a suitable life plan for his/her family. Among the many difficulties is the lack of knowledge about costs associated with daily life. It is important to know about the costs we will spend in the various stages of life so that we can prevent and plan ahead.

life plan japanMarriage – A new life

When a conjugal life begins there are expenses to rent a property (contracts, insurance, etc.), furniture, relocation, etc. The average expenditure is 970,000 yen, and the initial average expenditure for a childless couple is 200,000 yen. These are average costs that may change according to the lifestyle.

* Table 1 – Payments required when entering into a lease:

Expenditure Value Description
Deposit 0 – 3 months’ rent If the rent is outstanding or the place is left damaged after the renter moves out, the money will be used to cover the costs and whatever left will be refunded to the renter.
Key money 0 – 2 months’ rent It is paid to the landlord as key money. This money is not refunded.
Realtor’s fee 0,5 – 1 months’ rent This is the commission paid to the real state agent.
Rent 1 – 2 months’ rent  
Fire insurance 20 – 30 thousand yen Renewed every 2 years
Fee to change the keys 10 – 30 thousand yen Depending on the type of the key

As we can see in the table, there are many expenses when we rent a property in the real estate. There are fees and insurances that will demand a great value when the contract is signed. There is the option of public housing, but it may not always be available after you get married. You need to be prepared for these expenses.

Children and School Education

The next step for a couple is to raise their children. If we calculate the costs from the early school years through college, a significant value will be spent. But if we start saving money in advance, we will be prepared for these expenses.

* Table 2 – School costs (Data from the Ministry of Education, 2010, rounded figures)

School Public Private
Kindergarten
(3 years)
700,000円 1,610,000円
Elementary School
(6 years)
1,820,000円 8,790,000円
Middle School
(3 years)
1,380,000円 3,840,000円
High School
(3 years)
1,180,000円 2,770,000円
College

(4 years)

2,430,000円 4,460,000円
Total 7,510,000円 21,470,000円

School costs until completion of college are high. And, there are other expenses like tuition fees, registration fees in PTA, school supplies, travel, etc. Other costs may vary depending on the family: clothes, mobile phones, games, etc.

For those who has difficulties in paying for the school costs, there are specific funding for education. Look for information in your school or in Mie-ken Kyouiku Iinkai.

Retirement – Expenses during old age

As we age, we begin to spend on medicines, hospitals and special care. Therefore, it is necessary to plan savings for old age.

In old age, the main source of income is the retirement pension. Retirement is a social system which allows the elderly to live in peace. In Japan it is generally possible to receive retirement pension after 25 years of contribution and after completing 65 years of age, and the pension is paid until the end of the person’s life.

If the person who is paying the insurance dies, the benefit will be paid to a close family member in order to help in family life.

Base Retirement – National Retirement – Kokumin Nenkin

Every citizen resident in Japan, aged 20-60 years, may enroll in Kokumin Nenkin at the city hall where he/she resides. Those who work in a company do not to apply in this system. The monthly amount (in 2013) is 15,040 yen, and if the person pays retirement pension for 40 years, he or she will receive 786,500 yen per year.

This insurance is cheaper than private insurance because the government pays for part of the amount.

Social Retirement – Kousei Nenkin

For those who work in a company as hired employees, these people will be enrolled in the Kousei Nenkin system. The insurance is deducted directly from wages and values ​​are calculated based on the employee’s earnings.

Total System of Retirement Period

For anyone who is a Brazilian national, there is a cooperation agreement between Brazil and Japan allowing to use contribution time in the two countries for the calculation of retirement benefits. See more details in another video on this site.

 

At each stage of life, there are diversified expenses on citizen’s life. Knowing the costs in advance, we can build a life plan and  be prepared for the future.

Have you already made ​​a life plan with your family? With the information presented in this video, you can already start planning!

The information presented in this video was based on a seminar held in the city of Yokkaichi on September 21, 2013.

 

Commemoration of the anniversary of the friendship between Mie and São Paulo

2013/10/11 Friday Daily life and laws.

8月にサンパウロで行われた主な行事を紹介します

Mie Prefecture and the state of Sao Paulo commemorated 40 years of sister region relations in August, 2013.  The following events were held to celebrate Mie and Sao Paulo’s long history of friendship.

Ceremony to celebrate the founding of the Mie Cultural Association in Brazil

Ceremony to celebrate the founding of the Mie Cultural Association in Brazil
(Mr. Yamamoto, Speaker of the Prefectural Assembly, Mr. Suzuki, Governor of Mie Prefecture, and Mr. Alckmin, Governor of the State of Sao Paulo)
17 August

Visit to a farm owned by a Mie Native

Visit to a farm owned by a Mie Native
(Mr. Yamamoto, Speaker of the Prefectural Assembly, Mr. Suzuki, Governor of Mie Prefecture, and Mr. Alckmin, Governor of the State of Sao Paulo)
17 August

Meeting with representatives of the Information and Support Center for Brazilians Working Abroad (CIATE)

Meeting with representatives of the Information and Support Center for Brazilians Working Abroad (CIATE)
18 August

 

CIATE is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1992 that provides information for Brazilians of Japanese descent who are interested in working in Japan and their spouses. The organization provides a variety of support services, including consultation and training. Mr. Ninomiya, Chairman of the Board at CIATE gave a detailed explanation of the organization’s initiatives during the meeting.

During the meeting, Mie Governor Eikei Suzuki remarked on the over 12,000 Brazilian citizens living in Mie, the highest ethnic population of non-Japanese living in the prefecture. He also emphasized the prefecture’s efforts to promote multiculturalism, and highlighted initiatives to provide information and support for Brazilian residents via internet resources and Portuguese language consultation services.

Dia 19 de agosto Câmara de Comércio do Japão no Brasil (Explicação do Governador)

Meeting with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Brazil
(Remarks from Governor Suzuki)
19 August

Assinatura do Protocolo de Intenções no Palácio dos Bandeirantes (Dia 19 de agosto)

Agreement to continue sister region relations signed at the Bandeirantes Palace in Sao Paulo.
19 August

 

The terms of the agreement, which celebrates and expands upon 40 years of sister region relations, are as follows:

  • The parties reaffirm the sister region relationship established in 1973 and recognize education, environmental protection, manufacturing and commerce, and tourism promotion as particularly important areas for cooperation in the future.
  • The parties agree to carry out joint initiatives that have clear goals and advance services and technologies in both regions.
  • The parties agree to deepen bilateral relations through continued exchange.
  • This agreement is effective from 19 August, 2013 to 31 December, 2016. The parties will establish specific initiatives to carry out the terms of this agreement during this period.