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Useful links and sharp discussion for foreign residents building a life, career, or business in Japan.
Curated, not algorithmic
Weekly digest
Strongly moderated
How Japan's strict garbage sorting rules work: the four main categories, local schedule variations, oversized disposal (sodai gomi), and the clear-bag requirement.
Japan Dev's curated list of 20 essential apps for foreign residents: transport (Yahoo!乗換), maps, translation, payments, healthcare, and delivery.
How to do a user shaken (self-managed vehicle inspection) in Japan rather than taking the car to a garage — the process, costs saved, and what to bring.
Step-by-step guide to buying a teikiken (commuter pass): at the ticket machine, via IC card apps, available durations, and how to maximise savings.
Common Japanese interview questions — including the uniquely Japanese 'why Japan?' and 'ten-year plan' questions — with example answers and cultural context.
Guide to running a side business while employed in Japan: tax implications of freelance income over ¥200,000, blue-return registration, and employer notification rules.
Overview of Japan's main business structures for foreign founders — sole proprietorship, KK, and GK — with cost, liability, and setup-time comparisons.
Line-by-line breakdown of a Japanese payslip — gross salary, health insurance, pension, income tax, and residence tax deductions — with English labels.
How Japan's local residence tax works for foreign residents: how the amount is calculated, why it's billed in year two, and what happens when you leave Japan.
GaijinPot explainer on the new fee ceilings (up to ¥100,000 for status changes, ¥300,000 for PR) — who pays, when the changes take effect, and what to budget.
Comprehensive checklist for permanent residency applications: eligibility requirements, points-track shortcuts, required documents, and 2026 rule changes.
TokyoDev guide covering the multi-round interview process at Japanese tech companies: cultural expectations, coding rounds, and how to handle Japanese-language interviews.
Japan's social job-matching platform used by startups and tech companies; unique 'casual visit' system lets you meet teams before formal interviews.
Practical guide to Japan Post for residents: sending letters and parcels, using convenience-store drop-offs, redelivery, and handling mail while away.
Comparison of Japan's main cashless payment apps for foreign residents — PayPay, LINE Pay, d Barai, and IC-card options — with setup requirements for each.
The Japan Foundation's central portal for free Japanese learning resources: digital textbooks, apps, self-study courses, and teaching materials.
Free interactive Japanese course from the Japan Foundation covering everyday language for life in Japan; self-paced, smartphone-friendly, all levels up to A2.
One of Japan's largest furnished-apartment providers, popular with newly arrived foreigners: no key money, no guarantor required, English contracts available.
Everything involved in moving between apartments in Japan: choosing a moving company, lease termination, key-money refunds, and the address-change paperwork.
Step-by-step guide to the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — the document required before applying for most Japan visas for spouses, children, and new work-visa applicants.