Rosie lost her alien registration card while abroad. “How do I re-enter Japan if I lost my alien card in the Philippines, and are there any additional requirements?” she asks. Officially you are required to have your alien registration card with you when re-entering ...

John has a question about the Japanese pension system. He writes: “I am a permanent, legal Japan resident, and worked full time for a foreign company in Tokyo for six years. I am now retired and the Japan pension office advised that this company ...

Julian recently visited a Red Cross blood donation center in Kagoshima to donate blood, but was refused because he can’t speak Japanese. They also told him he couldn’t donate blood even if he brought along a native speaker. “I was so surprised, I couldn’t ...

The coming of spring brings with it the sight of young women and men clad in black or navy suits, all carrying the same type of bag and sporting the most austere, no-nonsense hairdo and makeup, scurrying down the streets of metropolises around Japan. ...

Several residents of Tokyo’s Suginami Ward contacted us in response to C.W.’s experience, which appeared in our March 6 column, “Immigration ‘informers’ call on foreigners in Suginami Ward.” Victoria admits she was also concerned at first: “I live in Suginami Ward and have already ...

Paula writes: “What are the rules regarding taxes placed on imported purchases — for example, a pair of boots? I live in Kobe and had to pay taxes of ¥5,400 for a ¥9,000 purchase. I paid more than half the cost of what I ...

C.W., who lives in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, recently received a notice about the upcoming resident law changes and was informed that an “officer” would visit him and other foreign residents in the area. He is concerned about the intent of these changes and wondering ...

A radio news anchor oversleeps a live broadcast twice, forcing the radio station to cancel the broadcast. Should he be fired? In the late 1970s, Japan’s Supreme Court weighed in. Case law on the legal principle of “abuse of the right to dismiss” (kaikoken ...

In response to our recent two-part series on education (“Rejoining school system in Japan after time away can be tough” and “Acceptance — social and otherwise — a crucial issue for Japan returnee kids,” Jan. 10 and 17), Rosie decided to share the story ...