SHINGU, Hyogo Pref. -- When Suzuko Miura learned in March she would be returned only 34,181 yen of the 98,000 yen deposit she had paid on her son's Kyoto apartment, she refused to go down without a fight.
Considering that the room was still in good condition when her son moved out, the 51-year-old felt an unfair sum had been deducted and set about getting the correct amount back. When the real estate agency failed to comply, she decided to take her case to court.
Although a consultant at the Hyogo Prefectural Consumer Information Center with six years of experience behind her, she was a complete novice when it came to legal procedure for small claims suits. Nevertheless, she successfully retrieved her money.