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September 19, 2025
 

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INHERITANCE

The National Tax Agency at the Ministry of Finance, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. Japanese tax authorities can bill foreign residents in Japan for assets inherited globally.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 7, 2025
Japan's inheritance tax is high, unforgiving and sometimes avoidable
Under certain circumstances, overseas inheritance can pass tax-free to foreigners who are residents in the country.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 15, 2020
LDP tax chief sees room to tweak ‘terrifying’ inheritance tax for foreign nationals
A local media report earlier Wednesday said the government was considering reducing the inheritance tax for some foreign nationals starting April.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 15, 2018
Regional banks fight for inheritance to ensure their survival
Where there's a will, there's a way. That's what banks across Japan are counting on as they try to keep hold of the ¥50 trillion in wealth left by their customers each year when they die.
EDITORIALS
Feb 25, 2018
Solve the problem of unclaimed land plots
Unclaimed land plots already occupy an area the size of Kyushu and the problem will continue to grow unless the government takes steps to resolve it.
BUSINESS
Feb 18, 2018
In graying Japan, securities firms target seniors' assets with end-of-life services
Securities firms have been expanding services recently for shūkatsu (end-of-life preparations), as a marketing strategy to appeal to elderly customers.
EDITORIALS
Jan 28, 2018
Right to reside for widows and widowers
The Justice Ministry should ensuring equal treatment to all married couples irrespective of their legal status.
BUSINESS
Nov 13, 2017
Tokyo pushes back on 'bizarre' death tax that deters expats
Considering a work stint in Japan? You'd better make it short, and you'd better stay alive.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Oct 1, 2017
Re-registering property: The lie of the land
According to an article that appeared in the Asahi Shimbun last June, authorities are unsure of the title holders to 4.1 million hectares of land in Japan — in total, an area equivalent in size to the island of Kyushu. Though this problem has been evident at least since the 1980s, the government didn't...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 20, 2017
On inheritance tax, net banking and retiring in Japan
This week, Lifelines plays catch-up with some useful tips that have come in from readers over the past few months. However, we start off with a follow-up question from reader S.S. in response to last month's column on recent changes in Japan's inheritance tax laws (bit.ly/jtinheritax) It seems S.S. spends...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Aug 12, 2017
'Inheritance From Mother': Tackling the taboo of caring for elderly parents
"Mother, when are you ever going to die?"
EDITORIALS
Jul 29, 2017
Land plots with unknown owners
The government needs to take measures to deal more effectively with land plots that remain unregistered.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 11, 2017
Resorting to adoption to avoid inheritance tax
Revisions to the inheritance tax went into effect in 2015, and related statistics for that year were recently made public by the National Tax Agency.
EDITORIALS
Feb 5, 2017
Tax-avoidance adoptions
A Supreme Court decision effectively condones the status quo. But it should lead people to think about the practice of adoption as a tax-reduction measure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2016
Death and inheritance taxes: Japan's financial advisory firms enter the delicate but bountiful fray
Elderly Japanese, among the world's richest retirees, are flocking to inheritance advisers, tackling historical taboos on discussing death and providing a rare avenue of growth for the country's brokerages and banks.
EDITORIALS
Aug 20, 2015
Time is ripe for inheritance reform
Some Civil Code provisions regarding inheritance date all the way back the Meiji Era. It's time to bring them into the 21st century.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 28, 2013
Tax-free gifts unlocking retiree savings
Shoko Iwasaki looked for years for a tax-free way to pass down a lifetime of savings to her grandson. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered the 71-year-old an answer with a program now helping unlock pensioners' hoarded wealth.
Wealthy foreign nationals picking up ultimate souvenir — a condo in Tokyo
A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
Japan dispatches five language education 'partners' to India
Five members of the Japan Foundation's Nihongo Partners program (front) gather at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Monday.
End of U.S. de minimis exemption causes headaches for some businesses in Japan
Proxy-shopping services — companies that ship Japanese products ranging from cosmetics and snacks to limited-edition stationery on behalf of customers abroad — are already feeling the impact of the U.S. suspending de minimis exemptions.
Over 90% of low-income families in Japan struggling to feed children
Save the Children Japan domestic program chief Sonoko Kawakami speaks at a news conference in Tokyo in July. A survey conducted by the group in June has found that over 90% of low-income households with children face food insecurity.
Struggling train firm in Chiba Prefecture turns to self-deprecating humor
"Laughter is important when you're in a difficult situation," said Katsunori Takemoto, president of Choshi Electric Railway, on Aug. 5 in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture.
World Athletics stars relish Tokyo atmosphere after COVID-hit Olympics
Organizers of the World Athletics Championships said over 500,000 tickets had been sold and that they are expecting to end the event in front of large crowds this weekend.
Japan’s front-line researchers see bright path ahead for dementia treatment
A scientist looks at scans of grains at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital (HUG) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 6, 2023.
Still plenty to fight for, says Japan’s team leader at worlds
Race walker Hayato Katsuki earned bronze for Japan on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday.
Wealthy foreign nationals picking up ultimate souvenir — a condo in Tokyo
A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
Japanese athletes inspired by raucous home fans at World Athletics Championships
Fans cheer on the home favorites during the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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