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"Guidebook on Living and Working (Easy Japanese Version)" Contains Information for Living in Japan
Have you ever had a problem when a foreign resident asked you a question? You may have been able to explain how to dispose of rubbish, or about how to get trains and buses. However, when it comes to taxes or medical insurance, it is often difficult to give a quick answer. The Government of Japan provides information on the web to help foreign residents to live and work comfortably in Japan. "Guidebook on Living and Working," is available in 14 languages: Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Thai, Khmer, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Filipino, English, Spanish, Nepali, Burmese (Myanmarese) and Mongolian. The easy Japanese version ("Guidebook on Living and Working") is particularly useful for those of you who are involved in multicultural coexistence, and can answer questions from foreign residents such as the ones above.
"Guidebook on Living and Working" is divided into 12 chapters. For example, chapter 4 is "Childbirth and Parenting". It contains information such as a maternal and child health handbook, notification of birth, and vaccinations. A question that often arises from foreign parents is, "What is the difference between a nursery, a kindergarten, and a center for early childhood education and care (Nintei Kodomoen)?" This booklet also provides easy-to-understand answers. The systems, such as nurseries, differ from country to country, so knowing the systems in Japan may help you solve your problems and give you ease.
Chapter 8 is about "Tax". "Why am I getting less than the salary I was promised when I started work?" This guidebook helps you find answers to these questions. Words such as income tax, tax withholding, and tax return are important to remember when living in Japan; even if these terms are quite technical. This booklet explains these difficult terms in the easiest way possible, for when you want to know, whom you should ask, as well as both what to say and how to say it. If you are a foreign national, this guide will help you.
In April 2021, a revised version of "Guidebook on Living and Working" was published, adding contents regarding divorce and measures against infectious diseases. It can be viewed on the "A Daily Life Support Portal for Foreign Nationals" website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.