How do I separate PET bottles correctly in Shibuya-ku?

Remove the cap and label, rinse the bottle, and crush it flat. In Shibuya-ku, PET bottles are collected on the designated recycling day. Place them in a transparent or semi-transparent bag separate from other recyclables.

Best mobile carrier for foreigners in Japan with English support?

Ahamo by NTT Docomo is popular among foreigners because the app is available in English, plans start at 2,970 yen per month for 20GB, and no Japanese credit card is required. Other foreigner-friendly options include Rakuten Mobile and IIJmio.

How to open a bank account in Japan without a Japanese phone number?

Japan Post Bank (Yucho) is the most foreigner-friendly option. They accept applications with just your residence card and do not strictly require a Japanese phone number at all branches. Visit a larger post office branch for the best experience.

How do I separate PET bottles correctly in Shibuya-ku?

Remove the cap and label, rinse the bottle, and crush it flat. In Shibuya-ku, PET bottles are collected on the designated recycling day. Place them in a transparent or semi-transparent bag separate from other recyclables.

Best mobile carrier for foreigners in Japan with English support?

Ahamo by NTT Docomo is popular among foreigners because the app is available in English, plans start at 2,970 yen per month for 20GB, and no Japanese credit card is required. Other foreigner-friendly options include Rakuten Mobile and IIJmio.

How to open a bank account in Japan without a Japanese phone number?

Japan Post Bank (Yucho) is the most foreigner-friendly option. They accept applications with just your residence card and do not strictly require a Japanese phone number at all branches. Visit a larger post office branch for the best experience.

How do I read my Japanese payslip?

A Japanese payslip has two sections: payments including base salary, overtime, and allowances; and deductions including health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance, income tax, and resident tax. Your take-home pay is the difference.

What is the health insurance deduction on my Japanese paycheck?

Health insurance is deducted at about 9.98% total (split 50/50 between you and your employer). The exact rate depends on your prefecture. This covers 70% of medical costs when you visit a doctor.

What is the nenkin pension deduction on my Japanese paycheck?

Employees pay kosei nenkin at 18.3% of standard remuneration, split equally with the employer. This qualifies you for a pension after 10+ years of contributions in Japan.

Why is my tax deduction different each month?

Income tax is withheld monthly based on estimated annual income. A year-end adjustment in December corrects any over- or under-payment. If you leave Japan mid-year, file a tax return to claim a refund.

Japanese Payslip Decoder

Last Updated: April 2026

Decode your pay slip & survive tax season.

Interactive Pay Slip

Hover over items to understand them.

給与明細書 (PAY SLIP)

支給 (Payment)

控除 (Deduction)

基本給¥...

残業手当¥...

通勤手当¥...

Total: ¥...

健康保険¥...

厚生年金¥...

雇用保険¥...

所得税¥...

住民税¥...

Total: ¥...

差引支給額 (Take Home Pay): ¥...

Hover over the pay slip to decode the Kanji.

Yamada Hack: Commuting

Commuting Allowance is Tax-Free! (Usually up to ¥150k). Make sure it is listed separately as 通勤手当 (Tsukin Teate). If it's mixed into your base salary, you pay unnecessary tax on it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Shakai hoken is the umbrella term for Japan's mandatory social insurance system covering three components: health insurance (kenko hoken), pension insurance (kosei nenkin), and employment insurance (koyo hoken). For most full-time employees, these deductions combined total approximately 15% of monthly salary, with the employer matching your contribution for health and pension. These paycheck deductions fund your healthcare coverage, future pension benefits, and unemployment protection.

Residence tax in Japan is calculated based on your previous year's income and billed in your current year, which creates a time-lag effect that surprises many foreigners. In your first year of working in Japan your residence tax paycheck deduction is zero, but in your second year it jumps to approximately 10% of your prior year's taxable income plus a per-capita levy. This is not a mistake — it is a structural feature of how Japan's juminzei system works.

Bonuses in Japan are subject to income tax withheld at a flat rate determined by your previous month's salary bracket, rather than the progressive rates applied to regular monthly pay. Employment insurance and health/pension premiums are also deducted from bonuses at their standard rates. There is no separate residence tax deduction from bonuses since juminzei is collected via your regular monthly paycheck installments.

Japanese labor law prescribes minimum overtime multipliers: standard overtime beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week is paid at 125% of your regular hourly rate. Work performed between 10PM and 5AM adds a late-night premium bringing the rate to 150% for regular hours or 175% for overtime within that window. Statutory holiday work is paid at a minimum of 135%, and late-night holiday overtime reaches 160% of your base hourly paycheck rate.

Nenmatsu chosei is the annual paycheck tax reconciliation your employer performs each December, comparing the income tax withheld from your paychecks throughout the year against your actual tax liability after applying all eligible deductions. If too much tax was withheld, the refund typically appears as a larger-than-usual net pay in your December or January salary. For this process to work correctly you must submit your deduction declaration form (haigu sha kojo shinkokusho) to your employer each October.

Japanese Payslip Decoder

Interactive Pay Slip

Yamada Hack: Commuting

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is shakai hoken and why is it deducted from my Japanese paycheck?

Why is my Japanese residence tax (juminzei) so high in my second year?

How is my Japanese bonus (shouyo) taxed on my paycheck?

How do I calculate overtime pay in Japan?

What is nenmatsu chosei (year-end tax adjustment) in Japan?

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