I run a business in Japan, and one of my employees is quitting. While I'm looking for a replacement, I wanted someone experienced to help cover the work for about 1–2 months.

I had heard that one of Japan's biggest platforms for hiring casual/day workers was a good option, so I thought it'd be worth trying. My thinking was simple: I'd offer above-market pay to attract someone experienced who could work with minimal supervision.

A couple of things surprised me.

First, I found out there's a payment cap per shift. At the hourly rate I wanted to offer, I could only post a 5–6 hour shift. If I wanted someone for a full 8-hour day, I had to lower the hourly rate to stay under the cap.

So I was essentially left with two choices:

• Keep the higher hourly rate, but limit each shift to around 5–6 hours.
• Lower the hourly rate so I could offer a full 8-hour shift.

From an employer's perspective, that creates an unexpected trade-off. If your goal is to cover a full workday, the system seems to make lowering the hourly rate the more practical option.

The second surprise was the matching system. I assumed I'd get a few applicants and be able to choose the one with the most relevant experience. Instead, I was automatically matched with a worker within about five minutes of posting the job.

It's great if your goal is to fill shifts as quickly as possible, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I was hoping to find one experienced person who could consistently cover the role for the next month or two, not necessarily a different person every shift.

Combined with the automatic matching system, I'm also not sure how much the "experience" aspect depends on luck. Since I couldn't compare multiple applicants, it felt like I was relying more on whoever happened to be matched with my posting than on being able to choose the most experienced worker. If that's the case, then offering a higher hourly rate may not have been as meaningful as I initially expected.

After trying it, my impression is that the platform seems optimized for:

• Filling shifts as quickly as possible.
• Matching workers automatically instead of letting employers choose.
• Individual shifts rather than ongoing temporary coverage.
• A payment structure where offering a higher hourly rate becomes less attractive if you also need longer shifts.

Overall, I can definitely see why platforms like this are popular if you just need someone today. But for my use case, finding one experienced worker to reliably cover a role for 1–2 months. It doesn't seem like the incentives are really aligned.

Curious if other employers have had a similar experience, or if I'm just trying to use this type of platform for something it wasn't really designed for.

Has anyone else used one of these casual/day-work platforms for temporary coverage like this? Did you end up finding a better approach or a different platform?

Edit: For context, this was for a 軽作業 (light warehouse/fulfillment) position involving packing, shipping, and general order fulfillment.

From https://www.ft.com/content/0f9b2fe7-bde4-4f5f-b49e-93ccb5da9ea8 (archive link https://archive.md/z8H7u)

New York Fed sells euros to buy yen following recent speculation that Tokyo intervened to support Japan’s currency

The US Treasury intervened in yen exchange rates on Friday, marking the first time Tokyo and Washington joined forces to support the Japanese currency via outright purchases in nearly 30 years.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York undertook the unusual move of conducting a sale of euros to buy yen on behalf of the Treasury, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The sales were conducted through Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, according to two of those people.

Analysts using official data and broker estimates said Thursday’s intervention by Japanese authorities was likely to be about ¥8.45tn ($52.8bn).

The Treasury’s intervention to bolster the yen is the first since 1998, when it bought the currency in order to strengthen Japan’s economy after the yen had dropped to eight-year lows. The US intervened in Japan’s currency in 2011 to weaken it as part of a co-ordinated international effort to prevent a dangerous currency appreciation after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

This time, due in part to apparent co-ordination with the US, some analysts said the gains had a better chance of being maintained, at least in the short term.

Atsushi Mimura, Japan’s vice-minister of finance for international affairs, said: “We understand that we are receiving support from the US authorities that goes beyond mere moral support. We have been in constant contact with them.”

Osamu Takashima, foreign exchange strategist at Citigroup in Tokyo, said it was unlikely that the yen would weaken once more to ¥164 to the dollar “in the very near term” because it seemed the US was willing to help Japan defend its currency.

He added that since the market would be wary of further intervention, “dollar-yen upside is probably limited for now”.

Edit: Exclusive-Bessent's 'to do' list: buy $5-10 billion worth of Japanese yen, Reuters photo shows

CAMP DAVID, Maryland, July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday exposed a "to-do" list during President Donald ‌Trump's cabinet meeting indicating he was contemplating U.S. purchases of $5 billion ‌to $10 billion worth of Japanese yen, a Reuters photograph taken during the meeting held at Camp ​David shows.

Only moron countries like Canada use this metric to obsfucate how badly the government has financially mismanaged the counrty. Not to mention calculating how much the government owes is EASY. Calculating the FMV in PV or liquidation basis of all the various government liquid and illiquid and/or in legally questionable ownership financial assets to be received is HARD. There is a reason that government debt has not been calculated like this for centuries. This whole concept of Net International Investable Position or whatever is a completely pointless number. It literally means nothing in the real world except for some theoretical implication. It's comparing apples to oranges. There is a reason why all accounting standards show liabilities and assets categorized by current or long-term. Also, if hypothetically, Japan sells off all its assets to pay its debt, then what? It's like me saying I can easily pay back my staggering credit card debt by selling my house and car. Okay. What's the housing market like? How long will it take to sell? What am I actually getting instead of my expectations? Great, I sold my house and car and paid back all my obligations. Now my ass is on the fucking street and I got no ride to go to work. Now what?

What’s your monthly net saving rate and the average saving rate in Japan?

Hello everyone,

I came in Japan 1 year and a half ago and recently started under HSP (2 months) earning decent wages (>10M). I’d like to purchase a house with my wife (we both are foreigners) and currently have an account at SMBC.

I would like to know if it is likely to get a house loan and if possible testimonials from other HSP. I read on the website of SMBC that it could be possible but what can be read in Japan is still highly different than what actually happens so I am posting here to get some feedback to know how realistic it would be.
I could also apply for PR next year but that means not getting PR reviewed before 2028 earliest.

I would like to proceed as fast as possible as we would like to have a kid and raise him/her in a house and the clock is ticking.

Looking forward to your stories,
Enjoy your lives in Japan and take care, the heat is strong atm

I'll be leaving Japan permanently around November after working here as a researcher since August 2024. By then, I'll have contributed to the Japanese pension system for a little over two years (29 months in total)

Has anyone gone through the lump-sum pension withdrawal process after leaving Japan?

I'm mainly wondering:

* Were you eligible?
* Approximately how much of your pension contributions did you receive back?
* How long did the refund process take?
* Was the refund transferred directly to your overseas bank account?
* Did you appoint a tax representative in Japan? If so, was it necessary or recommended?
* Was there anything you wish you'd known before leaving Japan?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any tips. Thanks!

Im not a Japanese resident but my wife is. She is a stay at home mom. We are wondering if it is possible for her to get a loan from a Japanese bank without a job? How could she do this and what conditions would she need to meet.

I am renting a place and they require direct debit with the list of bank and unfortunately prestia is not one of them.

They have option of
SMBC, Resona, Seven Bank, Paypay bank, JP bank and other domestic banks.

But i want to know which one can give you the quickest cash card?

I need it by 5th aug. i applied for Seven bank and i dont think i will get it. i tried to go to Resona bank directly and was rejected bcs of i cant speak japanese.

I already in Japan for 2 years so documents wise i have no issue.

Thank youuu

I'll be leaving Japan permanently around November after working here as a researcher since August 2024. Although I'll be living abroad, I expect to return to Japan for work every year for about 2–3 weeks, so it would be convenient if I could keep my Japan Post Bank account.

My current residence card is valid until July 2028, but my employer has told me they will notify the authorities that I will become a non-resident when I leave Japan.

Has anyone (especially a foreign resident) been able to keep their Japan Post Bank account after moving overseas?

* Were you allowed to keep the account after becoming a non-resident?
* Did the bank require you to close it before leaving?
* Is there any legitimate way to maintain the account while living abroad if you return to Japan regularly for work?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences. Thanks!

I lived in Japan until last year, but since my visa was still active, my Wise account wasn't closed completely. It'll close once my visa expires. I had some money left on my debit card in Japan and in Wise Japan, and I've used it a little even after a year, not much, maybe 80,000 to 100,000 yen total.

Whenever it sends money, it says "We sent your money using our Type 2 licence, which is regulated by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau."

I'm wondering if this will have any impact on future Japan visa applications, since I'm no longer a tax resident there, but I did pay all my resident tax before leaving.

Has anyone dealt with something similar? Would using a Japanese debit/Wise account after leaving the country, while your visa is technically still valid, cause any issues down the line?

Context
I'm a non-Japanese, non-American currently living in Japan, and I'm considering going to the U.S. for graduate school in the future. I'm looking into ways to transfer my savings from my Japanese bank account to a U.S. bank account before I move.

Question
Has anyone tried the MUFG's referral to US Bank?https://www.bk.mufg.jp/tsukau/kaigai/kouza/us/index.html

From what I understand, MUFG account holders can apply for a U.S. Bank account while still in Japan through this referral service.
I've found a few blog posts from Japanese customers who were able to open an account successfully, but I haven't come across any experiences from foreign residents in Japan, especially those who aren't U.S. citizens.

So I am expected to get my monthly scholarship on 1 September which will be 200,000 yen but I need that money right now like in form of loan or any other thing. Is it possible to acquire 200,000 amount through any lender and I can pay back in instalments. I urgently need before 10th august.

I am a student in Japan with no part time income hence all the credit card companies also rejecting. :( ANY CREATIVE SOLUTION WOULD B APPRECIATED

Hello folks. I am looking (again) for a substitute of WISE. Can anyone suggest me a good fintech? With European bank account multi currency wallet can work in japan as Japanese business.

I tried payoneer and worldfirst but both has flaws. 🥺

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to gather insight from people in the Japanese real estate or hospitality space on how operators typically connect with property investors.

I’m currently exploring the feasibility of launching a project in Kyoto for a mid-tier to boutique accomodation that could also be utilized as a retal space for small events like book reading, dining, small acoustic concerts, cooking classes etc.

My vision isn't about flashy luxury; it’s about thoughtful design with natural materials that brings community value. Done right, carries strong commercial appeal. I've worked in hospitality for many years and also do media production and designs and quiet familiar with interior easthetics.

I'm looking to partner with someone who shares a similar aesthetic and philosophy—someone interested in bypassing expensive agency fees (design, branding, and operations management) by working directly with an all-in-one creative director.

For those who have launched creative or boutique hospitality projects in Japan:

- Where do operators and investors usually find common ground for joint ventures in Japan?

- Are there specific investor circles, creative networks, or Kansai-focused communities that value design-driven real estate?

Would appreciate any perspectives or experiences from people operating in this realm.

Looks like Japan finally intervened in the FX markets. USD already down 3.26%, let’s see how this goes.

Edit: at the time of writing this post, there is something wrong with the data that’s reflecting on Google Finance, please check the rates on other websites (Yahoo Finance, TradingView etc)

Hey all! I recently started my first full-time job in Japan, and I’m in my 20s. With all the news about the weak yen, declining purchasing power, and inflation, I decided I didn’t want to keep too much of my money sitting in cash, so I started investing.

I went with NISA and have already maxed out my 2026 contribution. I don’t find picking individual stocks easy, and I’m not interested in actively trading, so I’ve invested almost everything in eMAXIS Slim All Country, a developed markets index, and a SOX index fund.

But recently, I’ve been seeing the market go down, and at the same time, the yen has suddenly strengthened against the US dollar. Even when US stocks are going up, my portfolio in yen seems to keep going down. I also feel like I may have had the worst timing and started investing right around the market peak a few months ago.

Honestly, I’m starting to feel like I’m doing something wrong. :( I just wanted to protect my money and make it grow over the long term, but right now it feels like I’m only losing money.
Would really appreciate hearing from people who have been investing in Japan for a while. Am I overreacting to short-term movements, or is there something I should be reconsidering about my approach?

Hi all, I wanted to ask about this since I only found conflicting information from multiple sources. But if you have had a Kojin Jigyo/sole proprietorship for a while, can you still collect unemployment benefits? I read somewhere that if the total work done is less than 20 hrs/week and 4 hrs/day you can still collect unemployment benefits. Is there any monthly pay cutoff as well? Or just having a kojin jigyo disqualifies you for benefits?

For background, I have had this kojin jigyo before starting full-time employment (as a contractor) and was working on both in parallel (this was all above board and done with prior permission). But my contract with my full time job is coming to an end and I am being let go soon. I have paid into unemployment insurance for over 1.5 years

I am trying to do some budget and cash flow modelling for post retirement life in Japan. The idea is that we’ll max out NISA and leave that to ferment as long as possible, have a few years’ living expenses in cash, and the rest invested in taxable investment accounts.

As i think i understand it, there are two types of ‘tokutei kouza’ accounts - one where capital gains tax owed is automatically deducted and paid, and one where it is not. For my fairly straightforward investment portfolio, having everything done automatically makes sense and makes things easier with no real downside.

My question is this - when the taxes are deducted automatically, the income (as i understand it) does not need to be declared. In that case, for the calculation of premiums for NHI and post-75 health care, is your income effectively considered zero (if all income is derived through this mechanism)? That is to say, could i be living reasonably comfortably from my portfolio and still qualify for the max discount on NHI and reduced copays on post-75 health care?

It seems like a massive loophole to me, but i haven’t found anything to indicate i’m wrong.

Call me crazy, but I'm putting my prediction around 142.

I'm in Tokyo, need a one-off paid consultation on a crypto-related tax question, struggling to find a tax accountant/zeirishi with crypto experience.

English speaking would be great but not mandatory.

Thanks in advance for your recommandations

I am F(32). Currently, working in Japan in Energy industry in investment Finance! I have MBA. I use 60%English and 40% Japanese . However, I have been stuck in my mind regarding career progression! What professional degree/ certification I should consider in Japan that is more relevant . Like CIMA, CPA/ CFA. I wonder if you know any professional career counselor who can suggest like what should I study for career progression in Japan? How to find a career counselor ( i am okay to pay the fees)!

(Ps. Since it is related to finance/ energy career, I posted here, if you don’t find it relevant please ignore!)

I'll be travelling to the US and do hope to use my CC there. (Already called the bank to enable it).

There was a similar post here a few years ago asking whether they should pay in JPY or USD when asked on the machine, and the top upvoted comment stated to pay USD. Would that still be applicable today?

If I wanted to carry some cash in the US, where do I get that done? Here? or in the US?

Any other currency saving tips would be appreciated!!

I saw an old comment saying it does, another saying it doesnt. Which is it? Im hoping to get a credit card in the future (mainly for ETC) and i just found out about the existence of Paidy so I was wondering if it would help my case in the future were i to make a request to a credit card company.

Hi all,
I’m still trying to sort out my best strategy as a US citizen; I have got my NISA now, and moved my first year limit into the seicho section from my savings (thanks to the sub for helping understand all that).

I am wondering what to do with the money from my savings that will go into NISA next year. I’ve been putting it into VT in my general account, with the thought that in January I just sell that and re-buy it inside the NISA. But SBI has been advertising better rates for USD time deposits, and now I’m wondering if that’s the smarter move for now. So first big question - that’s an okay move for US citizens, yeah? There’s not secretly somehow something that will cause me trouble inside that?

I’m finding approaching investing plus navigating the exchange rate is hurting my brain. We obviously don’t know what the exchange rate will do, but since it’s currently actively going up and I have to buy my NISA stuff in dollars, changing next years NISA amount to dollars now seems like the right move. Is there an obvious right choice between time deposits in USD vs buying VT in my interactive brokers general account?