Tax & Systems
Tokyo Condos Average $800K. I Didn't Know About Japan's Variable Rate "5-Year Rule" Until My Payments Went Up
How Japan's variable-rate mortgage rules work, and what I learned after my rate doubled without warning
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Personal Finance Blog
Build wealth
quietly and steadily.
A Japanese salary worker's journey to 50 million yen (~$350K) in 8 years.
No flashy tricks, just steady wealth building strategies.
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Tax & Systems
I Ran the Numbers on Japan's New 'Singles Tax.' Even as a Parent, I Can't Celebrate
Japan started collecting a new childcare support levy from every worker's paycheck in April 2026. I broke down the costs and benefits for my own household — the math surprised me.
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Family & Money
I Have ¥50M in Assets. I Still Don't Know What I'm Doing About My Daughter's Education.
A Japanese salaryman with ¥50M in assets breaks down education costs, school choices, and why he refuses to call it an "investment"
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Expenses
¥170K a Month on Food for Three. Here's Where Every Yen Goes.
A dual-income Japanese family of three breaks down their ¥170K monthly food costs and explains why they won't cut back despite April's price hikes
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Income
Japan's 5% Wage Hike Made Headlines. My Raise Was Zero.
A 40-something salaryman breaks down his ¥350K take-home pay and explains why he stopped caring about raises
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Tax & Systems
I Ran the Numbers on My iDeCo Exit Tax — Turns Out I Can Just Take It All at 60
¥10M retirement + ¥10M iDeCo. I simulated lump sum vs pension payout and the answer surprised me.
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