Table of Contents Timeline ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Moving ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Submit moving-out notification ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Contact your landlord ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Forward mail ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Budget for moving .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Pay bills and cancel services ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Close your bank account ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Cancel your mobile phone ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Selling your bike ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Getting rid of your car..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Shipping things home ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Immigration ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Insurance .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Taxes ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Pension Refund ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Return Airfare ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Essential Information for Your Successor ........................................................................................................................... 17 Letter of Recommendation ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Returning Home ............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Sources and References .............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Goodbye Chiba Guide This is a concise, abbreviated list of administrative things to do before you leave. It is intended to supplement more detailed guides like the General Information Handbook, the After JET Guide, and the Kumamoto Leaver’s Guide. As with any guide, please confirm all official paperwork and processes with your supervisor and local area. A digital guide (with clickable links) is available on the Thousand Leaves Chiba (http://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/leaving-chiba/).

Don’t panic!

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Job hunting. If you’re planning to stay in Japan, write a 履歴書 (rirekisho) and 職務経歴書 (shokumu keirekisho) if necessary. If you will be going home, brush up your resume/CV and research your desired field(s).

Timeline

May

Start going through your apartment. Figure out what you want to send home, throw out, or sell/give away.

Start saving money for residence taxes, moving/shipping expenses, and other costs (apartment cleaning fee, covering the cost of your flight home until reimbursement, final travel plans, goodbye parties, etc.)

Fill out the “Essential Info for Your Successor” form for JETs or Chiba-WI and start adding info you wish you had had at first.

Flight home. If you will be leaving Japan, talk to your supervisor at your BOE or CO about the procedure for booking your flight.

June

July

Contact your successor once they have sent in their Reply Form accepting their placement. Fill out the “Essential Info for Your Successor” form and send it to them.

Start shipping things home.

Figure out what visa paperwork you need to do, if any.

Set your moving out date and finalize any travel plans. You will need to give at least one month notice to your real estate agent and/or landlord before moving out.

Ask how taxes will be paid after you leave.

Exchange contact info with your supervisor/school in case you need to contact them about your pension refund, statement of earnings for taxes, or other paperwork after you leave. Similarly, they may need to contact you.

Take time to say goodbye to the people and places you will miss. You may want to write letters and/or prepare gifts for friends and coworkers and get their contact information to keep in touch.

Pension Refund: Designate a tax agent and make sure you have all the necessary paperwork completed before leaving the country.

Close your accounts, submit moving out paperwork at city hall, shut off utilities, etc.

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Moving

Submit Moving-out Notification (転出届 tenshutsu todoke) You must do this in order to claim your Pension Refund. You can do so up to 14 days before moving. Before your moving-out day, bring the following to your city hall:

Resident Card (在留カード zairyū kādo) Proof of Insurance AND Pension Book (国民健康保険証 +

国民年金手帳 kokumin kenkō hokenshō + kokumin nenkin techō)

Your personal seal (印鑑 inkan) Note: if you are moving to another city in Japan, you must submit a Moving-In Notification (転入届 ten'nyū todoke) in your new city. More information on the TL Leaving Chiba page. Contact your landlord and/or real estate agent Inform them of your departure date at least a month in advance and arrange an apartment inspection date. A portion of your original deposit will likely be used for repairs and cleaning. Forward mail If you are staying in Japan, complete a Change of Address Notice (転居届 tenkyo todoke) at any post office (good for one year). If you are leaving Japan, have your mail

Budget for moving Your final paycheck may be less than the amount you normally receive if it is less than a full working month. You may also be asked to leave some money behind to cover cleaning and repair costs if you do not have a security deposit. Note that you may be charged extra for ending your health coverage. Schedule & asking for help Give yourself plenty of time to sort through your belongings and make the necessary arrangements. More time may allow you to choose cheaper options! Your supervisor, JTEs, coworkers, PAs, BCs, and friends are not obligated to help you move, but they may offer and you may certainly try asking them. Make sure you thank them accordingly! Moving date vs. last day of work Confirm your final day of work before making moving plans. The date you must move out and your final day of work may be different—and you may have to take paid leave (年休 nenkyū) to cover days of missed work if they don’t line up. If you plan to use your remaining nenkyū at the end of your contract to leave early, discuss it with your supervisor first. Leaving before classes are over leaves a very negative impression!

Pay bills and cancel services Electricity Gas Water TV (NHK/CATV/Sky PerfecTV) Bank account Credit card Cell phone Internet Newspaper/magazine

subscriptions Housing (apartment, etc.) Cleaning and repair costs Residence Tax Voluntary car insurance

Have them turn it off the day you leave

Cancel at a store anytime

Cancel in person, receive account balance

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forwarded to a friend or colleague who can send it to you. Japan Post will not forward to an overseas address unless the item itself is from overseas; domestic mail will be returned to sender, and forwarding mail to you overseas will incur additional postage charges. Close your bank account Do this at the branch where you opened your account if possible, as doing it at another branch may incur fees. Bring:

Bankbook (通帳 tsūchō) Bank card (キャッシュカード kyasshu kādo) Personal seal (印鑑 inkan)

Do not forget to also cancel any Japanese credit cards. Cancel your mobile phone If you are leaving Japan, you can cancel your mobile phone anytime up until the day you leave by visiting your phone company’s store. You must visit in person (cannot be done over the phone) and you may have to do the paperwork the day you want to cancel the service (i.e. not in advance). You may have to pay a fee to end your contract early, and you will be charged for calls and messages sent or received on the day of cancellation. Bring:

Resident Card (在留カード zairyū kādo) Personal seal (印鑑 inkan) Mobile phone

Selling your bike You must officially transfer ownership just like with cars. You’ll need to complete theft prevention registration at a bike shop or anywhere that has a Bicycle Registration sign up (自転車防犯登録所 jitensha bōhan tōrokusho). The buyer cannot use the seller’s registration number. Bring:

the bicycle a form of ID/your Residence Card previous owner’s registration card (登録カード tōroku kādo) or ownership transfer form (譲渡証

明書 jōto shōmeisho) (sample: http://www.bouhan-net.com/dl/joutoshoumei.pdf). Personal seal (印鑑 inkan) to fill out the ownership transfer form pay registration fee of 500 yen

(Source: http://www.bouhan-net.com/qa/)

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Getting Rid of your Car Selling your car If you are selling your car, you must officially transfer ownership. You will need:

Vehicle inspection certificate (車検証 shakenshō) Receipt of automobile tax payment (自動車税納付証明書 jidōshazei nōfu shōmeisho); if you don’t

have this, apply for a proof of automobile tax payment certificate (自動車税納税証明書 jidōshazei nōzei shōmeisho)

Proof of compulsory automobile liability insurance (自動車損害賠償責任保険 jidōsha songai baishō sekinin hoken or 自賠責 jibaiseki)

Certificate of transfer (譲渡証明書 joto shōmeisho) Your Personal seal (印鑑 inkan) and proof of registration of it (印鑑証明書 inkan shōmeisho),

which is less than 3 months old, from your local city office/town hall. The buyer needs:

Personal seal (印鑑 inkan) and proof of registration of it (印鑑証明書 inkan shōmeisho) Proof of parking space (車庫証明書 shako shōmeisho), obtained at the police station.

(Source: After JET Guide p. 8, Kumamoto Guide p. 13-14) Disposing of your car (廃車 haisha) If you dispose of the vehicle through a disposal company you will need the following:

Personal seal and its registration certificate Vehicle inspection certificate Number plates (front and back) A letter of attorney (委任状 i’ninjō) stamped with your personal seal A memo with:

the transfer report number (移動報告番号 idō hōkoku bangō) written on the recycle ticket (使用済自動車引取証明書 shiyōzumi jidōsha hikitori shōmeisho)

the date your car was disposed of (解体報告記録がなされた日 kaitai hōkoku kiroku ga nasareta hi) which you receive from the disposal company after your car is dismantled

Note: It is usually easiest to dispose of your vehicle at a trusted car dealer. They may even buy it off of you! (Source: http://annai-center.com/haisya/eikyu/syorui.php; confirm with your disposal company)

Cancel Voluntary Car Insurance (自動車任意保険 jidōsha nin’i hoken) If you pay by the year you may be able to get a percentage back (ask your insurance company). If you pay monthly you don’t have to pay for the months after your car is sold.

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Shipping things home (Source: Kumamoto Guide p. 8-12)

Post Office This is the best option for if you don’t have that much to send. The Post Office also offers heavily discounted rates for those sending books and other printed materials. See their website for more information: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/index_en.html Before shipping:

Leave your parcels unsealed when bringing them to the post office (they will often inspect the contents).

You must fill out an international parcel label which functions as a combination invoice, customs declaration, and address label.

Check the customs restrictions with the embassy of the destination country before you ship items, or risk being fined, or worse, having items confiscated en route!

Pack fragile items carefully with bubble wrap and sturdy boxes. A good mental test is to imagine your parcel being dropped from waist height onto concrete, which is not as uncommon as you may want to think!

Parcel size: Packages sent by international post are subject to strict size and weight limits, which will differ according to the packages’ destination. Size limits for packages do not merely restrict the total volume of packages, but also the package’s dimensions, (A & B below).

Insurance: All international mail, regardless of shipping method (Air, SAL, or surface mail) can be insured upon request. The cost of the insurance may not exceed the value of the package. The maximum compensation in the event of loss or destruction of ensured international packages is ¥31,230 for items that weigh 30kg. The first ¥20,000 value of your package costs ¥400 yen to insure, and each ¥20,000 thereafter will cost you ¥50. Be sure to keep receipts or photos of items that you insure and send internationally, as it is almost impossible to make an insurance claim without a way to verify the value of items lost or destroyed.

Discount: You receive a 10% discount if you mail 10 or more packages at a time. If you send 20 packages or more, you receive a 20% discount. This discount will be applied even if you send packages to different destinations in the same shipment.

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Shipping options:

General mail Airmail (航空便 Kōkūbin): This is the fastest option you have, but will cost you the most money. Those sending items that are relatively time sensitive may want to bite the bullet and send their items via airmail. Economy Air (SAL): This option is less expensive than airmail, but items shipped via economy air usually take around 2-5 weeks, depending on the destination country. SAL stickers should be attached on the upper left hand corner of your parcel. Surface Mail: This is the cheapest, but slowest option. Mail sent by surface mail can take up to 2-3 months to arrive at your doorstep.

Printed materials Sending books by regular international mail can be extremely costly due to the dense nature of printed materials. The Japan Postal Service offers shipping of printed materials at a sharply reduced rate, making it one of the cheapest ways of getting books and papers home.

Packages should be marked “PRINTED MATTER” or “IMPRIME.”

Parcels marked in this manner should contain ONLY printed materials. The Postal Service may x-ray or inspect parcels by hand to ensure that boxes marked “IMPRIME” contain no other items. If they find any items not classified as “printed matter,” you will be charged the rate for regular mail upon delivery, which will result in a MUCH larger cost to you. To avoid this, keep your printed matter parcels unsealed until a postal clerk has checked the contents.

Not all post offices branches will do this. Please confirm or ask someone to help you find the nearest post office that offers this service.

You may send a 5 kg box of printed material, or procure a “M-bag” (720mm x 1070mm flat bag) at the post office, which can be used in conjunction with boxes to send up to a maximum of 30 kg of printed material at once.

Ship Luggage to the Airport If you anticipate having a hard time getting all of your luggage to the airport, domestic shipping services (宅急便 takkyūbin) are an affordable, convenient way of sending your bags ahead of you to the airport or the hotel you are staying at before you depart. This service can be accessed at most convenience stores and other spots where you see the “Black Cat” (クロネコヤマト Kuroneko Yamato) or “Pelican” (ペリカ

ン便 Perikan Bin) emblems.

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Private Shipping Services Best for if you need to send dense, oddly-shaped, or fragile items.

Start early so you have time to shop around. Check size restrictions, prices, schedules, container space, and any other available services offered. Once you have chosen a company, it is best to give them as much advanced notice as possible. Shipping companies prefer that you contact them 2-3 months in advance of the shipping date, with 1 month notice being the absolute minimum.

Pack heavy/dense items in smaller boxes; freight prices are usually calculated by volume, not weight. Leave less dense parcels to the Japan Postal Service. The base shipping unit for most companies is a cubic meter.

Ask about insurance. Many shipping companies do the packing for you, so check what is excluded from a company’s insurance policy and ask about the deductible (the amount for which you are liable before the coverage takes effect) and where the insurance is payable.

If you claim against a company in Japan, you may spend more time and money than you receive in compensation. To avoid trouble, make sure your items are well-recorded with descriptive lists (including model and serial number, etc.), photos, estimates, and receipts to make for a faster and smoother insurance claim. Keep the originals of these records and send copies to a friend at your items’ destination. Remember, it is always better to bring your most valuable possessions with you when you leave Japan to avoid a heartbreaking shock upon opening shipped packages.

Include a card with your name, phone number, and destination address in case your boxes get damaged or destroyed and you need to be contacted. Fragile items should be packed in several layers of bubble wrap, and placed in the center of boxes labeled “FRAGILE” in English and 割れ物

注意 (waremono chūi) in Japanese.

Shipping companies with English support: Economove Japan Toll-free: 0120-981-862

jet@economovejapan.com http://www.economovejapan.com

Econoship Toll-free: 0120-222-111 info@econoship.net

http://www.econoship.net

Japan Luggage Express Toll-free: 0120-480-081 info@jluggage.com

http://www.jluggage.com

Nippon Express Toll-free: 0120-150-422 moving@nittsu.co.jp

http://www.nipponexpress.com

PakMail Japan Phone: 052-242-8988 http://www.pakmail.co.jp UPS Japan Toll-free: 0120-27-1040 http://www.ups.com/content/jp/en

/index.jsx

Disclaimer: We take no responsibility for items lost or damaged by using one of the companies below.

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Immigration Depending on your plans, you may need to change your Status of Residence (what work you’re allowed to do) and/or your Period of Stay (how long you can legally be in the country). You will need to make at least two trips to the immigration office in Chiba City.

What do I need to do? The Visa Flowchart

Will your visa expire before you leave Japan? (Check the expiration date on your Residence Card)

YES (ex. 3rd year on 3-year visa staying after completion of contract)

NO (ex. 1st/2nd year on 3-year visa staying after completion of contract)

If you are staying and not working, change your status of residence to temporary visitor. If you are working/studying, you must submit a Notification Concerning the Accepting

Organization within 14 days, and change your status of residence if necessary before your period of stay expires.

Are you staying in Japan for less than 90 days?

You can stay in Japan for up to 90 days without changing

your status to temporary visitor (as long as your period of stay will not expire before you leave Japan)

YES (ex. staying for 2 weeks) NO (ex. working/enrolling in school)

(continued on the next page)

Note: this is only a guide. The final decision comes down to the official who makes the decision at the immigration office with jurisdiction in the area, so please confirm with the immigration office before you take any steps!

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Are you planning to work or study in Japan?

YES, I am staying in Japan to work or study

YES, but I am exiting Japan first, then coming back to work or study

You must start your new work or study

within 90 days of the completion of your

contract (If you are job-hunting after your contract, you must start work/study within 90

days). Otherwise immigration can revoke your visa.

You cannot re-enter Japan on your JET/Chiba-WI visa. When you leave

Japan, do not check the “Special

Re-entry Permission” box. You must enter Japan on a new visa provided by your work or school.

Does your work/study fall under your current status of residence?

You do not need to change your status of residence, but you must submit a

Notification Concerning the Accepting

Organization within 14 days of the completion of your contract.

NO (ex. ALT doing translation, CIR teaching, ALT/CIR enrolling as student)

You must change your status of

residence in addition to submitting a Notification Concerning the Accepting

Organization within 14 days of the completion of your contract.

Note: You and your new employer/school are responsible for helping you prepare the appropriate immigration documents, NOT

your JET/Chiba-WI ALT contracting organization or PA.

YES (ex. ALT working as teacher, CIR doing translation)

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Example Timelines

Example: 1st/2nd year on 3-year visa, 4th/5th year on renewed period of stay Example: 3rd year on 3-year visa, 1st year on 1-year visa leaving the program Example: 3rd year on 3-year visa, 1st year on 1-year visa recontracting

No valid visa! No 90 day grace period!

JET/Chiba-WI Program 90-day grace period You can return home, move,

travel domestically, etc.

Contract finishes this August 1

Period of stay expires Next August 1

No valid visa!

Must return home or begin work/study within 90 days

JET/Chiba-WI Program

Contract finishes August 1

Period of stay expires August 1

If you wish to stay in Japan during this period, you must change your status of

residence to Temporary Visitor. If you are working/studying, your new visa must

start on August 2.

JET/Chiba-WI Program

Contract finishes Next August 1

Period of stay expires This August 1

No valid visa!

Extend your period of stay

JET participants wishing to look for work in Japan after finishing their term of appointment can submit a Certificate of Employment ( 在職証明書 zaishokushōmeisho), obtained from the contracting organization, to the immigration office to prove they have finished their term on the JET Programme in order to request a Status of Residence as Temporary Visitor for up to 180 days. Source: CLAIR News (English/Japanese) **This is not available for Chiba-WI ALTs, sorry!

Remember that the 90 day grace period is not a guarantee, so you should confirm with immigration before making plans!

At immigration when you leave for good, the staff will give you a form to fill out and punch a hole in your residence card.

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Temporary Visitor (短期滞在 tanki taizai) If you are staying in Japan to travel, you must change to a temporary visitor visa. The Temporary Visitor visa is valid for up to 90 days. You can initially apply within 14 days of the end of your contract, and then return a second time after you have completed your contract. Bring:

Application form (短期資格変更許可申請書 tanki shikaku henkō kyoka shinseishō). You can fill it out at the Immigration Office.

Passport Residence Card Explanation for changing Status of Residence (在留資格変更理由書 zairyū shikaku henkō

riyūsho). This is a formal letter (in Japanese) to the Immigration Officer, in which includes your reason for staying in Japan, including your return flight itinerary.

Documentation showing the last day of your period of appointment (this can be found on your jirei 辞令), and your scheduled date of departure.

A copy of your return airline ticket or confirmed reservation Bank passbook (通帳 tsūchō) to show you have money to get by for the remainder of your stay Proof of completion of your contract from your CO or school (brought on second visit) ¥4000 stamp (buy these near the immigration office, or at a post office) and corresponding form

https://www.thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/changing-status-to-temporary-visitor/

Notification Concerning the Accepting Organization (契約機関に関する届出 keiyaku kikan ni kansuru todokede) When you leave or change employers, you must submit a notification to the Immigration Office. Fill out a form with the information required or use one of the samples on the website. You can bring it with other paperwork or mail it to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau (write “The notification form is enclosed/届出書在中” in red on the face of the envelope):

Notification acceptance desk, Residency management information department,

Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to 108-8255

〒108-8255 東京都港区港南 5-5-30 東京入国管理局

在留管理情報部門届出受付担当

Bring or send by mail:

Notification form Residence card (or copy if applying by mail)

Website: English: (ALTs) http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/18.html (CIRs) http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/19.html

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Chiba Immigration Office Tokyo Regional Immigration Office, Chiba Branch (東京入国管理局 千葉出張所 tōkyō nyūkoku kanri-kyoku chiba shutchō-sho or 入管 nyūkan) Address: 1st Floor, Chuo Community Center, 2-1 Chiba-minato, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba-ken

千葉県千葉市中央区千葉港 2-1 中央コミュニティーセンター1 階 Access: right across from Chiba City Hall (市役所 shiyakusho). Take the monorail to Shiyakusho-mae Station or walk 10 min from Keiyo/Monorail Chiba-Minato Station or Keisei Shin-Chiba Station. Hours: 9:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00 (closed weekends and national holidays) Website: English: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/soshiki/index.html

Japanese: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/soshiki/index.html

Access map for the immigration office

You will have to visit the Immigration Office twice: once to submit paperwork, and once to pick up completed paperwork!

Go early in the morning to beat the crowds and bring a book!

Here!

JR Chiba-Minato Sta.

Monorail Chiba-Minato Sta.

City Hall

Monorail Shiyakusho-mae Sta.

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Insurance The Japanese National Health Insurance ends the day of your contract. Return your insurance card to your contracting organization or school on completion of your contract—they need it for paperwork. JETs: JET Accident Insurance covers accidents and injury (not theft or loss of property) until the day you arrive in your home country or August 31, whichever comes first. For more information, check the JET Accident Insurance Policy Guide. (http://jetprogramme.org/en/jpai-outline/)

Chiba-WI ALTs: Chiba-WI ALTs can submit a claim for emergency medical care received abroad, but this can only be done while you are covered by the National Health Insurance. Japanese: https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/g3/cat310/sb3120/r138; English: https://www.thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/insurance If you plan to travel after completing your contract, it is recommended that you enroll in travel insurance.

Taxes CIRs, 3rd-5th year ALTs, and 1st and 2nd year ALTs from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and other countries are liable for Japanese Income taxes. Income tax (所得税 shotokuzei) is deducted from your monthly salary and listed on your Statement of Earnings ( 源泉徴収票 gensenchōshūhyō); you will need this statement to apply for an extension of your Status of Residence as well as filing taxes in your home country. Residence Tax (also called Inhabitant Tax 住民税 (jūminzei) in Japanese) is calculated on January 1st based on your income from the previous calendar year (Jan 1—Dec 31) in Japan. You receive this bill in June. All residents liable for Residence Tax won’t be charged until the following year. Keep in mind the taxable income of your first year will be quite low (i.e. August to December; 5 months). Those liable for taxes need to discuss with your CO how taxes will be paid before you leave. (2nd year ALTs/CIRs receive their paycheck either before taxes are paid or have taxes automatically withdrawn each month). Before returning home, taxes are usually paid in one of the following ways:

1. CO pays a lump sum payment on your behalf once you receive the bill in June before you depart (you will need to leave sufficient funds with their CO).

2. CO pays monthly or quarterly payments on your behalf once you have left Japan (you will need to leave sufficient funds with their CO).

(Source: GIH 2017 p. 61, PDF p. 31, Thousand Leaves page: (http://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/taxes)

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Pension Refund Everyone living and working in Japan has a portion of their salary deducted and put into the Japanese Pension System. Foreign nationals who leave Japan can apply for a Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment, or a refund of up to 36 months’ worth of payments. In order to qualify for this refund, you must:

Submit your Application for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments within 2 years of leaving Japan Not possess Japanese citizenship Have paid Employees’ Pension Insurance premiums for six months or more Not have a place of residence in Japan (submit a moving-out notification) Never have qualified for pension benefits (including Disability Allowance)

Before leaving Japan: 1. Submit your moving-out notification to local municipal office 2. Obtain Application for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments (脱退一時金請求書 dattai ichijikin

seikyūsho) from your local social insurance office ( 社会保険事務所 shakai hoken jimusho). Download the form from http://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/todoke/kyotsu/20150406.html (Appendix III) or in the back of the GIH 2018 (p. 190, PDF p.98).

3. Designate a person who is a resident of Japan (does not have to be Japanese!) to be your tax representative by filling out a Declaration Naming a Person to Administer the Taxpayer’s Tax Affairs (納税管理人の届出書 nōzei kanri nin no todokesho). The form is available at your local tax office or at http://www.nta.go.jp/tetsuzuki/shinsei/annai/shinkoku/pdf/07.pdf (Appendix IV).

4. Be sure to pack: A) Your blue Pension Book (年金手帳 nenkin techō) B) Contact information for:

Tax representative School/Office Contracting organization

After leaving Japan: 1. Submit your application to the Japan Pension Service containing:

A) Pension Book B) Photocopy of passport pages showing:

Date of final departure from Japan Name, birthday, nationality, signature, resident status

C) A certified bank stamp OR all pertinent bank information for your home country bank

〒168-8505 東京都杉並区高井戸西 3 丁目 5 番 24 号社会保険業務センター Social Insurance Operation Center, 3-5-24 Takaido-nishi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168-8505

Submit/obtain forms, designate tax agent

Mail forms to Japan Pension Service

Receive money in your bank account, mail notice of refund to tax agent

Tax agent files for refund of tax on Lump-sum Withdrawal

Tax agent receives refund and transfers money to you

Leave Japan

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2. Wait until you receive a Notice of Lump Sum Withdrawal Payments (脱退一時金支給決定通知書

dattai ichijikin shikyū kettei tsūchisho) as a receipt for your money. Make a copy of this form for your records.

3. Receive your money! 4. To get back the 20% that was withheld as tax, mail the original Notice of Lump Sum Withdrawal

Payments to your tax representative and have them fill out a tax return/payment confirmation (確定

申告書 kakutei shinkokusho) for you. This must be done with five years. 5. Have the remaining 20% deposited into your tax representative’s account (must be a Japanese bank

account) and then transfer the money to you (international remittance, bank transfer, etc.) 6. Receive more money! (For more information: www.thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/pension-refund/)

Return Airfare To qualify for your travel allowance home, you must fulfill the following conditions:

Complete term of appointment Do not enter into a subsequent term of appointment with your contracting organization or a

contract with a third party in Japan within one month after completion of the term of appointment Leave Japan to return to your home country no later than one month from the day following the end

of the term of appointment In addition, your ticket has the following conditions:

In principle, the ticket should be for a direct flight. However, a ticket for an indirect flight may be issued if the price is significantly cheaper. In such circumstances, the traveling time should not be unreasonably longer than a direct flight.

In the event that the JET or Chiba-WI ALT cannot return on the specified date due to unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances, such as accident or illness, the contracting organization is to provide a ticket for another flight. (Source: GIH 2018 p. 165, PDF p. 83) Chiba-WI and Prefectural JET ALTs Return Flight arrangements are made directly with your school; discuss arrangements as soon as possible. Note that some ALTs pay for the ticket up front and submit the receipt to their school office to be reimbursed, while other ALTs have the ticket purchased for them. Keep in mind that the budget is limited, so plan accordingly when choosing your return date. JETs After receiving the Return Flight Request Form (form 3-4-1 in the CO Manual) or a similar form from your BOE or CO, submit the form before purchasing your ticket. Your CO may choose to purchase your ticket or reimburse you. Consult with your supervisor as early as possible as to the procedure. COs may try to avoid flights during Obon (mid-August) as tickets are very expensive.

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Returning Home Just as you may have experienced culture shock or culture fatigue during your time in Japan, you may experience it when you return home. Re-entry shock or reverse culture shock is common among returning expatriates, but it is often unanticipated, so there are less awareness and support for it than regular culture shock. The level of severity varies by individual, but in general, the more you have changed—often connected to how long you were away and how deeply you immersed yourself—the more difficult it will be to readjust to your home culture. Signs and sources of reverse culture shock:

Essential Information for Your Successor Leaving your successor with a solid base of information about their placement will help them adjust to their new life and work more quickly and smoothly. It will also help your JTEs, BOE, neighboring ALTs, and other colleagues begin a productive working relationship with your successor right away. Remember when you first arrived in Japan and what you were told (or weren’t told) by your predecessor. Here is your chance to leave a positive legacy and pay forward the help that was given to you! However, it is important to strike a balance in the amount and kind of information you provide. Too little information can leave your successor feeling unprepared, but too much can be overwhelming and rob them of the opportunity to explore and learn for themselves. Too much positive or negative information can also affect your successor’s expectations for their role. To give you an idea of what kind of information is important to include, the Essential Information Outgoing→Incoming form has been adapted for both JETs (ALTs & CIRs) and Chiba-WI ALTs. Download the Essential Information form: https://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/leaving-chiba

Letter of Recommendation Your CO can provide a Certificate of Participation for proof of employment (在職証明書 zaishoku shōmeisho) and/or a letter of recommendation (推薦状 suisenjō) if you request it. Samples of both can be found in the CO Manual (forms 3-4-2 and 3-4-3).

Idealized view of home or of Japan

Expectation of total familiarity;

that you will be able to pick up exactly where you left off

Feeling frustrated, alienated, bored,

disconnected, unsatisfied with surroundings

Loss or compartmentalization of experience

People don’t want to listen, misunderstand

you, or see “wrong” changes

You can’t explain

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Stages of reverse culture shock

Mood

Time

Stage 3: Adjustment and Assimilation You learn to reconcile your experiences in Japan with your new life at home. Things start to seem a little more normal as you gradually re-learn the cultural norms of your home country. You fall into some old routines, but you see things differently now because of your new attitudes, habits, and personal and professional goals.

Stage 2: Crisis and Culture Shock You become more aware of negative aspects, and may even feel like a foreigner in your own country. You feel uneasy, frustrated, alienated, bored, disconnected, unsatisfied, even depressed or angry. Things are different than you remember and your transition hasn’t been as smooth as you expected. People aren’t interested in hearing about your experiences, and you start to miss Japan and being abroad, perhaps even think about going back.

Stage 1: the Honeymoon Period You finally get to enjoy everything you missed when you were in Japan. Your family and friends are excited to have you back, you can read all the street signs, and there’s real cheese! You notice the positives about your home country.

Before leaving Your busy schedule of packing, goodbye parties, and finishing your Japan bucket list can intensify feelings. You may be reluctant to leave, or maybe you can’t wait to get out of here. Your last few days may fly by so fast you don’t have time to reflect. There may be changes in social dynamics: people may begin to distance themselves emotionally before parting ways, or suddenly form a close bond before leaving.

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How to get over reverse culture shock

Expect it to happen. Prepare for a readjustment period, and tackle culture shock at home with the methods you used when you came to Japan. Be ready for a change in relationships both in Japan and back home.

“Every culture has a ‘script,’ full of expectations, values and norms that people follow intuitively in their interactions in everyday life. You have been reading from a different ‘script’ for a while now, which may result in some embarrassing social missteps, or just general feelings of uneasiness when you arrive back home. This can be very stressful, as ‘home’ is a place where we expect to feel comfortable and competent, which may not be the case as you are choking back a ‘sumimasen!’ when you feel like ordering something at a restaurant.” –Kumamoto Leaver’s Guide p.47

Reconnect with your home network. Reading up on current events, pop culture, and other news will help you have something to talk about besides Japan. Reconnect with friends and family so you have a strong support network to lean on as you readjust.

Return home with a “traveler’s heart.”* Think of returning home like traveling to a brand new country and seek something new no matter where you are. Treat the people in your home country with the same patience, respect, and curiosity as the people you met on your travels: “Take the time to acknowledge your colleagues’ ‘unique’ ways of doing things and realize that even though they’re not 4,000 miles away, they have stories to share, too.”*

Keep in touch with Japan. Connect with a JET Alumni Association (JETAA), join a local Japanese culture or international organization, and keep in touch with friends you made in Japan. Staying informed on Japanese current events and pop culture will help you feel connected to Japan.

Stay international. Maintain your “international” lifestyle, including food, fashion, and perspective. Just because you’re back home doesn’t mean you have to give up your interests just to fit in.

Stay active. Continue the hobbies or studies that you did in Japan. Keeping active will give you a sense of control over your situation and help you get over culture shock. Take care of your physical and mental health throughout the adjustment process.

Pay it forward. Find a way to use your new skills and knowledge, such as writing a blog or helping JET/Chiba-WI ALT hopefuls with their application. Use your experience as a foreigner to get to know international students or individuals from “minority” backgrounds, who may be feeling the same alienation you felt overseas.

Know that this too shall pass. With time, you will get used to your new surroundings, and you will be even more worldly and mentally tough for it. Your experience overcoming culture shock in Japan has given you the coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges of readjusting to life at home.

Sources: Study Abroad Handbook, Home Sweet Home?, Finding Home, How to Repatriate, Reverse Culture Shock

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Sources and References

General Information Handbook 2018: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/ Thousand Leaves Wordpress: https://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/leaving-chiba/ After JET Guide 2011: http://jetprogramme.org/en/ajg/ JET Lump sum Withdrawal Payment Guide: http://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/themes/biz-

vektor/pdf/publications/pension.pdf Hamamatsu Leaver’s Guide: https://sites.google.com/site/hamajets/essential-

information/leaving-hamamatsu After JET Conference Materials: http://jetprogramme.org/en/after-con/ JET Alumni Associations: http://www.jetalumni.org/

Notes