Glossary

Japanese money terms, in English and Japanese.

つみたて投資枠tsumitate tōshi wakuAccumulation frame (NISA): The NISA frame for regular, automated investing in regulator-screened funds, up to ¥1.2M per year.
マイルmairuAirline mile: A currency redeemable for award travel. Its value varies with route, taxes, surcharges, and availability; value it against a fare you would actually buy, minus award taxes, not a fixed figure.
振込furikomiBank transfer: A transfer of money to another bank account, often used for rent, invoices, and payments. Fees vary by bank and channel.
青色申告aoiro shinkokuBlue tax return: A filing status that rewards double-entry bookkeeping with a deduction of up to ¥650,000 and loss carry-forward.
仲介手数料chūkai tesūryōBrokerage fee: Commission paid to a licensed broker, subject to a statutory maximum based on the price and transaction.
がん保険gan hokenCancer insurance: Cover paying contract-defined cash on cancer diagnosis or treatment, subject to a waiting period, definitions, recurrence rules, and limits.
税理士zeirishiCertified tax accountant: The only professional licensed to give regulated tax advice and represent taxpayers before the tax authorities in Japan.
諸費用shohiyōClosing costs: The one-off costs of buying property (agent fees, registration, taxes, insurance), typically 6–10% of the price.
自賠責保険jibaiseki hokenCompulsory Automobile Liability Insurance: Mandatory motor-vehicle cover for bodily injury or death of accident victims. It excludes property damage, your own vehicle, and liability above statutory limits.
管理費kanrihiCondominium management fee: A monthly fee for ordinary shared operations of a condominium; it is not saved for major repairs.
消費税shōhizeiConsumption tax: Japan’s value-added tax: 10% standard, 8% reduced for food and certain items. Relevant to businesses above the taxable threshold.
コルレス銀行koruresu ginkōCorrespondent bank: An intermediary bank that relays and settles a payment when the sending and receiving banks lack a direct relationship. Each can deduct a fee.
暗号資産angō shisanCrypto-asset: Cryptocurrency. Gains are taxed as miscellaneous income at marginal rates; only FSA-registered exchanges may serve residents.
免責金額menseki kingakuDeductible: The portion of a loss you pay yourself before or alongside the insurer’s payment. Common in pet, travel, property, and vehicle-damage cover.
減価償却genka shōkyakuDepreciation: Spreading the cost of a long-life asset (equipment, buildings) over its useful life rather than expensing it at once. Land is never depreciated.
口座振替kōza furikaeDirect debit: Automatic withdrawal from your bank account for recurring bills such as rent, utilities, and credit-card payments.
告知kokuchiDisclosure: The answers an applicant must give accurately. Material omission or misstatement can void cover or allow the insurer to refuse a claim.
頭金atamakinDown payment: The cash paid upfront toward the price; a larger down payment lowers the loan-to-value ratio and often improves pricing.
ダイナミック・カレンシー・コンバージョン（DCC）dainamikku karenshī konbājonDynamic currency conversion: When a foreign merchant or ATM offers to convert a transaction into yen at their rate. It usually costs more — choose the local currency.
繰上返済kuriage hensaiEarly repayment: Paying extra principal ahead of schedule; term reduction usually saves more interest than payment reduction.
手付金tetsukekinEarnest money: A payment at contract that is part of the price, credited at closing; refundable on financing failure only if the financing clause applies.
地震保険jishin hokenEarthquake insurance: A government-backed rider added to fire insurance. Payouts are capped at a share of the building/contents value.
学資保険gakushi hokenEducation insurance: Scheduled education payouts with a premium-waiver feature on the policyholder’s death or disability. Liquidity and returns are limited.
電子マネーdenshi manēElectronic money: Stored-value or contactless payment such as Suica, WAON, or nanaco. Charging e-money with a card does not guarantee card points — only specifically eligible funding routes qualify.
予定納税yotei nōzeiEstimated tax prepayment: Advance income-tax payments in July and November, required when the prior-year prepayment base is high enough, reconciled on the following return.
免責事由menseki jiyūExclusion: A circumstance that prevents payment — for example intentional loss, war, an unlisted driver, or a diagnosis that does not meet the policy definition.
重要事項説明jūyō jikō setsumeiExplanation of important matters: A required disclosure by a licensed transaction specialist covering title, restrictions, hazards, and cancellation before the contract.
確定申告kakutei shinkokuFinal tax return: The annual income-tax return, filed Feb 16 – Mar 15, required for side income, self-employment, or to claim certain deductions.
火災保険kasai hokenFire insurance: Property cover for selected risks such as fire, wind, and water damage. Flood, accidental damage, and earthquake are separate modules.
固定金利kotei kinriFixed interest rate: A rate fixed for a defined period or the whole term (as with Flat 35). It removes interest-rate risk at a higher initial cost.
固定資産税kotei shisanzeiFixed-asset tax: An annual municipal tax on land, buildings, and depreciable assets, based on the January-1 owner and assessed value.
外国税額控除gaikoku zeigaku kōjoForeign tax credit: A credit for qualifying foreign income taxes against Japanese tax, limited by a Japanese ceiling, to relieve double taxation.
外貨預金gaika yokinForeign-currency deposit: A bank deposit denominated in a foreign currency. It can reduce repeated conversions but exposes you to exchange-rate risk and a spread on entry and exit.
所有権shoyūkenFreehold: Perpetual ownership of land subject to law and tax; the conventional, financeable form.
贈与税zōyozeiGift tax: Tax paid by the recipient on gifts above a ¥1.1M annual exemption (across all donors), at progressive rates up to 55%.
団信danshinGroup credit life insurance: Group credit life insurance (団体信用生命保険) that repays the mortgage if the insured borrower dies or is severely disabled.
高額療養費kōgaku ryōyōhiHigh-Cost Medical Expense Benefit: A public system that caps your monthly out-of-pocket medical costs based on income, limiting the cost of serious illness.
高額療養費kōgaku ryōyōhiHigh-Cost Medical Expense Benefit: A public-insurance mechanism that caps eligible medical cost-sharing within a calendar month by age and income category.
住宅ローンjūtaku rōnHome loan (mortgage): A mortgage. Eligibility weighs income, employment, and often permanent residency; choose between fixed and floating rates.
ふるさと納税furusato nōzeiHometown tax donation: A scheme to donate to local governments for gifts while deducting almost all of the donation from your taxes (¥2,000 net cost).
本人確認honnin kakuninIdentity verification (KYC): The identity-verification process required to open financial accounts, using documents such as a residence card.
就業不能保険shūgyō funō hokenIncome protection insurance: Monthly benefits after a waiting period when the insured meets the contract’s inability-to-work definition; short illness and unemployment are usually excluded.
所得税shotokuzeiIncome tax: The national tax on individual income, charged at progressive rates from 5% to 45% on taxable income, plus a 2.1% reconstruction surtax.
マイナンバーmai nambāIndividual Number: A 12-digit personal ID number used for tax, social security, and increasingly for financial account identification. Some banks and brokerages require it.
相続税sōzokuzeiInheritance tax: Tax on an estate above the basic exemption of ¥30M + ¥6M per statutory heir, with the return generally due within ten months.
金利kinriInterest rate: The annual rate charged on a loan. The base (reference) rate minus a discount gives the preferential applied rate.
IBANaibānInternational Bank Account Number: A standardized account identifier used in Europe and many other countries, given by the recipient for an international transfer.
海外送金kaigai sōkinInternational remittance: Sending money across borders. Watch the exchange-rate markup, which often costs more than the visible transfer fee.
司法書士shihō shoshiJudicial scrivener: The professional who prepares and files ownership and mortgage registrations and verifies closing formalities.
借地権shakuchikenLeasehold: A right to use land owned by another, subject to ground rent and consent; it constrains financing and resale.
リフティングチャージrifutingu chājiLifting charge: A bank handling charge when it does not perform its normal currency conversion, such as a same-currency or JPY international transfer. Often about 0.05% with a minimum near ¥2,500.
期間限定ポイントkikan gentei pointoLimited-time points: Points with a fixed, often short deadline and sometimes narrower redemption options than ordinary points. Rakuten, d POINT, and PayPay all distinguish ordinary from limited-use rewards; spend these first.
仲値nakaneMid-market rate: The midpoint between wholesale market buy and sell prices. A neutral benchmark for comparison, not a guaranteed retail rate.
住宅ローン減税jūtaku rōn genzeiMortgage tax deduction: An income-tax credit based on the qualifying year-end mortgage balance, subject to conditions; file in the first year.
国民健康保険kokumin kenkō hokenNational Health Insurance: Public health insurance for those not covered by employees’ insurance (e.g. freelancers). Premiums are income-based and billed by your municipality.
再建築不可saikenchiku fukaNon-rebuildable: A property that cannot ordinarily be replaced under current access or planning rules; finance and resale are severely constrained.
非居住者hikyojūshaNon-resident: For tax, someone without a Japanese domicile or one-year residence, taxed only on specified Japan-source income — separate from immigration status.
開業届kaigyō todokeNotification of business opening: The form filed with the tax office to register as a sole proprietor. Free and quick; often filed with the blue-return application.
通常ポイントtsūjō pointoOrdinary points: A program’s standard balance, following its normal expiry and redemption rules. Ordinary PayPay Points currently do not expire; ordinary d POINT generally lasts 48 months.
個人賠償責任kojin baishō sekininPersonal liability: Cover for everyday legal liability — a child breaking property, a cycling accident, or certain water-leak claims. One household policy often suffices.
ペット保険petto hokenPet insurance: Reimbursement of eligible veterinary costs at a set percentage, subject to waiting periods, annual and daily limits, deductibles, and exclusions.
ポイント交換pointo kōkanPoint exchange: Converting points into another program, often with a minimum amount, ratio, monthly limit, or restricted expiration. Direct conversion to airline miles often yields under ¥0.5 per point unless the award is high-value.
ポイント有効期限pointo yūkō kigenPoint expiration: The date unused points disappear. Some programs use a fixed date; others extend the whole balance whenever qualifying activity occurs. Concentrating in one active ecosystem keeps a balance alive.
保険料hokenryōPremium: The price paid for insurance — monthly, annually, or as a lump sum. It can be level, age-banded, or repriced higher on renewal.
元金gankinPrincipal: The amount borrowed before interest and fees. Interest is charged on the outstanding principal.
個人年金保険kojin nenkin hokenPrivate annuity: A savings-type contract providing retirement income, sometimes in foreign currency. Compare with iDeCo, NISA, fees, and inflation before buying.
iDeCoidekoPrivate defined-contribution pension: A private, tax-advantaged defined-contribution pension. Contributions reduce taxable income now but funds are locked until age 60.
民泊minpakuPrivate lodging (minpaku): Short-term lodging generally limited to 180 days/year nationally; municipalities and condo bylaws can restrict it further.
医療保険iryō hokenPrivate medical insurance: Private cover paying fixed hospitalization, surgery, or treatment benefits. It supplements, and does not replace, public health insurance.
民間介護保険minkan kaigo hokenPrivate nursing-care insurance: A lump sum or annuity paid when the insured reaches a contract-defined care state or public care level. It does not replace public Long-Term Care Insurance.
送金目的sōkin mokutekiPurpose of remittance: The declared economic reason for a transfer (tuition, family support, salary, investment, purchase). A vague purpose can trigger review.
適格請求書tekikaku seikyūshoQualified invoice: A compliant invoice from a registered issuer that lets a business buyer claim input-tax credit under the invoice system. Registration makes an otherwise-exempt seller taxable.
インボイス制度inboisu seidoQualified invoice system: The consumption-tax system (from Oct 2023) under which buyers need a supplier’s T-number to claim input tax credits.
組戻kumimodoshiRecall of a transfer: A request to return a transfer after it has been released. The recipient or correspondent may reject it, and fees and FX losses can reduce the refund.
借り換えkarikaeRefinancing: Replacing a mortgage with a new one; worthwhile only when present-value savings exceed all new costs.
修繕積立金shūzen tsumitatekinRepair reserve: A condominium fund accumulated for major capital works; distinct from the management fee, which covers ordinary operations.
在留カードzairyū kādoResidence card: The government-issued ID card for mid-to-long-term foreign residents. It is the primary document for opening bank accounts, applying for cards, and most financial services.
住民税jūminzeiResident tax: Local tax of roughly 10%, billed the year after the income is earned — often a surprise in a new resident’s second year.
ポイント還元率pointo kangen-ritsuReward rate: The value returned as a percentage of spending. The base rate is the ordinary return before campaigns; the effective rate is what you actually receive after caps, fees, exclusions, rounding, and realistic redemption value.
特約tokuyakuRider: Optional coverage attached to a main policy, such as advanced medical treatment, premium waiver, personal liability, or women’s illness.
傷病手当金shōbyō teate-kinSickness and injury allowance: Employee health-insurance income support for eligible non-work illness or injury, broadly two-thirds of standard remuneration.
入会特典nyūkai tokutenSignup bonus: A new-card or new-account award requiring approval and spending or usage conditions. It is one-off and should not be treated as a permanent annual return in long-term comparisons.
資金源shikingenSource of funds: The immediate origin of transferred money — salary, savings, a sale, inheritance, a loan, or business revenue — that a provider may ask you to evidence.
二重取りnijū-doriStacking: Receiving more than one legitimate reward from the same purchase, such as merchant points from a loyalty scan plus payment points from the card or wallet. Each layer must be independently eligible.
印紙税inshizeiStamp tax: A tax on creating specified paper documents (contracts, large receipts) by their stated amount. Purely electronic documents are generally outside it.
解約返戻金kaiyaku henreikinSurrender value: The amount payable if a cash-value life or annuity contract is cancelled. It is not a bank deposit and can be low in the early years.
SWIFT／BICコードsifuto / bīaishī kōdoSWIFT/BIC code: The international code identifying a specific bank in a cross-border payment message.
減税genzeiTax reduction: A reduction in tax owed, achieved through deductions and credits such as medical expenses, dependents, or the mortgage credit.
納税管理人nōzei kanrininTax representative: A person in Japan appointed to receive notices and handle returns, refunds, and payments after you leave the country.
居住者kyojūshaTax resident: For income tax, someone with a domicile in Japan or a residence for at least one year — taxed more broadly than a non-resident (a tax concept, separate from a visa).
NISAnīsaTax-free investment account: A tax-free investment account. Since 2024 it allows ¥3.6M/year (¥18M lifetime) of investments whose gains are exempt from tax.
借家人賠償責任shakuya-nin baishō sekininTenant liability: A renter’s liability to the landlord for specified damage to the rented property, distinct from contents cover and personal liability.
定期保険teiki hokenTerm insurance: Protection for a fixed number of years or to a set age. Usually little or no surrender value; renewal can sharply raise the premium.
タッチ決済tacchi kessaiTouch (contactless) payment: Network contactless card payment (Visa/Mastercard/JCB touch). It is not interchangeable with iD or QUICPay for bonus-category eligibility — some campaigns exclude iD and physical-card touch.
対顧客電信買相場（TTB）tai-kyaku denshin kai sōbaTTB rate: The rate a bank applies when a customer sells foreign currency back to yen. The TTS–TTB gap is the round-trip spread.
対顧客電信売相場（TTS）tai-kyaku denshin uri sōbaTTS rate: The rate a bank applies when a customer buys foreign currency with yen. The gap from the mid-market rate is an exchange cost.
引受査定hikiuke sateiUnderwriting: The insurer’s assessment of health, occupation, or other risk. Acceptance may be standard, rated, restricted, postponed, or declined.
空き家akiyaVacant house: A vacant home; often cheap but may carry title, access, structural, and renovation issues that exceed the price.
変動金利hendō kinriVariable interest rate: A rate reviewed periodically, commonly twice a year; the borrower bears any increase.
任意保険nin’i hokenVoluntary automobile insurance: Optional car insurance covering third-party liability, own injury, vehicle damage, legal expenses, and roadside assistance beyond compulsory cover.
待機期間taiki kikanWaiting period: A period after enrollment when some events are not covered. Cancer policies commonly use a roughly 90-day exclusion period.
白色申告shiroiro shinkokuWhite return: The default filing status without the blue-return application. It still requires bookkeeping but offers no blue special deduction.
終身保険shūshin hokenWhole-life insurance: Lifetime death cover if premiums are maintained. Some designs build surrender value, but early cancellation can return far less than premiums paid.
源泉徴収gensen chōshūWithholding: Tax withheld at source by an employer or other payer during the year. It is a prepayment reconciled by year-end adjustment or a final return, not always the final tax.
源泉徴収票gensen chōshū hyōWithholding certificate: The year-end statement from an employer showing gross pay, income after the employment deduction, total deductions, and tax withheld — the figures you carry to a return.
年末調整nenmatsu chōseiYear-end adjustment: The employer process that reconciles withheld income tax at year-end, so most single-employer employees do not file a return.