Opening a Japanese Bank Account

Surprised to get a call from Gaba language school yesterday. Assuming I pass the certification process next week I will have a 6 month contract (potentially renewable).

To be able to sign the paperwork next Monday I had to have a Japanese bank account. Kayoko was working and I only had 90 minutes before the Post Office closed for the weekend. 

Cycled - in blistering heat - to the the main Post Office here in Takarazuka in the hope that someone might speak English. After all, everybody here studies English in school... No luck, but I did manage to secure a copy of the application form. A single side of B5 paper with only a few boxes to complete.

A hair raising ride home through the afternoon traffic then I allowed Google to work its magic. Success! I found a web page with an identical form and step-by-step instructions. The only tricky part was writing the address in Kanji. The web site suggested the Post Office staff might be able to help with that so, pausing only to change my sweat drenched shirt, back onto the bicycle clutching my almost completed application form, residence card, health insurance card and a crisp 1,000円 note.

Arrived at the Post Office 30 minutes before closing. I was lucky enough this time to find an employee who spoke just a little English and we completed the form, with the shutters closing at the counters on either side of me, only 5 minutes after normal closing time.

I left clutching my account book and offering profuse thanks to the helpful staff!

Post election walk

It was the polling day for local elections here yesterday. After  Kayoko had voted we took a short walk out to a shrine and temple near the polling station. There were not many people around. It was a pleasant, warm Sunday afternoon.

I loved the dragon on the temizuya (手水舎).

For the entirely reasonable sum of 20円 I was able to ring an enormous bell!

Flowers after Hanami

The hanami (花見) season might be over here in Takarazuka but there plenty of beautiful flowers to look at around the city.

Even this simple roadside hedge looks lovely.

Insulated from Reality

Whenever I see builders at work on new houses around Japan I get powerful urges to walk over to them and bring to them knowledge of the arcane and mysterious practices of "cavity wall insulation" and "double glazing".

Emigration to Japan

Yesterday I successfully completed my emigration to Japan!

This process took several months starting with the application for a Certificate of Eligibility by my wife in Japan following our marriage there. This document - in Japanese - formed the main part of the application. Once it had been issued I was able to apply for a visa to the Japanese Embassy in London.

The visa application was a much simpler process than that required for the Certificate of Eligibility and was focussed on proof of identity. This was granted in only three days.

With the visa and the Certificate of Eligibility attached to my passport I was able to present myself to immigration control at Kansai International Airport where I was given with a resident card which allows me to live and work in Japan for up to 1 year.

In the next two weeks I must register my address with Takarazuka City Hall.

The next important task is to find myself a job here! I registered with an employment agency for foreigners in Osaka this afternoon...

Wedding Day

On 30 October 2012 Kayoko and I celebrated our marriage at the Iwashizu Shrine in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.

Japan in June

Enjoying another visit to Japan and my lovely fiancé Kayoko.

This photograph was taken at the famous temples of Nakayama-dera. That trip was my first experience of negotiating the Japanese rail system without the assistance of Kayoko!

I have also been to Osaka Museum of History which overlooks the castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and included a wonderful display of life at the Emperor's residence.

I attended a performance of the famous all women theatre troupe the Takarazuka Revue. This was very exciting and colourful. I would like to go again soon!