There are many ways to get a hanko. Usually, you have to visit a store where a craftsman works. You could also get a mass produced one if you have a common surname, but that is not good enough if you plan to use it for formal use. Having a handcrafted hanko made takes time and costs a lot of money. But if you have the cash and want something special, then this is the best option.

A hanko (判子) is a seal that is used more or less like a signature in the west. Each hanko is unique and might be used in all sort of different situations. Since the Japanese society is very bureaucratic, they love to put their personal seal everywhere. It is a bit more inconvenient than using your signature, but it’s easy enough to use. It can be used in a wide range of areas; start a company, sign a lease, verify a document, validate bank related documents, verify that a delivery was received, etc.

While living in Japan, you are absolutely going to have a Japanese bank account. You have to receive your salary, pay utility and phone bills. Even though it might sound hard to open a bank account, it is quite easy. If you have everything prepared, then the process takes about half an hour. Prerequisites Two forms of identification papers; your passport and residence card. A Japanese phone number (your own, not someone else’s).

In a survey conducted by Japan Productivity Center and the Junior Executive Council of Japan, about half of the respondents said they would go home even if their co-workers or their boss was working overtime. The 1,882 respondents are new employees and they are challenging the “work-first” culture.

As of January 1, the population decreased 308,084 people (excluding foreign residents). This is a new record since the survey started in 1968. The population is also getting older. The people with an age of 65 or older now counts for 27.17 percent of the population. Children (14 and younger) is now only 12.69 percent of the population. Read more at The Japan Times.

Yes, it is quite safe to drink tap water in Japan. Tokyo Waterworks writes on their homepage that the tap water is completely safe to drink and has a soft taste. Technically the water is soft and is that gives a strange taste for me who is used to hard water. If you don’t like the taste or need water when outside, then every convenience store sells a big water bottle for ~100 yen (7-10 NOK).

Yes, it is quite safe to drink tap water in Japan. Tokyo Waterworks writes on their homepage that the tap water is completely safe to drink and has a soft taste. Technically the water is soft and is that gives a strange taste for me who is used to hard water. If you don’t like the taste or need water when outside, then every convenience store sells a big water bottle for ~100 yen (7-10 NOK).

In a survey conducted by Japan Productivity Center and the Junior Executive Council of Japan, about half of the respondents said they would go home even if their co-workers or their boss was working overtime. The 1,882 respondents are new employees and they are challenging the “work-first” culture.