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Tokyo Condos Average $800K. I Didn't Know About Japan's Variable Rate "5-Year Rule" Until My Payments Went Up
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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I Ran the Numbers on Japan's New 'Singles Tax.' Even as a Parent, I Can't Celebrate
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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I Have ¥50M in Assets. I Still Don't Know What I'm Doing About My Daughter's Education.
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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¥170K a Month on Food for Three. Here's Where Every Yen Goes.
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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Japan's 5% Wage Hike Made Headlines. My Raise Was Zero.
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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I Ran the Numbers on My iDeCo Exit Tax — Turns Out I Can Just Take It All at 60
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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I Owe $170K on My Mortgage at 0.6% Interest. Here's Why I Won't Pay It Off Early
Investing Practice

I Owe $170K on My Mortgage at 0.6% Interest. Here's Why I Won't Pay It Off Early

With a 0.6% variable-rate mortgage in Japan, should I prepay or keep investing in index funds? Eight years of real decisions, including getting rejected for mortgage insurance because of a therapy visit.

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Gas Prices Jumped Overnight, My Portfolio Dropped $4,700 — Here's What I Actually Did
Investing Practice

Gas Prices Jumped Overnight, My Portfolio Dropped $4,700 — Here's What I Actually Did

A Japanese index fund investor faces the Hormuz Strait blockade, surging gas prices, and a $4,700 portfolio loss. Why dollar-cost averaging proved its worth — and why he didn't change a thing.

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I Invest $2,500/Month and Run a Deficit. Am I NISA-Broke?
Investing Practice

I Invest $2,500/Month and Run a Deficit. Am I NISA-Broke?

62% investment rate, a deliberate $1,400/month deficit. I sat down and actually worked out whether I qualify as 'NISA-binbo' — turns out I don't.

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Why I Picked FANG+, NASDAQ 100, and ACWI for My $2,500/Month Portfolio
Investing Practice

Why I Picked FANG+, NASDAQ 100, and ACWI for My $2,500/Month Portfolio

$670 into FANG+, $330 into NASDAQ 100, $1,330 into ACWI. Why these 3 funds, and why not S&P 500.

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