As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to start wrapping up the annual accounts, and to prepare for the upcoming kakutei shinkoku (確定申告｜final tax return) in February. For me, February 2026 will mark my very first tax filing as a sole proprietor in Japan. While I may share a detailed walkthrough of the…
[Life] Japanese Driver’s License Expired? How I Missed the Gold License and What to Do Next
I’ve been so busy running my travel blog lately that it’s been a while since I updated this space. But for today’s long-overdue post, I want to share a painful personal experience from living in Japan—something many long-term residents might also encounter: forgetting to renew your driver’s license. Yes, this is about what happens when…
[Tax] “Overseas Dependent Deduction” for Foreign Workers in Japan (Updated for 2025)
Hi, I’m Tsubaki, a Taiwanese living in Japan and a certified AFP (Accredited Financial Planner) here in Japan. As the year-end approaches, many people have been reaching out to me with questions about the Overseas Dependent Deduction . So here it is, a dedicated article explaining what it is and answering common questions to help…