Hi! I lived and travelled in Japan on a working Holiday visa a few years ago, I worked 2 jobs while I was living in Japan. One of the jobs I worked for 6 months, paid tax, health insurance, and pension, all sorted by my company. The other job I worked was for about 2 months and when I signed up to live in the city where I was residing, I updated my "mynumber card" and when I went to go to the pensions section they told me that I was not required to pay it. As I left Japan I went to the city hall again to do all the moving out procedures and at the end they sent me to pay a bill and that was it (I'm not sure what I paid, I think it was moving out costs and maybe city tax).
But lately there have been some articles come out about the Japanese government cracking down on people who haven't paid pension or health insurance. I know how 6 months out of my stay I definitely was, but while I was travelling, and working that final two months, I am not sure what I paid.
Me and My partner want to return to Japan some time in the future but I am now really freaking out if I will be allowed. Since I wasn't aware and was told by city staff that certain things aren't necessary at the time, I am now really unsure on how to proceed.
Would it be worth me going to the Japanese embassy within my home country and asking if I have any outstanding bills against my name and pay them? Is there anything I can do to help my situation? I know the news of the clampdown on people not paying is new, and it might be unknown at this moment, but any information would really help!!
by Sleepy-cat-enjoyer1