Dear admin: please don't delete this post this time, I have moved back home, but still have unfinished business as a resident of Japan.
So, I had to move home earlier than planned due to the terminal diagnosis of my father. I did have time to visit the ward office before I left, but I didn't have the money to pay the full outstanding tax and health insurance on the day. There was a plan that was made for me to pay in parts, and I was told I could pay from Australia, which I was relieved about. I had to provide my address and was told additional payment requests would be forwarded here to complete my payment – at least this is how I understood it. I had to do everything in Japanese and I'm far from perfect. I returned to Australia. There was a period of grief etc. Nothing came in the mail. I tried to email the ward office. I got one reply once about just general what to do when you leave Japan, but anything for my specific situation. I also reached out to my local Japanese embassy on what to do, but they just said I need to go through the ward office and they don't provide assistance with such matters. I sort of got pissed off for a while about how hard it is, especially as it was such a difficult time, but now I really want to fix my remaining debt. I'd like to visit Japan again to catch up with friends and I don't want to be turned away on arrival or questioned about my debt. I also don't want to be "that gaijin" that just bailed without doing the right thing.
Any advice?
by Capable-Toe-9841