Commentary Has Japan become poor?
Ever since the bubble in the 80s, people in Japan have been saying how they are poor now. Sure, compared with the bubble...
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Bank Accounts Net Banks in 2025: JRE Bank & Sumishin SBI
The term "Net bank" has always seemed silly to me, as internet banks still have employees and presumably offices, and "n...
Credit Cards Building Credit with Deposit Type Credit Cards in Japan
The major international credit card brands (JCB, American Express, Visa, and Mastercard) are available in numerous types...
Gold & Precious Metals Investing in Gold in Japan
To most people in most countries, investing in gold (or other metals) is something they hear about, but not something th...
Prepaid Cards Guide to Prepaid Cards in Japan
There are multiple types of cards commonly available in Japan:Cash Cards (ATM Cards) - These can be used at ATMs to depo...
Bank Accounts Basic Bank Accounts in Japan – Opening An Account
If you want to open an account at a major bank, it is as easy as walking into the nearest branch - if you speak Japanese...
Bank Accounts Why Foreign Banks Can’t Compete in Japan
As I am sure most people know, banks accept deposits from customers, and then pay interest. This costs the bank money.Ba...
Bank Accounts Basic Bank Accounts in Japan – Types of Banks
OverviewEven though cashless payments are becoming increasingly prevalent, there are still many instances where traditio...
Commentary Is Japan a Cash Society?
One of the myths you will often hear is that Japan is a "Cash Society" - but is it true? And if so, what does that even ...