Quality-teachers are always in demand regardless of their age. Besides, if all else fails and you still need an "in", I can do the visa cert for you through my business. Just some paperwork on my part-no biggie, although you would have to arrange to come here in person at least once to hammer out the details. You can then do with it as you wish. At least it's an option should all else fail. Looks like i've cast my lot here in Fukuoka after purchasing my first home so i'll be around for awhile to watch my investment grow...
Interesting thread….been quiet for a while. I stumbled on it via google. The last post here was in 2011 - so just wondering about current retirement issues. I'm Australian, lived in Japan for a few years when I was a kid and my father worked in the aviation industry there. I travelled around the country for several months when I was in my twenties….and my wife and I have had a couple vacations there more recently and planning our next one. My wife of over thirty years is originally from the Philippines and of course Australian now. She's a nurse, damn good one….and I work in a university as a technical supervisor for biological sciences…
We're thinking to pull the plug and retire in the next year or two…..we both have outstanding language skills…we've worked around the world. Plan A was to retire in the Philippines….we've got a nice very large lot there in the central islands in a 'secure' compound of mostly western expats and wealthy Filipinos…However I find conditions there are deteriorating rapidly - crime rising dramatically, inflation, population growth out of control, simple things like electricity unreliable, medical care a joke….I've certainly lost interest in retirement in the Philippines and even my wife is far less keen.
Just wondering if Japan is a viable alternative for retirement. We both love it there. I speak a fair bit of Japanese (not claiming any fluency) and my wife can learn it even quicker than me…..speaks several languages. We'd have a retirement income - combined - of around $4000 USD a month….plus enough assets to cover any medical dramas…I expect….and when we are eligible to buy a house in Japan could sell ours in Australia for more than enough to cover a nice house there in a semi-rural area of north Kyushu or Hokkaido. Prices in those areas are a bargain compared to Australia.. We love the country…I always have - and my wife is now well and truly converted.
So is it possible? I'm expecting difficult….but possible would have me going for it….
It's been nearly four years since the last post on this thread. Since then, there's been a few "life changes" for me.
I got laid off in November 2007 and I really haven't found a job comparable to what I had.
That said, on the income side, my mom passed away in January 2010 and left me with 80 acres of farm property. I get income from the corn crop (I have a tenant farmer).
I figure that Social Security and the farm income would sustain me where ever I may end up. (My 401k and IRA were eaten up by the financial meltdown of 2008.) That, plus whatever I come up with for extra income (and for something to do), should suffice.
I still have Japan in mind for retirement. Although, since this thread started, Malaysia seems to be more inviting.
Opinions?
Sendaiben, thank you for that resource. It's the first I've heard of NISA and J401k, and the most optimistic I've been about the possibility of retiring in Japan.
The retirement system in Japan is not so great, so I saved up and kept money as a retirement fund since I plan to retire at about 50 (early I know, but I have enough saved that I just want to enjoy some free time before I'm decrepit), my wife's parents are retired and their pension is not good, so I am doing the same as them and saving a nest egg. I also have a solar array in a neighbouring town that pays well. and an ECO house so over the year I profit from TEPCO on my electric bills.
To be honest, I just don't trust investment options for my retirement money and inheritance. I find letting it collect interest while topping it up with payments from TEPCO for selling energy is more than sufficient.Interesting. Retiring early is something I am also planning to do. I am looking at 44 for myself, but don't plan to stop working -I'll carry on doing freelance writing and consulting which I enjoy.
Are you happy with what you are doing with your nest egg? Check out RetireJapan.info for information about various investing opportunities in Japan. Alternatively, we'd love to hear about your experiences.
Fair enough! The most important thing is that you understand what you are doing and are happy with results. If your current (very safe) strategy is going to meet your needs, you've already wonTo be honest, I just don't trust investment options for my retirement money and inheritance. I find letting it collect interest while topping it up with payments from TEPCO for selling energy is more than sufficient.
So far there is enough for me and my family to not work until I am 130 years old, take away possible problems that cost money like house or solar repairs and the fact I will be dead by 100. It is fairly safe, that excludes the money I earn from selling electricity.Fair enough! The most important thing is that you understand what you are doing and are happy with results. If your current (very safe) strategy is going to meet your needs, you've already won
It sounds very impressive. From age 50 to 130 years (just using the number as a hypothetical) would be 80 years of retirement. I reckon you would need 2,500,000 yen per year to survive in Japan. More in your active years, maybe less in your infirm years...2,500,000 yen annually shouldn't be too far from reality. Obviously you will need more if you intend to travel or enjoy other things that life has to offer. Anyway, by my calculations you should have nearly 200,000,000 in the bank (earning .01%, or about 20,000 yen per year in interest income). You are to be congratulated on having saved such a nest egg at your age.So far there is enough for me and my family to not work until I am 130 years old
Where are you finding interest rates above 0 in Japan??To be honest, I just don't trust investment options for my retirement money and inheritance. I find letting it collect interest while topping it up with payments from TEPCO for selling energy is more than sufficient.
Where are you finding interest rates above 0 in Japan??
.... I also have a solar array in a neighbouring town that pays well. and an ECO house so over the year I profit from TEPCO on my electric bills.
I've seen for-sale condos in the Tokyo area advertised for investors, and claiming a 6-8% return for the owner--you buy, rent, cover expenses, claim deductions, and you supposedly get something like that back.
It's best to steer clear away from places that advertise such high numbers considering that;
1- You can only get such a high rate of return if the property is old and far from a station
2- Older properties that aren't within at least a 10 minute walk of a major station have major difficulties finding tenants (the return basically turns into the negative during those times when you factor in the operating costs and taxes)
3- There are no significant claim deductions on older properties since the government wants people to invest in newer (and thus safer) buildings.
The actual rate on such properties would be a lot closer to 5% or less.