Category: Maternity leave
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Cash back for giving birth in Japan
Last month, I wrote a blog post about the cost of giving birth in Japan – which for us, was just over JPY1m or GBP7,175. An eye-watering credit card bill following a traumatic birth experience had left me a bit dazed and confused. Wasn’t this supposed to be the happiest time of our lives?! Well, just…
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Tax rebate for baby
We spent International Women’s Day tackling the gender-neutral issue of . . . Tax! A couple of weeks ago, I received a 3-page form in the post for filing an individual tax return. Ordinarily, each month my employer pays income and residence tax to the government on my behalf. However, since I’m currently on maternity…
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Our million yen baby: the cost of giving birth in Japan
Thinking about doing your bit for the declining population? Get your credit card ready! I’ve been putting off writing this blog post as, well, I thought it would be selfish of me to have a heart attack while my baby is still so young. Last year, I was one of about 980,000 mums to give…
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Your baby’s to-do list: 0-3 months
While I was pregnant, I wish someone had handed me a checklist of admin that would need to be taken care of by the time my baby was 3 months old. Who knew parenthood would come with so many unexpected demands – and cute distractions – that ‘popping down to the photocopier’ could take an…
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“Hello Baby” home visits in Japan
In our area of Tokyo (Minato-ku), and across Japan, families with new babies are entitled to a variety of post-natal services, for free. “Hello Baby” When registering your child’s birth at the city office, you’ll receive a pink flyer which invites you to call and arrange a “Hello Baby” home visit with a local midwife.…
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How Maternity leave affects your Residence Tax in Japan
Just as my maternity leave was beginning in October of last year, I received a mammoth Residence Tax bill for over JPY600,000 (GBP4,600). After I picked up my jaw from the floor, I did some research and found out that this bill would be for advance Residence Tax payments, while I take time off. Here’s…
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Step-by-step guide to maternity appointments in Japan (Nisseki Hospital)
Japan’s prenatal system is excellent, if a bit more involved, process-driven, and tech-heavy than that in other countries. At 38 weeks pregnant, I’ve so far attended 15 maternity appointments, including 12 scans. The good news is that, since I’m in full-time employment, costs are covered for the most part by the Japanese government’s health insurance…
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Paid parental leave in Japan: not if you’re in charge
Did you know that, if you’re classified as a ‘senior woman’ in the Japanese workforce, you may not be eligible to receive the Government’s full suite of maternity benefits? No? Me neither! I’ve been finding out the hard way. Since becoming pregnant, here are some things I’ve learned about the country’s labour insurance system . . . It’s…
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Japan’s magic maternity book
As you might imagine, with the one of the world’s lowest maternal mortality rates, Japan’s pre-natal care system is well-organised, comprehensive and methodical. Once your pregnancy is confirmed by a doctor, you can visit your local ward office with your pregnancy certificate (妊娠届書) and register for a boshi-techo (母子手帳) Maternal and Child Health Handbook. The…
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