Bank Accounts In Japan

[adam87]

you dont need the inkan shomei last time i opened an account.

OP- do you have access to an address in japan?

if you do, i use to have an e-bank account and it was all internet based (in japanese mind you). but its now turned into the rakuten bank. dont know if its still easy to set up tho...

[*LOACH*]

you dont need the inkan shomei last time i opened an account.

OP- do you have access to an address in japan?

if you do, i use to have an e-bank account and it was all internet based (in japanese mind you). but its now turned into the rakuten bank. dont know if its still easy to set up tho...

Me OP or 8110? I have access to an address in Japan - its new and sparkling and had cardboard curtains when I moved in.

8110 do you actually live in Japan or you can just get a Japanese company to say you work for them? If the latter then maybe the investment visa elrodeo666 suggested is your best option as getting a gaijin card and hence an account may be quite difficult when not being a resident.

I think it depends on which bank you are applying through as to their documentation requirements. Some require a lot but I didn't need an inkan shomeisho or even an inkan/hanko for JP. Just sign, gaijin and maybe another form of id. I also went with a Japanese friend and she might have stamped some document to say I was who I am and not a North Korean insurgent looking to kidnap a schoolgirl.

Edited February 19, 2011 by *LOACH*

[elrodeo666]

Not all banks ask for the inkan shomeisho but a lot do.

I listed the what you would potentially need to open an account.

Without fail you will need to prove that you are legally living and working in Japan and thus will need at least gaijin card plus form of ID that proves your current address e.g electricity bill.

Some banks will send you info to your address from time time to time.

If your not living there and mail gets returned they will freeze your account until you can prove where you live. Had that happen a couple of times with Citibank after moving house.

Money laundering laws came in a few years ago and the financial institutions in Japan have become a lot stricter.

You used to be able to send international bank transfers with then Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ and didnt need a bank account , just your passport but thats changed now.

You must be a resident of Japan (e.g working or a business)

Citibank have been tapped twice in the last couple of years as the Yakuza have used them for money laundering to the US.

With how low the US dollar is to the yen they send bucket loads to US accounts, have their people withdraw the money and go hit the casino's and bring back the winnings, buy into investents or buy property etc.

Its a classic old money laundering scheme but usually you lose a good 30-40% of the money which is an accepted loss but they gain that initially on the strength of the yen on the exchange rate.

Therefore Japanese banks have tightened up their whole banking.

Honestly if your going over and earning money on the black (must be if you need to open an account without gaijin card) then put your money under a mattress , save it up and buy a nice car or 2 or 3 from auction and send them back and sell them.

Or if you really want an account then get a japanese girlfriend an get her to open an account in her name for you.