How we check the facts

Who does the work

Hajime is made by one independent maker in Tokyo. The research, writing and checking are done with an AI model (Claude, made by Anthropic), following the fixed steps on this page.

No tax accountant, lawyer or immigration specialist has reviewed the pages. That is why every fact is tied to an official page that you can open and read yourself.

The steps for every page

1. Official sources only

   Facts come only from official sources: the Japan Pension Service, ministries, the Immigration Services Agency and city and ward offices. Every page used is listed at the bottom of the letter page.

2. Plain words

   The English is written in short sentences. Japanese terms are shown in brackets the first time, so you can match them to your letter.

3. Two separate checks

   Two reviews, run separately from the writing, check each page. One compares every statement with the official pages. The other reads the official pages first, then looks for anything missing or wrong.

4. Disagreements settled at the source

   When the two checks disagree, the official page is opened again to decide. If it still cannot be settled, the point is left out, or the page says plainly that it depends on your city or that it is not confirmed.

5. Fixed before the date changes

   Everything the checks find is fixed before the "Last checked" date on the page is updated.

6. Translations checked back

   Each translation is translated back into English by a separate review, to catch changes in numbers, dates and negatives. A language stays out of search engines until a native speaker has reviewed it. The Vietnamese pages are waiting for that review now.

Where the facts come from

These are the sites the pages are based on. Each letter page lists the exact pages, with links.

• nenkin.go.jpJapan Pension Service
• mhlw.go.jpMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• soumu.go.jpMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications
• moj.go.jpImmigration Services Agency (Ministry of Justice)
• 24 city and ward office sitescity.osaka.lg.jp, city.yokohama.lg.jp, city.setagaya.lg.jp

When pages are checked again

• Every page is checked again, with the same steps, at least every six months from its "Last checked" date.
• Numbers that change every year are checked when they change: the National Pension premium (April), late-fee rates (January), and residence tax and health insurance payment dates (the start of each city’s fiscal year).

Every letter and its last check

• Residence tax notice8 October 202614 sources
• Residence tax reminder8 October 202626 sources
• National Pension payment slips and reminders8 October 202614 sources
• National Health Insurance bill8 October 202610 sources
• National Health Insurance reminder and demand letters8 October 202633 sources
• Health insurance eligibility certificate6 October 202625 sources

What we do not do

• We do not give legal, tax or immigration advice. We explain the letter and point you to the office that sent it.
• We do not fill in or submit forms for you.
• We do not repeat things that are often said but cannot be found in official sources. Where it matters, the page says that it could not be confirmed.
• We do not show star ratings, user numbers or testimonials. The sources and the date are the proof.

If your letter says something different

Follow your letter, and ask the office named on it. Rules differ between cities and they change; the letter you hold is about your own case.