Table of Contents
契約 (Keiyaku) : a contract
When you are planning to move in Japan (引越/hikkoshi/). One of the most important things is a “contract” (I know contracts in foreign language is always pain in ass) for moving into new places. My last blog posted was steps of moving in Japan, and in this post I will go through the basic terms and contracts in more details.
Basic Terms
The table below shows basic terms used often in moving process in Japan.
| Japanese | pronunciation | English word | occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 契約（けいやく） | /keiyaku/ | Contract | Seach/contract |
| 所在地(しょざいち) | /ʃozaitʃi/ | Contract | Seach/contract |
| 口座（こうざ） | /koza/ | Contract | contract |
| 敷金(しききん) | /ʃikikin/ | deposit | Seach/contract |
| 礼金(れいきん) | /reikin/ | key money(usually non-refundable) | Seach/contract |
| 契約期間(けいやくきかん) | /kejaku kikan/ | contract period | Seach/contract |
| 更新（こうしん） | /koʃin/ | renewal (for contract) | Seach/contract |
| 共益費（きょうえきひ） | /kjoekihi/ | condo fees(usually monthly) | Seach/contract |
| 賃料（ちんりょう） | /tʃinɾjo/ | monthly rent | Seach/contract |
| 住民票（じゅうみんひょう） | /dʒuminhjo/ | a certificate of residence(ID) | contract |
| 外国人登録書（がいこくじんとうろくしょ） | /gaikoku zin toɾoku ʃo/ | an alien registration card | contract |
| 保証人（ほしょうにん） | /hoʃonin/ | co-signer | contract |
| 保険（ほけん） | /hoken/ | insurance | Seach/contract |
| 振込（ふりこみ） | /ɸuɾikomi/ | bank deposit transfer | contract |
| 借主（かりぬし） | /kaɾinuʃi/ | tenant | contract |
| 貸主（かしぬし） | /kaʃinuʃi/ | owner | contract |
| 同居人（どうきょにん） | /dokjonin/ | roommate | search/contract |
| 源泉徴収票（げんせんちょうしゅうひょう） | /gensen çoʃuhjo/ | tax-income certificate | contract |
| 連絡先（れんらくさき） | /ɾenɾaku saki/ | contacts | search/contract |
| 木造（もくぞう） | /mokuzo/ | a wooden building | search/contract |
| 鉄筋（てっきん） | /tekin/ | a reinforced concrete building | search/contract |
| 築~年（ちく〜ねん） | /tsiku ~ nen/ | age of the building | search/contract |
| 徒歩（とほ） | /toho/ | distance by walk | search/contract |
| ~畳（〜じょう） | /ᵭʒou/ | a size of tatami mat (about 5 6 ft × 3 ft)) | search/contract |
| ~階建（〜かいだて） | /~kaidate/ | N-story building | search/contract |
Contract: An example
source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourrism
The contract above is from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan (国土交通省). Usually, real estate agencies follow the format. There are about 6 pages, the 1st and 2nd is basically information of the building, the room, and your information. The other part is basic agreements between tenants and owners and legal agreement.
On this entry, I am showing and explaining only first 2 pages of the example.
If you are having trouble to find an apartments, read agreements, and moving in Japan, feel free to contact me.
I am hoping this information helps you moving in Japan, and easing your communication with owners and real estate agencies. I understand that moving in foreign countries is such a pain. I had lots of troubles with agencies and owners when I was in the U.S.
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