Japan’s population is starting to decline. The population in both May and June this year was less than the same months last year — that’s the first time since World War II that this has happened in consecutive months. Overall, Japan’s population fell by about 30,000 during the first six months of this year, thanks to the low birth rate and long-lived population. If the trend continues, it could lead to changes in immigration regulations to try to correct the demographic imbalance.

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The Japanese Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Information Center is the best place to call for all immigration related issues. It’s located in Tokyo inside the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, but you can call them from anywhere in Japan (or, presumably, from outside Japan). The staff there speak a variety of foreign languages.

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There has been some discussion in the Visa eligibility section about whether you are allowed to work if you have a dependent visa. The answer is that you can, but only if you apply for permission and get a work permit.

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The Japanese government is planning to translate more of its laws into English. They will publish English translations of more than 200 laws over the next three years.

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Tokyo is still the world’s most expensive city to live in, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey. However, Osaka is no longer in second place on the list; it has been replaced by Oslo in Norway. One of the survey’s editors said that this is probably because Japan has been locked into a pattern of low or negative inflation for some years now as a result of unemployment and a number of economic problems.

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I wanted to open a bank account when I first moved to Tokyo. It turned out to be quite difficult: most banks required evidence of a long stay in Japan, such as a working visa or at least an alien card. I had high hopes for Shinsei Bank, since they were the most modern of the big banks and even had an English Internet banking service. Sadly, even they needed to see a valid visa before opening an account.

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The Japan National Tourist Organisation has a useful little page of Budget Travel Hints. There’s a list of prices of common things in Japan, and information on dining out, transporation and accommodation.

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