Japanese-Indonesian Glossary

Thank you (informal)

Part-time job

Express Mail Service — fastest way to send packages to Indonesia

Personal name seal — still used for official documents

Driver's license — can convert from Indonesian license

Prayer — prayer rooms available at some malls & universities

Bowing — Japanese respectful greeting

Japanese New Year (Jan 1-3) — most important holiday

Thank you for your hard work — used daily at office

Cherry blossom viewing tradition (March-April)

Packed lunch box — important Japanese culture

Obon Festival (mid-August) — summer holiday

Festival — traditional cultural events throughout the year

Annual tax return declaration

Japanese script for foreign loanwords — learn first!

Chinese characters used in Japanese — need 2000+ for daily life

Building management fee — usually ¥3,000-¥10,000/month

Return to home country — administrative procedures required

Technical Intern Training Program

Payday — usually 25th of each month

Bank account — needed for salary and payments

Ward office — resident administration

Clinic — for minor illness, faster than hospital

Credit card — difficult for new foreigners to obtain

Polite/formal Japanese — important at workplace

Mobile phone — SIM card requires residence card

Consulate General of Indonesia — in Osaka

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia — in Tokyo

Health insurance — mandatory for all residents

Golden Week — long holiday late April-early May

International driving permit — valid for 1 year in Japan

National Pension — mandatory for ages 20-59

Garbage disposal — strict rules based on schedule

Marriage registration — at ward office

Convenience store — 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart

Residence card — must carry at all times

Alcohol/sake — common in Japanese cooking (mirin, cooking sake)

Overtime — legal limit 45 hours/month

Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese — SSW visa requirement

Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N5-N1)

Security deposit (usually 1-2 months, refundable)

Recyclable waste (bottles, cans, paper)

Earthquake — Japan is earthquake-prone

Registered official seal

Bicycle — registration and designated parking required

First train — usually around 04:30-05:00

City hall — municipal administration

Last train — usually around 00:00-00:30

Certificate of residence — needed for many procedures

Birth registration — must report within 14 days

Soy sauce — generally halal (check alcohol in some brands)

Food labels — important for checking halal/haram ingredients

Bullet train — connects major cities

IC card for transport and payments (JR East)

Excuse me / Sorry — most versatile word in Japan

Remittance — sending money to Indonesia

Bulky waste (furniture) — requires reservation and sticker

Typhoon — typhoon season June-October

Japanese broth — usually from bonito, kombu, or mushroom

Tatami — traditional Japanese flooring, also room size unit

Real estate agent fee (usually 1 month rent)

Secondhand — many shops & apps like Mercari

Commute — average 1 hour in Tokyo

Commuter pass — usually covered by employer

Move-out notification — before moving to another city

Move-in notification — must report within 14 days

Specified Skilled Worker — work visa for skilled foreign workers

Immigration Bureau

Year-end tax adjustment by employer

Dentist — partially covered by health insurance

IC transport card (Tokyo area, non-JR)

Halal — food conforming to Islamic law

Hello Work — government job center (free)

Indonesian Student Association in Japan

Visa — permission to enter and stay in Japan

Evacuation shelter — check nearest location from home

100-yen shop — Daiso, Seria, CanDo

Hospital — use health insurance (30% copay)

Basic Japanese script — foundation for learning Japanese

Pork — important kanji for avoiding non-halal food

Real estate / property agency

Dependent — important for tax and health insurance

Anti-theft bicycle registration (mandatory ¥500)

Guarantor company — alternative if no personal guarantor

Individual number (12 digits) for tax and insurance

Mosque — Islamic place of worship in Japan

Fermented soybean paste — staple of Japanese cuisine, generally halal

Business card — very important in Japanese business

Job interview — very formal in Japan

Non-combustible waste

Combustible waste

Monthly rent — utilities not included

Paid leave — minimum 10 days/year (after 6 months)

Post office — also provides banking (JP Bank)

Ramadan — fasting month, some mosques provide iftar

Recycling — Japan is very strict about waste sorting

Japanese-style resume — standard format

Key money — non-refundable gift to landlord

Joint guarantor — person guaranteeing your rent payment

Wireless internet — available at konbini, stations, cafes

1 room + living-dining-kitchen

Apartment with 1 room + separate kitchen

Studio apartment (1 room) — most common & cheapest