Pension book

Pension Book

Basic Pension Number Notice card

The Pension Book (年金手帳; Nenkin Techō) was a small book that you should have received shortly after arriving in Japan if you were a 2021 or earlier JET arrival. Inside it contains your Basic Pension Number. It should be either orange or blue, and the front should have four kanji that read 年金手帳. When it comes time for you to apply for your pension refund, you will need to send it in with your application. If your school or contracting organization is holding onto this for you be sure to get this from them before you leave the country.

As of April 2022, the Pension Book has been discontinued for JETs. All JETs arriving after April 2022 receive a Basic Pension Number Notice card in place of the book.

Lost Pension Book

Although you would think they would have electronic records backing up something as important as your pension, it appears that under no circumstances can you get your pension refunded without this little blue book. If you do misplace your pension book, you can apply to any regional office of the Social Insurance Agency (社会保険事務所; Shakai Hoken Jimusho) and get a replacement book. A list of the offices in Akita can be found below.

List of Social Insurance Agency branches in Akita

Akita City

• Akita Social Insurance Agency (秋田社会保険事務局)
  〒010-0931秋田県秋田市川元山下町5-21 (map)
  ☎ 018-883-1650

• Akita Pension Office (秋田年金事務所)
  〒010-8565秋田県秋田市保戸野鉄砲町5-20 (map)
  ☎ 018-865-2391
  Fax: 018-864-3929

Yurihonjō (Honjō)

• 本荘
  〒015-8505秋田県由利本荘市表尾崎町21-2 (map)
  ☎ 0184-24-1111
  Fax: 0184-22-8329

Kitaakita (Takanosu)

• 鷹巣
  〒018-3370秋田県北秋田市花園町18-1 (map)
  ☎ 0186-62-1490
  Fax: 0186-62-9429

Daisen (Omagari)

• 大曲
  〒014-0027秋田県大仙市大曲通町6-26 (map)
  ☎ 0187-63-2296
  Fax: 0187-63-7429

See also

• Leaving JET
• Basic Pension Number.