One of the most frustrating things foreigners go through when trying to get settled in Japan is hoshonin. Hoshonin is the system of having a guarantor. As individuals are not often fully recognized as independent entities who are responsible for their own obligations a guarantor is required for just about everything.  Under this system, people who are willing to be held responsible for the actions of a second party can be become guarantors. The problem for foreigners  is finding someone willing to do this. Lets face it Japanese aren’t very trusting of  foreigners.

Even Japanese

Hoshonin also effects all Japanese and are required regardless of the position, character, or financial ability of the individual concerned. Some of the the situations that require hoshonin include buying something on credit, renting a house or an apartment, applying for visa or memberships in various organizations. Japan’s grouping syndrome impacts on every level of life in the country, in both personal and business matters. Trust and loyalty are primarily reserved for members of one’s own group. Whenever possible, members associate and do business only with members of their own group. This can make life very difficult if you are a foreigner.

Most foreigners requiring  official hoshonin depend on employers, the schools they want to attend, Japanese friends or contacts they have . Hoshonin documentation is extremely confusing and difficult to read ( if you can read Japanese) – extremely foreigner unfriendly. Having a middle name can also complicate things greatly. Establishing contacts and asking for help is about the only way to get around the hoshonin problem.

Despite being an innovator of technology Japan still has very old and almost backward systems for banking, public services or immigration . All these services are still paper based. Something as simple as changing and address can be very time consuming requiring an incredible amount of identification and documentation and Japanese “Inkan” seal. Getting a seal is an other story.

In an amazing quirk of fate that could only happen in Japan it has taken me weeks to have my private insurance canceled in Japan. I had to provide more identification and sign and stamp more documentation that I did when I applied for an insurance plan in the first place.