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A San's Profile
Came to Japan in August, 2006 Australian Working in Tokyo (Previously lived in Kansai doing a masters degree program) |
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TB -- Hello. It's nice to meet you.
A San -- Nice to meet you, too.
TB -- When did you come to Japan?
A San -- I spent my graduate school years in Osaka. After that, I returned to Australia and just returned to Japan this summer.
TB -- Would you mind telling me about where you lived in Osaka?
A San -- Sure. The first year I lived in a dorm, and the second year I lived in an apartment.
TB -- What kinds of places were they?
A San -- The dorm room was only 4.5 mats (tatami), and the toilet and shower were combined. It was a pretty humble lifestyle. But the rent was 25,000 yen, and there were 90 people from 40 different countries living there so it was really fun!
TB -- Wow, so international! That sounds great. What about the apartment that you moved to?
A San -- The building was built in 1960, so there were NO Japanese people living there. But, it was only two minutes from campus so it was great for me.
TB -- How much was the rent?
A San -- 60,000 yen.
TB -- Did you have a guarantor (co-signer)?
A San -- When I asked about it at my school's Exchange Student Center they said the only way to do it was to ask a professor. So I asked and my research professor agreed to be my guarantor.
TB -- Your university wouldn't sign as your guarantor? (There is a service now where the University can sign as your guarantor, rather than an individual)
A San -- Universities do that? I asked, but I don't really remember. Maybe they didn't offer that service when I was a student.
TB -- Hmm. How was your correspondence with your real estate agent?
A San -- They were great, very nice. I had no problems.
TB -- Glad to hear that. How about your apartment search for your current apartment?
A San -- I had some trouble changing my visa, and I was turned away for being a foreigner. But, finally I found my current apartment and there was no problem with that.
TB -- Oh good. In Australia, what is the system for renting an apartment?
A San -- Rent is paid by the week and a deposit is paid to the government. They collect 4 weeks worth as a deposit.
TB -- The government collects the deposit? I didn't know that.
A San -- Yeah, and commission is one week's worth, paid to the real estate agent. Also, when you move to a new place you give the new landlord a letter written by your old landlord that says you have no outstanding (unpaid) rent. The system doesn't need a guarantor.
TB -- That sounds like a great system. Thanks for telling me about your experiences! | 
