By Dako On paper, we’re the prepared couple. We have a trust. The wills are signed, and so are the powers of attorney. I’d filed “what happens if one of us dies” under handled, the way you file a fire…
By Dako The word usually arrives in a sentence that also contains a deadline. Some office on the Japanese side of your life, a city hall, a bank, a legal affairs bureau, asks for a US document, and then adds…
By Jay Let me describe my role in Japanese government offices, because “survival guide” implies more heroism than I can honestly claim. Dako walks up to the counter. Dako talks. The person behind the counter talks back. Papers appear, get…
By Dako & Jay In our house we talk about “our retirement money” the way most couples do. One number, one plan, one future. The IRS has never once seen it that way. A 401(k) is an individual account. Not…
By Jay Nobody warns you about the paperwork. People warn you about chopsticks etiquette and meeting the parents and whether you should bow or shake hands. Useless. Lovely, but useless. I’m the American half of this blog. My wife Dako…