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The 10 most-read articles. Weekly = last 7 days, monthly = last 30 days of visitors.

1
Japan's Oct 2026 Liquor Tax Reform: Beer Gets Cheaper2,938 visitors in the last 7 days
Japan's Oct 2026 Liquor Tax Reform: Beer Gets Cheaper The beer-group liquor tax is unified at 54.25 yen. We explain the cuts and hikes, with a tool to estimate the annual impact on your evening drink.
2
Japan's Chu-hai Tax Rises in October 2026: ¥7 per 350ml Can1,138 visitors in the last 7 days
Japan's Chu-hai Tax Rises in October 2026: ¥7 per 350ml Can Beer falls ¥9.10 a can while chu-hai rises ¥7.00. A calculator, plus the tax rule behind the 9% ceiling on strong cans.
3
Dependent Status Under Japan's Employee Health Insurance586 visitors in the last 7 days
Dependent Status Under Japan's Employee Health Insurance The dependent income standards (¥1.3M / ¥1.5M / ¥1.8M), the difference from the tax dependent, and the 2026 new rules (employment-contract judgment, abolition of the ¥1.06 million wall) — explained with primary sources.
4
The ¥1.06M and ¥1.30M Social Insurance Walls in Japan377 visitors in the last 7 days
The ¥1.06M and ¥1.30M Social Insurance Walls in Japan Explaining the difference from the tax walls, the 106万円 requirements and abolition policy, the change in the 130万円 dependent assessment, and how to think about working at a loss.
5
Japan Oct 2026: Minimum Wage Up & the ¥1.06M Wall Abolished211 visitors in the last 7 days
Japan Oct 2026: Minimum Wage Up & the ¥1.06M Wall Abolished The social-insurance line shifts from "income" to "20 hours a week." With a simulator where you just enter your hourly wage and weekly hours, we explain October's double reform.
6
Japan Tobacco Price Rises 2026-2029: Heated Tobacco First203 visitors in the last 7 daysNEW
Japan Tobacco Price Rises 2026-2029: Heated Tobacco First Ploom +40 yen, TEREA +20 yen and neo +40 yen are step two of the taxation redesign that puts one stick on the same footing as one cigarette. Cigarettes are not in this round. The real increase is the defence funding measure that raises the national tobacco tax by 0.5 yen per stick in April 2027, April 2028 and April 2029, taking the tax on a pack from 305 yen to 335 yen. New prices by brand, what a pack a day costs over a year, and whether stocking up in September is worth it, from primary sources.
7
Kyushu Travel Discount 2026: All Seven Booking Dates Are Out190 visitors in the last 7 days
Kyushu Travel Discount 2026: All Seven Booking Dates Are Out Kagoshima runs to end-February 2027; Kumamoto and Nagasaki booking-site quotas are closed; Saga and Fukuoka open 24 Sep, Miyazaki and Oita 25 Sep.
8
Japan Hometown Tax: What Changes on 1 October 2026180 visitors in the last 7 daysNEW
Japan Hometown Tax: What Changes on 1 October 2026 Local-product certification moves to a price basis, promotional goods must match real distribution, and municipalities must keep 52.5% of donations. Where 1.27 trillion yen actually went, and what to check in September.
9
iDeCo and Retirement Pay: Order of Receipt Changes Tax152 visitors in the last 7 days
iDeCo and Retirement Pay: Order of Receipt Changes Tax Both the iDeCo lump sum and a retirement allowance are retirement income. The 2026 reform changed it to the "5→10-year rule." We explain the order and timing of receipt that avoids overlap elimination, with three rules and a concrete example.
10
EV Subsidies Across Japan's 47 Prefectures + National147 visitors in the last 7 days
EV Subsidies Across Japan's 47 Prefectures + National The national CEV subsidy (common nationwide, up to ¥1.3 million) plus the idea behind prefectural/municipal top-ups, how to look it up by area, and the tax on a subsidy received (occasional income, compressed-entry accounting) — explained neutrally.