Yesterday, the controversial budget finally finally passed the Japanese
Parliament yesterday. The major bills were controversial
Teigaku-kyufukin (定額給付金), and holiday discount of highway.

12,000 yen Teigaku-Kyufukin

So
it is now official that the everybody who legally resided in Japan on
Feb 1, 2009 are eligible for 12,000 yen (the 18 and younger, and the 65
and older will receive 20,000 yen).

To check your eligibility, look at my older post.
http://katz515.blogspot.com/2008/12/registered-foreigner-will-receive-12000.html

The majority of Japanese people are already tired of this topic.

It's been over half year since the government started talking about it.

The
Japanese people are sick and tired of these already non-sense policy
after seeing Taiwan and China executed the similar plans within a month.


Anyhow, the bill has passed.

So
it's now final that ALL people who lived in Japan on Feb 1, 2009
including the registered foreigners, are now eligible to receive the
12,000 yen.

BUT YOU NEED TO CLAIM IT. BUT THE PROCESS MAY VARY DEPENDS ON THE CITIES YOU LIVE.

The Japanese government passed this task to the local government to give out the money.

The problem is... now it's Tax season.

Most of the city official are overwhelmed with tax stuff. So it may be some delay.

Only about 5 towns and villages which don't have much population, are giving out the money this week.

However the most of the local agencies just don't have enough man power to execute the distribution quickly enough.

According
to the survey of TV-Tokyo "World Business Satelite" on March 4, the
majority of cities and towns are planning to distribute the money in April.

Here is the article from Mainichi Shimbun
http://mainichi.jp/enta/photo/news/20090305k0000m040089000c.html

One of The worst cities is Nagoya.

Nagoya doesn't have time until June~!

So I'm sorry to the people who live in Nagoya.

But
the city officials are overwhelmed already. It's just too many people
lived in Nagoya. And the city officials are already busy with tax, and
bad economy.

And if you are planning to move out from Nagoya....
The letter will be sent to the address you lived on Feb 1, 2009.....
The city never mentioned how to take care of movers.... If you are
lucky to have a roommate or family, and then it may be ok. But if you
don't..... you may have to give up 12,000 yen.


How to Claim Your 12,000 Yen

Anyway, here is how you can claim the money.

The small towns may give out the money at the local city hall with valid ID.

But if you live in a large city, the process may be like this.

* They will distribute the money per household basis.

1. You will receive the letter from the local government
2. You will confirm how many people are in your house hold, and accept or refuse this Teigaku-Kyufukin
3. You reply the mail to the local government with the bank account info
4. You will receive the confirmation mail to notify when the money being deposited to your ban account
5. And you finally receive money.

BUUUUT,
the Japanese government completely let the local government to decide
how to distribute the money, so you will have to consult with the local
city hall to confirm....

Ahh.. it's pain in an a**.


Toll-way Holiday Discount is Coming

So
another bill that passed yesterday was weekend and holiday discount for
toll-ways. They are planning to start this discount program on March
28th for two years.

If you drive more than 100km on the Japanese highway on a weekend... the fee will be only 1,000 yen~!

Well, this is not that easy. Here are the catch.

1. Your car must have ETC device (electronic toll collection (system))
2. If you passed any metropolitan area and toll gate, the charge will be reset.

So you cannot go from Hokkaido to Kyushu with 1,000 yen.

For example, according to Mainichi Shinbum's article
http://mainichi.jp/enta/photo/news/20090305k0000m040089000c.html

From Aomori to Kagoshima, you need to avoid Tokyo area, and since you may have to go through Osaka metropolitan area.

1000 yen (Aomori to Osaka) + 500 yen (Osaka Metropolitan Tollway) + 1000 yen (Osaka to Kagoshima) = the total 2,500 yen.

With the regular pricing, it will cost 39,250 yen. So it's still a huge discount (and then, of course, you need to pay your gas)

They will have modified calculate soon on their web site... but they are only Japanese.

Nexco East
http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/
Nexco Central
http://www.c-nexco.co.jp/
Nexco West
http://www.w-nexco.co.jp/


So
unless you are an ALT who have the contract not to drive in Japan, it
may be a good time to travel around Japan on the weekend with your
friend... But I still recommend to get JR rail pass though.