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I Contributed to Japan's 401(k) for 7 Years Without Once Thinking About How to Cash Out
Tax & Systems

I Contributed to Japan's 401(k) for 7 Years Without Once Thinking About How to Cash Out

I started iDeCo in 2019 and never thought about the exit. Then Japan changed the rules in 2026, and I realized how naive I'd been.

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Before You Buy AI Stocks, Ask Yourself One Question: Are You Actually Paying for AI?
Investing Practice

Before You Buy AI Stocks, Ask Yourself One Question: Are You Actually Paying for AI?

A personal filter for AI stock hype, from a guy who lost ¥2 million on individual picks

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Japan 2026 Tax Changes Explained: ¥580K Basic Deduction, ¥1.6M Wall, and the Furusato Nozei Trap
Tax & Systems

Japan 2026 Tax Changes Explained: ¥580K Basic Deduction, ¥1.6M Wall, and the Furusato Nozei Trap

Japan's basic deduction rose to ¥580,000 in 2026. The ¥1.03M income wall moved to ¥1.6M. Plus a furusato nozei One-Stop pitfall that voids your break.

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Trump Tariffs Wiped $50K From My Portfolio. I Did Nothing.
Investing Practice

Trump Tariffs Wiped $50K From My Portfolio. I Did Nothing.

A Japanese index fund investor lost $50K in the 2025 tariff shock. Eight years of buy-and-hold experience explained why doing nothing was the right call.

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Children's NISA Japan 2027: ¥600K Limit, Eligibility & Should You Open One Before Your Own?
Tax & Systems

Children's NISA Japan 2027: ¥600K Limit, Eligibility & Should You Open One Before Your Own?

Japan's Children's NISA launches January 2027: ¥600K a year, ¥6M lifetime, tax-free for ages 0-17. The math says fill your own account first. One caveat.

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Tax Season Is Here. As an Index Investor With $130K in Unrealized Gains, I Had Almost Nothing to Do
Tax & Systems

Tax Season Is Here. As an Index Investor With $130K in Unrealized Gains, I Had Almost Nothing to Do

8 years of index investing, $130K in unrealized gains, zero investment tax work. Here's exactly how e-Tax works and why I still file every year.

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I Haven't Sold a Single Index Fund Since 2018. My Unrealized Gains Hit $130K
Investing Practice

I Haven't Sold a Single Index Fund Since 2018. My Unrealized Gains Hit $130K

Eight years of dollar-cost averaging into US index funds with zero sells. From $2K unrealized losses to $130K in gains — the full timeline.

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I Check My Portfolio at 4 AM. If It's Up, I Stare. If It's Down, I Close the App
The Journey

I Check My Portfolio at 4 AM. If It's Up, I Stare. If It's Down, I Close the App

I check the S&P 500 at 4 AM every morning. If it's up, I stare for 5 minutes. If it's down, I close the app. My 8-year index investing routine.

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We Invest 62% of Our Take-Home Pay — Here's Our Entire Dual-Income Budget
Family & Money

We Invest 62% of Our Take-Home Pay — Here's Our Entire Dual-Income Budget

Real budget of a Japanese dual-income couple: $4K take-home, $2,500/mo into index funds, $1,300 on food. Every yen exposed.

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Index Investing Barely Grows for the First 3 Years. Year 5 Changed Everything
Investing Practice

Index Investing Barely Grows for the First 3 Years. Year 5 Changed Everything

The first 3 years of index fund investing felt like nothing happened. $1,000/month, barely any growth. Then compound interest kicked in at year 5.

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