With a public debt equivalent to roughly 150% of GDP, there's no question that the Japanese government is borrowing (and spending) itself into the ground. While the majority of the money appears to go to publicly financed road projects used mostly by deer and monkeys, the Japanese government is, in fact, an amazing trove of frugal resources, if you know how to access/ utilize them.
My own city government is a good example. The main city library has a small but growing collection of English-language books ('yosho'), and the library will purchase your desired book if it is requested properly. Our 11-story city hall building has a lavish (and cheap) cafeteria available for all visitors, offering great lunch deals at less than 500 yen per person with a spectacular view. If you are expecting, the city lends out reclining baby carriages (usually only used for the first few months) for the bargain price of 300 yen a month! If you find yourself involved in the care of an elderly relative in Japan, certain consummable items (such as adult diapers) are also either available for free or heavily subsidized. Finally, our city also offers a substantial subsidy for income-qualified families to attend private kindergartens.
Your own city, town, or ward might offer similar, or even better, services. However, finding out about them is the problem! For one thing, there appears to be little government information available in English about these services, and the information that is available is often outdated. Secondly, services offered differ by locality, with some local governments offering only the bare basics.
Knowing where to look...
So, first of all, how do you get this great information? The simplest way is to read the local city/town/or ward "koho" or newsletter that should arrive in your mailbox every week. The "koho" is, alas, only in Japanese, but is often simply written. The next best option is to visit your local prefectural or city international affairs office and ask for the "Town Living Guide." Within the last five years, most governments of major cities/prefectures have put together and translated guides of basic government services (such as trash collection and emergency services) combined with explanations of various social welfare systems. A few of these guides can be found at local town halls, and many cities have also put their English living guides online as well. Perhaps one of their most useful features is a list of local gymnasiums, libraries, parks, museums, and other facilities.
Finally, the fastest way is probably (especially if you speak even basic Japanese) to simply show up at the city/town/ward hall and ASK. Most local governments will have a central Q&A or information desk, and the staff at that desk can usually point you in the right direction. If your town has a lot of foreigners, free interpreting service might also be available some days of the week. Be sure and visit mid-week, during a relatively slow period, and allow for some waiting time. Also, writing your questions down in easy English might make it easier to get the information you need.
For those in the know, Japan's local government services and social welfare can provide a very significant savings - you just need to access the information.
By Wendy J. Imura. Copyright 2005.