I learned a lot over my last three months in Japan, and fully intended on making a very in-depth report on how to dispose of one’s items and move frugally. Unfortunately, my move ended up being not very frugal, despite my best efforts. I did find out two very important things, however. One is very specific: used air conditioner/heaters (aircon) are essentially worthless! You cannot sell them, you cannot give them away without causing the recipient great cost and trouble, and even recycling them is expensive (Y50,000 for me to uninstall and recycle three used air conditioners). Your best bet: leave them with the apartment, if the landlord will let you! OR take them with you to your new home.

The second thing is much more general, and rather clichéd: You can’t take it with you. Your stuff, I mean. Really. Not anywhere. With rising gas and commodity prices, shipping goods is more expensive than ever. For most things, buying it in your home destination would be cheaper. Unless it is of sentimental value, I suggest finding a good home for it. We brutally weeded out our possessions for three months and were still shocked at how much stuff was left in the end. Do yourself a favor: don’t collect the stuff to begin with. Buy sparingly and smart, and routinely inventory your possessions. If you haven’t used it in 18 months, chances are you probably won’t again. The night before we left Japan, I sat surrounded by five suitcases holding (literally) all my worldly possessions not in a small container crossing the ocean. And you know, it was very freeing. Watching the American economy slide into a recession and the inevitable layoffs beginning (I have great timing when I move!), I am struck by the fact the we really never do know *what* will happen to us in the future. Instead of surrounding yourself with stuff, collect experiences, friends, and love—it’s much more portable!

© 2008 Wendy J. Imura.

Sometimes the little scratches on hardwood floors can be filled in using a brown or black wax-like crayon sold in hardware stores or Tokyu Hands (called Kakurenbo). Simply match the color of crayon to your flooring (using a cellphone camera for a picture is handy), and shave off a few centimeters of the wax. Press the wax into the scratch. Then, using a flat surface (like the edge of a ruler), shave the filled-in scratch so that the filled-in portion is level with the floor. Then shine with an old rag.

It might sound like a lot of effort, but two hours of work on our floor (scratched up heavily by chair legs) made the scratches invisible. We saved over Y30,000 in reflooring costs, making for a much higher recoup on our deposit. At Y15,000/hour, that’s not a bad investment of time. The wax crayon, by the way, retails for about Y400.

Well, resident foreigners are apparently not the only persons facing these issues. Many Japanese, such as students, salarymen living and working alone, or other professionals on assignment, also find themselves faced with setting up residence in a place where they only plan to live for a year or two. A few companies recognized that there was a unique niche market need to be filled, and thus the home electronics rental package business was born.

The major player in this market is Toshiba Techno Network’s “Kaden Rentaru Pakku Saabisu” (Home Electronics Rental Package Service). Their basic two year contract offers four appliances (a TV, freezer/refrigerator, microwave, and automatic washing machine) for 4,725 yen a month, with the latest up-to-date appliances. After the two-year contract is complete, you have the option of continuing rental for 3,150 yen a month, or having them take away your appliances at no charge. A cancellation charge is applied unused portions of the contract. Options for renting a slightly better TV (with DVD and video options), as well as vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, hot water pots, and AC/heater units are also available for an extra charge. A clear, concise description of the service can be found at: http://www.toshiba.co.jp/tcn/pack/kaden/index_j.htm (Choose Single or Family Pack.)

Note that a “Family Pack” service, with larger and better appliances, is available for 8,400 yen a month for the same four items. The service is also offered through a variety of other distributors, including Seven Eleven Japan’s “Seven Dream” website. Since this service only advertises in Japanese, I suggest you enlist the help of a Japanese friend or coworker (perhaps your boss or the person in charge of seeing that you are settled) to help navigate their websites or make a telephone call. Note that recent law changes requiring a hefty recycling fee for the pick-up of used electronics for disposal makes renting electronics even more of a bargain.

A few other options for assembling the required items are to buy used from other foreigners, at sayonara sales and the like, or to take advantage of competitively-priced packages at volume electronics retailers like Yodobashi Camera or Bic Camera. These discount packages are usually called “shin-seikatsu kaden” (new start) fairs, and can be recognized by a large group of appliances displayed together with a common color or design theme. They are usually held from February through late March.

You can sometimes get 10 to 12 items for between 80,000 and 120,000 yen. While not cheap, you will have purchased every possible item you will need, and they will all match!

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

One excellent resource in this regard is Akabou, masters of the Tiny Red Truck. Akabou is a network of independently owned small truck operators organized into local cooperatives, who handle anything from shipping used appliances from one house to another to small-scale complete moves. They have reasonable rates (usually clocked by the kilometer, like a taxi), and will also move items from the house to the truck, and vice versa. With their wide network, you can ship just about anything within Japan using Akabou, though the best prices are for local area shipping. Note that the truck bed size is limited (length 1940mm, width 1410mm, and 1400mm, max. payload: 350 kg), so a large move might require several Akabou trucks.

The official Akabou website is in Japanese only, but several local Akabou Cooperatives advertise or handle requests in English. These locales include:

• Yokohama (http://www.porters-express.com/page/english.html)
• Nagoya (http://www.mb.ccnw.ne.jp/h-akabou/english.htm)
• Tokyo Metropolitan area (http://village.infoweb.ne.jp/~fwkc9604/akaboue.htm)

If they cannot handle your request, they will probably refer you to someone who can. I’ve used Akabou before, and found it a very reasonable, friendly service to use.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The end of March is also a wonderful time for finding great deals on home furnishings and other goodies from “sayonara sales” and general spring cleaning. But this time of year also finds many people becoming extremely motivated sellers. There is a panicky feeling that descends as the movers start wondering how on earth they will empty their entire apartments in a week’s time. Carefully orchestrated plans to sell off furniture to the highest bidder become a wild scramble to unload anything on anyone who will take it. The two takers of last resort – recycle shops and the ’sodai gomi’
(large refuse) collection agencies – are often found to be less help than one might expect. Recycle shops can refuse to take belongings if they are overstocked, or might even charge you to dispose of your items. The large refuse collection agencies at local city or ward offices also often only make stops once every week, which is inconvenient if you plan on moving before then. In the midst of a busy international move, disposing of items can certainly be a challenge.

Selling or giving your items away to other foreigners living in Japan is a great way to empty your apartment. Planning several months in advance as to what you will sell, and how and when you will sell it, will also be a help. There are several community resources around Tokyo that can help you.
A well-known place to start is by placing an ad in Metropolis, advertising a “sayonara sale”. Posting a notice at a public board (such as the bulletin boards at the National Azabu grocery store in Hiroo) is also a great way to get the word out. Are you a member of any online communities or ex-pat focused organizations in Japan? Advertise your for-sale items on mailing lists or in publications for these groups if it’s allowed — expanding your target audience is bound to improve the chances of your items getting noticed.

Here are a few tips for organizing an effective sayonara sale. Many people find that creating a simple web page, including photos and prices of the items you wish to sell, can expedite the selling process. Another important factor is pricing items to sell. While some unique or expensive items (such as luxury goods, collectors’ items, brand new electronics, or antiques) might be worth close to their original price, most average household goods and electronics should be priced low enough to move. My general rule of thumb is 20-40% of the original sale price, and I’ve never had a problem quickly selling items. Really – is the goal of the sayonara sale to make money, or to get rid of your stuff in time for your move? Finally, be honest in your item descriptions – note if there is any wear or damage to the item. It is unlikely that curtains used for three years in a Tokyo apartment are “as new!”

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

Ed’s note: The Tell and Sell Japan mailing list is a perfect place to stage your sayonara sales these days. And if you aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon, you can benefit from some nice bargains through the group.

Don’t Move in March/April!

Did you know that almost 70% of all moves in Japan take place in March and April? This is because company transfers, the new school year, and the start date for freshman company hires are all around this time. Consequently, rental agencies, moving companies, and shippers are all swamped, and are much less likely to give you a bargain. Try, if possible, to schedule moves during the dead season of late summer or winter. You might find that realtors have a larger stock of apartments for rent, which
can increase their motivation to give you a deal.

Tips for a Successful Move-in/Move Out

1. When looking for a new home, always take along a camera for shots to help you remember the positive and negative (including damage) points of the potential places.

2. When you’ve decided and before you move in, make sure that you take photos or videos of the entire place — not just pre-existing damage. If possible, use a camera that imprints the date. Make a list of damaged areas/items.

3. On the “damage” list, note the details (damage, fix date, costs, etc.) of anything that is repaired by either the landlord or yourself.

4. When moving out, do not fail to make another photo survey of the entire place, as in you did when moving in.

5. Note any damage you’re leaving behind, adding it to your list.

6. IMPORTANT: On move-out day, make sure to have present at least one bilingual Japanese person who is “on your side.” Walk with this person through the entire place as you take notes for your damage list.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.