Daily Life
About the Pension System
July 16, 2026
This article explains the basics of Japan's pension system in an easy-to-understand way. It covers the National Pension, Employees' Pension Insurance, and the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment available when leaving Japan. Foreign nationals living in Japan are also required to participate in these systems.
National Pension (Kokumin Nenkin)
- **Enrolled members**: All people aged 20 to 60 are required to join. This includes foreign nationals living in Japan.
- **Premiums**: A fixed monthly amount is paid each month.
- **Benefits**: There are basic pensions for old age, disability, and bereaved families.
Employees' Pension Insurance (Kosei Nenkin Hoken)
- **Enrolled members**: Mainly company employees are covered.
- **Premiums**: Payments are based on your salary and are split equally between you and your employer.
- **Benefits**: There are employees' pensions for old age, bereaved families, and disability.
Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment (Dattai Ichijikin)
- If you are leaving Japan, you may be able to apply for a lump-sum withdrawal payment.
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Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan "Life and Work Guidebook" 第8版
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/support/portal/guidebook_all.html
This article was reorganized by ＳＩＡデジタルテクノロジー株式会社 based on the above source.
※This language version is a machine translation from the Japanese version (ＳＩＡデジタルテクノロジー株式会社).
This information is reference material based on official announcements. Always verify accurate information on official websites or with relevant authorities.