(Once again, clicking on the images makes them bigger and easier to read)
So today, after a very confusing conversation with my supervisor, I learned that checks aren't a thing in Japan. I probably should have realized this earlier, considering when I got my bank account, they didn't give me a checkbook, but somehow it slipped my mind. Apparently (as far as I can tell), when you need to give a large amount of money to someone, you just... withdraw cash and put it in an envelope. Which is how I have been paying my rent and water bill (the water bill is even more bizarre... you put the money in an envelope and stick it in one of your neighbors' doors, and every few months they rotate who takes it to the water place). I've never heard of just withdrawing $750 worth of cash and giving it to someone in an envelope, other than for under-the-table sorts of things.
I'm still not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do with this ¥75000 cash. After the "give it to the same ATM" line from above cycled about five times I just said I understood. I figure I'll just take the money out, slap it down on the counter at the bank along with the bill, and say "I need to get this money to this company. How do I do it?" Playing the gaijin card!
Hey~ I saw you post the link to your comics on facebook, so I've been enjoying reading them. You probably have this figured out by now, but just in case: in Japan, they do bank transfers whenever they need to send money. The people receiving the money will give you their bank information, then you just go to the ATM, select the button for bank transfer (furikomi - 振込; or furikae - 振替), input all the information when prompted, and done! They receive the money. It's actually way easier and quicker than sending a check. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, okay! Thank you for clearing that up!
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