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From: declan_murphy@hotmail.com
Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan
Subject: Re: Average Cost of living in Japan.
Date: 13 Apr 2006 06:24:18 -0700
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Louise Bremner wrote:
> <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Louise Bremner wrote:
<snip>
> > > For a largish house with absolutely no insulation, we're paying
> > > something like an average of Y20,000 a month *gulp* for electricity,
> > > water, and mains gas (LPG is only out in the countryside).
> >
> > That isn't so bad though is it?
>
> Considering that we never seem to be able to get warm in the winter, it
> seems pretty high to me....

I doubt that my house is any better insulated, but warm winters are
easy. All that is required is a 堀炬燵, chocolate, a waterbed, a
good stash of fine Irish whiskey and an active sex life.

Or so I've heard.

> > For 2 people, especially if you cook
> > and work mostly at home? My place (2 storey townhouse, way too big for
> > me) runs at about 12,000 a month. Its the telecoms and fuel bills that
> > bite the budget.
>
> I decided not to mention the telecom expenses, seeing as how they are so
> variable.

My overall telecom bills are mostly the same (about 22,000 a month,
including the cellphone). Not much variation at all, but the petrol
bill jumps in winter and summer, easing off in spring and autumn.

> > The bar/cafe (smaller space than the house) is about
> > 32,000 a month, but there are a lot of energy hungry devices (beer
> > servers, food storage etc) that can't be turned off.
>
> Ouch.

The only things I can turn off are lighting, aircon/heating, sound
systems and so on. The gas bill is OK, water minimal, so its mostly
power. Compared to the utilities bill though the main overhead is
labour.

> > > To get a work visa, your employer has to promise you will be paid
> > > Y300,000 per month (note that he doesn't have to promise to pay it...).
> >
> > I thought it was still 250,000/month.
>
> I thought it had been raised recently... or is it just that I got a
> "raise" from my paper sponsor last time I applied?

I sponsored 2 new employees a fortnight ago, so I hope it is still 25.
Perhaps it is different in Tokyo - I'll ask tomorrow. Why do you still
need your sponsor? Don't you have PR or a toushikeiei status?