Read your Japanese payslip.

Illegal deductions are common

Housing, meals, uniform, and equipment are the most frequent sources of wage theft in Japan. Deductions are only legal when agreed to in writing — at a rate that reflects actual cost, not profit. Workers who cannot read their payslip cannot identify when this is happening to them.

Every section is required by law

Japanese labor law requires employers to itemize base pay, overtime, allowances, and all deductions on each payslip. If a line is missing or vague, that is itself a red flag. This tool walks through each section — what it must contain and what makes an entry suspicious.

Know the numbers before you work

Workers who understand payslips before their first month in Japan are significantly better positioned to dispute problems quickly — while records are fresh and before deductions become routine. Covers 4 categories: earnings, deductions, totals, and employment type markers.