Editorial & Accuracy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

Komichi Japan publishes information that people use to make real, high-stakes decisions — about visas, jobs, money, and moving their lives to another country. We take that seriously. This page explains how we research, write, check, and maintain everything we publish, and how to tell us when we get something wrong.

Our standards

We check facts against primary sources. Every figure, rule, eligibility requirement, fee, and date is verified against official Japanese government sources — such as the Immigration Services Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Tax Agency, the pension service, and the official bodies behind language tests (JLPT, JFT-Basic) — or other authoritative primary sources. We link to those sources so you can check for yourself.

We show when information was last updated. Rules and figures in Japan change. Every guide carries a visible "last updated" date, and we revise the content — not just the date — when something material changes.

We distinguish facts from opinion. When we share a recommendation or a judgement call ("we think this route is usually the better bet"), we label it as our view and explain the reasoning, so you can weigh it yourself.

We disclose uncertainty. Where official guidance is ambiguous, still changing, or varies case by case, we say so plainly instead of presenting a false certainty. "It depends, and here's what it depends on" is more useful than a confident guess.

We prefer first-hand evidence. Wherever possible we go beyond restating official rules to show what actually happens — real (anonymised) documents, real costs, real timelines, real test experiences — so our guidance reflects reality on the ground.

We don't do clickbait. Our headlines describe what a page actually delivers. We would rather lose a click than mislead you into one.

How we handle "Your Money or Your Life" topics

Immigration, tax, employment, and financial topics carry real consequences, so they get extra care: stricter sourcing, clearer disclaimers, and more frequent review. Our guides are general information, not legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. Rules and figures change and depend on individual circumstances — always confirm your specifics with official sources and, where it matters, a qualified professional (such as an immigration lawyer or a licensed gyōsei shoshi administrative scrivener).

How we keep content current

We review our guidance on a rolling basis and aim to review every page covering rules, fees, or figures at least once every 12 months, and sooner when we become aware of a policy change. Major changes are reflected in the content and the "last updated" date.

How we use AI

We use AI tools to help research and draft, which lets a small team cover a lot of ground. AI never has the final word. Every published page is reviewed by a person, checked against primary sources, and held to the standards on this page before it goes live. We use AI to work faster — never to lower the bar on accuracy.

Corrections

We will make mistakes, and we want to fix them fast. If you spot an error — an outdated figure, a rule that's changed, anything that reads wrong — report it here or email japankomichi@gmail.com. We investigate every report, correct what needs correcting, and note significant corrections on the page so the record is clear.

Independence

Our editorial content is not for sale. No company, agent, school, or advertiser can pay to be recommended, to change our guidance, or to influence what we cover. Any commercial relationships are kept separate from editorial and are clearly labelled — see How we make money.

Contact

Questions about how we work, or about a specific page? Reach us at japankomichi@gmail.com.

We update this policy as our process evolves.