If you are new to working in Japan, understanding your payslip can be quite a challenge. During my first few years working here, I had absolutely no idea what I was looking at when I received my payslip 🤣
In Japan, when you get your monthly salary, you also receive a detailed statement listing allowances, taxes, and insurance deductions. This article will help you grasp every important section of a Japanese payslip.
Understanding your Japanese payslip
A payslip in Japan is called 給与明細書 (Kyuyo Meisaisho). Below is an example of a Japanese payslip:
A Japanese payslip
Sections of a Japanese payslip
A Japanese payslip typically consists of the following three main sections:
支給 (Shikyu): Payments / Allowances from the company
控除 (Kojo): Deductions
勤怠 (Kintai): Attendance (Workdays, days off, hours worked)
The specific items within each section may vary slightly depending on your company and industry.
支給 (Shikyu): Payments from the company
This section of the payslip shows your base salary, overtime pay, various allowances, commuter pass reimbursements, etc. The types of allowances offered will differ from company to company.
基本給 (Kihonkyu): Base salary
役職手当 (Yakushoku Teate): Managerial or role allowance. Different job positions come with different allowance amounts.
資格手当 (Shikaku Teate): Qualification allowance. E.g., for holding specific professional or foreign language certifications.
家族手当 (Kazoku Teate): Family allowance
扶養手当 (Fuyo Teate): Dependent allowance. E.g., for supporting elderly parents or young children.
住宅手当 (Jutaku Teate): Housing allowance
出勤手当 (Shukkin Teate): Attendance/Work allowance
通勤手当 (Tsukin Teate): Commuting allowance
営業手当 (Eigyo Teate): Sales allowance
休業手当 (Kyugyo Teate): Leave allowance for taking temporary leave due to special circumstances
臨時手当 (Rinji Teate): Temporary or special allowance. This is a one-off payment given by the company under special circumstances, such as for a specific project, a special event, or when an employee achieves a certain milestone. It is generally not a fixed part of the monthly salary.
その他手当 (Sonota Teate): Other allowances
所定時間外手当 (Shotei Jikangai Teate): Overtime allowance for working outside regular hours but within statutory limits
時間外労働手当 (Jikangai Rodo Teate): Overtime pay
深夜労働手当 (Shinya Rodo Teate): Late-night work allowance
休日労働手当 (Kyujitsu Rodo Teate): Holiday work allowance
表彰金 (Hyoshokin): Award money for outstanding performance. This is a bonus given by the company to an employee for hitting a specific target or exceeding expectations at work.
税法上支給額 (Zeihoujou Shikyugaku): Total taxable income
従業員立替金 (Jugyoin Tatekaekin): Employee advance payments. These are company expenses paid upfront by the employee and reimbursed later, which are not subject to tax or insurance.
総支給額 (Soshikyugaku): Total gross salary
控除 (Kojo): Deductions
This section displays the amounts deducted for government taxes and insurances, or reimbursements owed to the company.
健康保険 (Kenko Hoken): Health insurance. This is used for medical treatments at clinics and hospitals. Typically, you only need to pay 30% of the medical bill out-of-pocket, and the insurance covers the rest.
介護保険 (Kaigo Hoken): Nursing care insurance
厚生年金保険 (Kosei Nenkin Hoken): Employee pension insurance (Nenkin). This guarantees you will receive a pension or support when you reach old age or lose the ability to work.
雇用保険 (Koyo Hoken): Employment/Unemployment insurance. You will receive benefits if you become unemployed or take parental leave.
所得税 (Shotokuzei): Income tax, calculated based on your monthly income.
住民税 (Juminzei): Residence tax. This is paid to the local municipality where you live, based on your income from the previous fiscal year. If it is your first year working in Japan, you will not be charged this tax.
不就業控除 (Fushugyo Kojo): Absence deduction. A wage deduction for days taken off work without using paid leave.
寮費 (Ryohi): Company dormitory fee
水道光熱費 (Suido Konetsuhi): Utilities (electricity, gas, and water bills)
控除合計 (Kojo Gokei): Total deductions
勤怠 (Kintai): Attendance (Workdays, days off, hours worked)
This section breaks down your detailed working hours for the month.
出勤日数 (Shukkin Nissuu): Number of days worked
公休日数 (Kokyu Nissuu): Number of official days off, including Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays
有休日数 (Yukyu Nissuu): Number of paid leave days taken
欠勤日数 (Kekkin Nissuu): Number of unpaid absences
出勤時間 (Shukkin Jikan): Number of hours worked
残業時間 (Zangyo Jikan): Number of overtime hours
深夜残業 (Shinya Zangyo): Number of late-night overtime hours
定額時間 (Teigaku Jikan): Fixed working hours
遅刻時間 (Chikoku Jikan): Number of hours late
早退時間 (Sotai Jikan): Number of hours leaving early
当月有休残 (Togetsu Yukyu Zan): Remaining paid leave days for the month
A quick guide to checking your payslip
If reading all the details on your payslip feels too complicated and unnecessary for now, you just need to focus on these three main parts:
総支給額 (Soshikyugaku): Total amount paid by the company (Gross pay)
控除合計 (Kojo Gokei): Total deductions
差引支給額 (Sashihiki Shikyugaku): Net pay (Take-home pay)
That wraps up my detailed explanation of the items on a Japanese payslip. I hope this article has helped clear up any confusion you might have had, and helps you adapt to life in Japan more quickly.
Hello everyone. I'm an IT engineer working in Japan. I created this blog to share about life and experiences during my study and work journey. I hope this article will be helpful to you.
