Daily life
在留カード / Zairyū card
zai-ryoo KAA-do
Your residence card, handed over at the airport for medium and long-term stays. Carry it — the law requires it and police checks do happen.
転入届 / Tennyū todoke
ten-nyoo TO-do-ke
The move-in notification filed at one of Kobe's nine ward offices within fourteen days. Health cover, banking and a phone contract all wait behind it.
マイナンバー / My Number
mai-NAN-baa
Your individual tax and social security number, issued after registration. The physical card now also works as your health insurance card.
保証金 / 敷引
ho-SHOH-kin / shiki-BIKI
The Kansai way of renting: a large deposit with a fixed non-refundable deduction taken out at the end, instead of Tokyo's separate deposit and key money.
住民税 / Jūminzei
joo-min-ZAY
Residence tax on last year's income, billed from June by Hyōgo and Kobe together. Hyōgo adds its own small forest levy on top.
山側 / 海側
yama-GAWA / umi-GAWA
'Mountain side' and 'sea side'. Kobe gives directions this way instead of north and south, because the city is a strip and the mountain is always visible.
新耐震 / Shin-taishin
shin-TAI-shin
The post-1981 seismic standard. Ask whether a building was approved under it — in Kobe this is a normal question and agents expect it.
Culture
六甲おろし / Rokkō oroshi
rok-koh o-RO-shi
The cold wind coming down off the Rokkō mountains in winter — and also the name of the Hanshin Tigers fight song, which you will hear a great deal.
Social
ぼちぼち / Bochibochi
bochi-BOCHI
'So-so, getting along' — the standard Kansai reply to how business is. Kobe speaks Kansai-ben, softer and less blunt than Osaka's.
Food
灘の生一本 / Nada no kiippon
nada-no-kee-IP-pon
Single-brewery sake from Nada, the district producing a large share of all Japanese sake. A protected designation, and a local point of pride.
Emergency
110 / 119
—
110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, free from any phone. Kobe also runs disaster alerts to every handset automatically.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.