As of this writing, I am 10 days into my stay in the Philippines. Jade and I are still waiting for the decision on our application for Permanent Residence in Canada. And it’s been a quietly crazy wait. All I could think of doing is try to keep busy given that I can’t be reckless with our funds. Therefore, this is me trying with this post about attempting to return my MyNumber Card and having my bicycle’s registration transferred to Steph’s name.

Before I left Japan, these tasks were the last minute items on my to-do list:

Things to Do Before Leaving Japan (Chai’s List)

• Transfer rent and utility bills to Steph’s name
• Get a temporary voice and SMS sim card
• Cancel au (phone) contract
• Pay remainder of Residence Tax amount
• File Moving Out Notice
• File Health Insurance Quit Form
• Complete application for Pension Lum-Sum Withdrawals
• Submit “Declaration Naming a Person to Administer the Taxpayer’s Tax Affairs for Income Tax and Consumption Tax”
• Transfer bicycle registration to Steph’s name
• Close Bank Accounts
• Return MyNumber Card
• Return Zairyuu Card / Have Zairyuu Card invalidated

Things to Do

• Transfer bicycle registration to Steph
• Return MyNumber Card

Things to Bring

• Bicycle
• Zairyuu Card
• Original Bike Registration Documents
• Deed of Transfer (譲渡証証明書, joutoshoumeisho)
• Cash: 600円
• MyNumber Card

Transferring Bicycle Registration

This was a task for which I went back and forth deciding which date I’d do it. I mean, I felt that I wasn’t going to use my bicycle anymore. Or at least I no longer planned to ride it longer than 15 minutes, which meant the risk of getting caught using a bicycle not my own was less. But I just wasn’t sure and I couldn’t decide so I opted to save it to be done at the last minute. The paperwork, however, was already prepared.

The formalities of transferring bicycle ownership in Japan requires the bicycle, the original registration documents (usually provided by the shop that sold the bicycle), the original owner’s zairyuu card and a filled in Deed of Transfer. (I downloaded my copy from the web but I don’t remember if the template I have here is the same one I submitted. My friend however used this template from bouhan-net.com when she transferred her bicycle’s registration to me.)

At the shop, I had to wait my turn after two customers. And when Mr. Bicycle Shop got to me I started with: “Sumimasen, eeto, gaikokujin desu…” (Excuse me, uhm, I’m a foreigner) to set the tone for the conversation – that I may not be 100% of what is or what will be going on. After looking at my papers, Mr. Bicycle Shop took charge from there. (One of my favorite takeaways from living in Japan is, whatever your shortcomings, try to make an effort.)

Mr. Bicycle Shop completed the rest of the documentation only occasionally asking me to write something. When he was done with the forms, I paid the 600円 service fee and that was it! Mr. Bicycle Shop kept the old registration papers and gave me a slip which had Steph’s name and details of the new registration. He was also kind enough to sort out my bicycle that needed air in its tires and also a good wiping.

Transferring Bicycle Registration: DONE

Returning MyNumber Card

Next on my list was returning my MyNumber Card.

It was a day before my flight out of Japan and it turned out to be a Saturday. I think I was being lazy that Friday or I felt I needed to take a break since I almost broke my back putting together Steph’s Ikea Tuffing Loft Bed. But for some reason, I just decided to return the card that Saturday, even if I knew there was a chance the satellite office wouldn’t process my request and I wasn’t sure if, although they were open on weekends, they included processing returns of MyNumber Cards on weekends. Really, I already felt it in my gut and I still did it. What is wrong with me?

At the city’s satellite office, there were only two staff.

Sumimasen, eeto, gaikokujin desu.

(See a pattern here?)

I proceeded telling them that my flight was the next day and that I was leaving Japan with no intention of immediately flying back. I was there to return my MyNumber card. As expected, there was some confusion and the lady told me the return couldn’t be processed because offices were closed, nobody was in to receive and finalize formalities. But I didn’t need the formalities, I just needed to return my card. I already filed the Moving Out Notice about two weeks before.

Fortunately, the staff who processed my Moving Out Notice had a note written on my MyNumber Card. It said something that meant I had filed notice, I was leaving soon and I just needed to return my card before I left. I guess I should have started with that because once the staff read the note, they checked their archives, confirmed my residence status and sent me off without taking the card.

Well, they did tell me that as I had completed formalities, we didn’t need to do anything that day. They didn’t take my card but told me that, should I decide to come back to Japan, I can surrender the card then. I’m guessing this is still because the offices were closed. Nonetheless. at least that’s cleared.

Returning MyNumber Card: DONE