Frequently Asked Questions

Report to the police either at the police station or at the police box (koban), and have the lost article report (ishitsu-shoumeisho) issued. Then, apply for a reissue of the Resident Card at the immigration bureau with the report and a picture ID. If you reside in Chiba prefecture, you may apply at the Chiba branch office.

Be sure to notify your new Resident Card number to the office of the faculty/graduate school you belong to.

Call "110" to the police.
No matter how small you think the incident is, report to the police immediately. You might encounter the situation you are required to submit the proof that you are involved in the accident later (especially for health and/or liability insurance purposes). It is important to report the accident to the police and have the contact information of the person involved confirmed by the police since National Health Insurance may not be applicable for the medical conditions caused by the traffic accident: if the person who is involved in the accident has the insurance that covers the medical treatment, that might pay the cost instread.

If it is an emergency, call "119" to the ambulance & fire dispatcher, and tell them it is a medical emergency (kyukyu).

If it is NOT an emergency, check the webisite of the city/ward for hospitals/clinics available.

Medical Care (City of Chiba website)
Matsudo City Medical care system of night holiday (City of Matsudo website)

In Japan, every bicycle must be registered (bohan-toroku) to the police.
The owener of the bicycle is responsible to remove the bicycle registration by submitting the subscribed form to the police station before handing it over to others. The new owner is then required to register the bicycle under his/her name.

In Japan, the minimum legal drinking/smoking age is 20.

Even if you are of legal drinking age, you must refrain from driving a vehicle (including a bicycle) while under the influence of alcohol. Note that passengers of a drunk driver are also subject to severe penalties.
DO NOT DRIVE after drinking alcohol and DO NOT LET ANYONE DRIVE when you know he/she has been drinking.

On campus, smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside any building. DO NOT smoke while walking on campus grounds.

In general, Resident Card and National Health Insurance Holder's Card are necessary for foreing nationals to open a bank account in Japan. Some banks request non-resident of Japan to wait for 6 months before applying for the new account.

Also note that some services are restricted for a certain period (usually for six months) at most banks for the account opened by foreign residents according to the law regulating fraudulent financial transactions such as money laundering. For this reason, you may not be able to receive money to your account by wire transfer while this restriction applies at most of the banks.
If you need to receive money from your country, using an international money order or the Western Union could be a substitution method.

All foreing nationals who are issued a Resident Card are required to obtain National Health Insurance (Kokumin-kenko-hoken): international students and researchers are not exceptions.

Social security and tax number (so called My number) is issued to all foreign nationals who are allowed entry with a mid-to-long term resident status. After you receive the notification card with your my number, be careful not to throw it away by mistake.

Since there are many religions in the world, Chiba University does not have facilities especially made for certain religions.
Some faculties offer students a multipurpose room if they need space for prayers.
If you have any inquiries, ask at ISD.

Cafeterias on campuses serve buffet-style meals with various dishes, foods and vegitables so that students can take their picks depending on their preferences.
Halal meals are available at Co-op cafeteria in Nishi Chiba Campus.

Chiba prefectual government offers fun venues and event information in English, Chinese and Korean.

Tourist information in Chiba (Chiba Prefectual Government website)

Prefectual and city organizations of Chiba offer intercultural events and volunteer activities in the communities. Consultation services for foreign nationals are also available.

Chiba International Center
Chiba City International Association
Matsudo International Exchange Association

Yes.
You are required to carry your Resident Card (or Foreign Resident Registration Card) with you at all times. If your Resident Card is not available for some reasons, then you must carry your passport with you instead.

If you want to stay in Japan even after you have lost your student registration from Chiba University due to going on to another university or changing to another residencial status, you need to notify the Immigration Bureau using the designated form. However, if you return to your home country immediately after graduation or completing the course, you do not need to submit a notification by returning your residence card at the airport immigration.

You still have to renew your period of stay by submitting the required forms and documents at the immigration.
If it only takes one or two months till you graduate, you might be asked to change the status of resident to "Temporary visitor" instead of renewing the period of "Student" status. Consult the immigration officer and follow the instruction.
Allow enough time for the procedure since the immigration formality could be a lengthy process.

Visit the immigration bureau and consult the officer immediately.

Literally, you are illegally staying in Japan from the day after the expiration date of the authorized period of stay.
If you intend to continue to study at Chiba University, prepare the application form for extension of period of stay as well as the report that explains the reason of the delay in renewing.
You might as well be asked to submit the statement of reasons written by your academic supervisor.

No, you cannot.
According to the immigration law, the maximum period you are authorized as a research student is two years including the period at other universities.

In gerenral, no.
If you are not engaging in activities as a student, you are NOT considered to satisfy the conditions for "Student" visa status.
If you have reasons to stay in Japan even while withdrawing from school, consult at the immigration before you withdraw.
Also note that part-time jobs are not permitted while withdrawing from school.

Those who wish to apply for the scholarship that requires the university recommendation (such as JASSO’s Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Student and other scholarships offered by private foundations) must register to be on the "Scholarship Applicant List" during the designated period every year.
The scholarship committee then ranks the registrants in consideration of the priority scheme based on grades, academic year, financial situation, and so on.

Note that just being on the Scholarship Applicant List does not automatically make you a candidate for any scholarship. It is still your responsibility to register your name when you find a scholarship you want to apply by submitting the prescribed form (available at the website of International Student Division).

For more details, visit the website below.

Scholarship

The amount of stipend varies depending on types and institutions that offer scholarship, but the average falls in between 80,000yen and 100,000yen a month.

Most of the scholarships do not allow recipients to receive other scholarship at the same time.

No, you cannot.
In general, every scholarship recipient is required to sign the prescribed form to receive the monthly stipend either at the International Student Division or at the faculty/graduate school office. The purpose of doing that is for the university to confirm that the recipient comes to school and engages in activities worth receiving the scholarship.
If you have any reason that you cannot sign the form by the deadline, consult the International Student Division beforehand.