Short answer
This is a National Health Insurance (国民健康保険, kokumin kenkō hoken) payment notice sent by your municipal office — the 市区町村役所 (shikuchōson yakusho, your city, ward, town, or village office). It tells you the insurance premium amount you need to pay, how to pay it, and the deadline for each installment. For anything you are not sure about, follow your municipal office's explanation.
What this document is
National Health Insurance (often shortened to "Kokuho," 国保) is the public medical insurance program for residents who are not enrolled in an employer's health insurance. Your municipal office periodically sends a payment notice — a 納入通知書 (nōnyū tsūchisho, payment notice) or 保険料決定通知書 (hokenryō kettei tsūchisho, premium determination notice) — listing the premiums you need to pay for the year.
Common fields on the document
- 国民健康保険料 (kokumin kenkō hoken-ryō) — National Health Insurance premium (the amount you need to pay)
- 納期限 (nōkigen) — payment deadline (the due date for each installment)
- 納付書 / 納入通知書 (nōfusho / nōnyū tsūchisho) — payment slip / payment notice
- 被保険者 (hihokensha) — insured person (the person covered)
- 世帯主 (setainushi) — head of household (the notice is usually addressed to the head of household)
- 年額 / 期別金額 (nengaku / kibetsu kingaku) — annual amount / amount per installment
What you need to do
- Find the 金額 (kingaku, amount) and the 納期限 (payment deadline) on the notice.
- Pay by the method the notice specifies: at a convenience store (コンビニ, konbini), at a bank, or by setting up 口座振替 (kōza furikae, automatic bank transfer).
- If you have questions about the amount or possible reductions, ask the National Health Insurance counter at your municipal office.
Where to find the deadline and amount
- Deadline: usually printed next to the label 納期限.
- Amount: usually printed next to labels such as 保険料 (hokenryō, premium), 納付額 (nōfugaku, payment amount), or 合計 (gōkei, total).
Which official office to check with when unsure
Contact the National Health Insurance counter at your municipal office (市区町村役所) — the counter is often named 国保年金課 (kokuho nenkin-ka, National Health Insurance and Pension Division) or similar — or call the inquiry number printed on the notice. Your municipal office's explanation takes precedence over any third-party interpretation.
Common Japanese terms
- 国民健康保険 (kokumin kenkō hoken) — National Health Insurance
- 納期限 (nōkigen) — payment deadline
- 保険料 (hokenryō) — insurance premium
- 世帯主 (setainushi) — head of household
- 口座振替 (kōza furikae) — automatic bank transfer
- 納付書 (nōfusho) — payment slip