Cost of having children in Japan

[chiba]

What are the costs associated with having children in Japan? Can you give me some rough estimates please per child

Birth/Hospital fees?

Healthcare fees?

Schooling from KG to HS?

Univeristy?

etc

Cheers

[KansaiBen]

What are the costs associated with having children in Japan? Can you give me some rough estimates please per child

Birth/Hospital fees?

Healthcare fees?

Schooling from KG to HS?

Univeristy?

etc

Cheers

approximate cost is about $150,000 per child from birth till graduation from university. Will cost more depending on if kids go to international schools and/or private university.

Tokyo area International schools fees are about 1.5-2 million yen a year per child.

Japanese public schools are relatively cheap. Private schools get pricey, 800,000-1 million yen per year upwards.

As well as school fees you have things like school uniforms, textbooks, school trips, club activities, juku (optional)

Piano lessons, tennis lessons or whatever else your kid decides to take up as a hobby/sport.

Insurance is usually on Japanese health insurance ( family plan). Pay 30% of any medical bills.

[chiba]

I've heard similar figures for the UK, the below article suggests 200K GBP.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010...cost-inflation

Since schooling and health care is free in the UK, I don't understand how this can be so high?! They must be basing it on a really high standard of living.

[Agitator]

approximate cost is about $150,000 per child from birth till graduation from university. Will cost more depending on if kids go to international schools and/or private university.

Now there's a nice made up figure that may or may not have any connection to reality.

Insurance is usually on Japanese health insurance ( family plan). Pay 30% of any medical bills.

The Agitator family's ku pays the other 30% for the children (i.e. they are covered to 100%).

Correctingly,
A.

[KansaiBen]

Now there's a nice made up figure that may or may not have any connection to reality.

Could be, except I believe I read it in the Japan Times somewhere. I also know what I spent on my own kids and it wasn't cheap. Go to med school in Japan and it will cost anything up to 9-10 million yen for 6 years. 2 million a year from age 5 to 17 or 18 for international schools, do the math. A million a year for Japanese private schools for 12 years. Food, clothing, medical and dental expenses. Maybe you need to buy them a car, motorbike or pay for an apartment if they study in another city than you.

The Agitator family's ku pays the other 30% for the children (i.e. they are covered to 100%).

Correctingly,
A.

If taxpayer pays for the other 70% of the bill they are covered anyway so its hard to see why you need to top it up or take out extra insurance. All you do is pay double premiums. Wife and kids are covered under one policy under Kokumin Hoken or Shakai Hoken. No need for extra insurance.

[YokohamaTommy]

What are the costs associated with having children in Japan?

All of your money. For the rest of your life.

That is all.

[KansaiBen]

All of your money. For the rest of your life.

That is all.

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

Think opportunity cost- how much more would you have if you decided NOT to have kids in the first place?

PS some kids become financially dependent on parents even as adults, borrowing money have parents buying cars and houses for them, supporting them during bouts of unemployment and between jobs. Even paying for grandchildren.

[Deathblob]

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

That's some pretty 3rd-world thinking you've got going on there in that statement.

Think opportunity cost- how much more would you have if you decided NOT to have kids in the first place?

It's not like you're buying a bunch of bonds, you know.

[Seattlegirl]

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

I didn't.

Think opportunity cost- how much more would you have if you decided NOT to have kids in the first place?

Guess you're talking about yourself here.

PS some kids become financially dependent on parents even as adults, borrowing money have parents buying cars and houses for them, supporting them during bouts of unemployment and between jobs. Even paying for grandchildren.

That's a failure on the part of the parents.

[Effected After]

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

And people wonder why I jump on your comments.

[KansaiBen]

And people wonder why I jump on your comments.

The average man will retire at age 60 or 65. Women in Japan live till about 85. My ex's grandmother made it to 94.

You will probably live till 75 and some live in their 80's. Thats 15-20 years where they have to live on a national pension, savings or whatever you can scrape together. Not everyone is able to retire comfortably when they hit 65.

If you have a debilitating disease, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, or have your 90 year old mother put in a rest home it wont always be grandma that pays for it but the kids. Want to put your mother in a service home in Japan? It will set you back about 100 grand.

You guys need to think outside the box here rather than jump on everything I say out of political correctness or feigned indignation.


People also decide NOT to have children because of careers, wanting to travel, and do things that dont involve children. Go on cruises or take a world trip, buy a nice sports car or a second house. Worrying about the cost of children is not a crime you know, it comes down to dollars and sense and deciding if you can afford it.

[KansaiBen]

I didn't.

that is the thinking in most Asian countries as well as in Japan. Marry a Pina or a Thai and expect a large chunk of your monthly paycheck to go to her aging mother or extended relatives as you are the mealticket son or daughter-in law in the family.

Your mother gets Alzheimers, you just going to park her outside a hospital and let them take care of her? Happens quite a lot in the US.

[Seattlegirl]

Your mother gets Alzheimers, you just going to park her outside a hospital and let them take care of her? Happens quite a lot in the US.

My mother passed away 12 years ago from lung cancer so no worries there. Had a great aunt with Alzheimer's, though. Her family took care of her to the end. My father is still going strong and supporting himself with his investments. I hope he lives long and prospers.

And by the way, you talked about having kids to support you in your old age. You didn't mention any cultural references, so you're just flat-out backpedaling and trying to pass off your personal opinions by claiming that Asians think that way.

[Agitator]

If taxpayer pays for the other 70% of the bill they are covered anyway so its hard to see why you need to top it up or take out extra insurance. All you do is pay double premiums. Wife and kids are covered under one policy under Kokumin Hoken or Shakai Hoken. No need for extra insurance.

Serious question: are you illiterate? I said that in my ku (Minato-ku, Tokyo), the ward provides, for free (well, really at taxpayer expense) coverage for the remaining 30%. Who said anything about double premiums or extra insurance or whatever.

On the other hand, when I consider how much residential tax I've paid them over the years, it seems like the least they can do.

Assuredly,
A.

ETA: I have no idea if the above is standard practice in other municipalities. I've been in Minato for the last decade and a half.

[oxymoron]

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

Think opportunity cost- how much more would you have if you decided NOT to have kids in the first place?

PS some kids become financially dependent on parents even as adults, borrowing money have parents buying cars and houses for them, supporting them during bouts of unemployment and between jobs. Even paying for grandchildren.

Sorry to disagree, KB.
The bunch of misfits I'm responsible for breeding (or so I believe) have no intention or ability to support me in my dotage, which has recently started.
Useless bunch of rugrats.
Whats more, I can't return the b@astards for even a partial refund.

[Agitator]

You have kids so you have someone to support YOU in your old age after all that you have spent on them when they were growing up.

Now I understand why you hate your kids and ex-wife so much. The free old-age caretaker plan you envisioned has fallen apart, and you've got to take out your anger any way you can.

PS some kids become financially dependent on parents even as adults, borrowing money have parents buying cars and houses for them, supporting them during bouts of unemployment and between jobs. Even paying for grandchildren.

OMIGOD I HAD NO IDEA!

Breathtakingly,
A.

[KansaiBen]

Now I understand why you hate your kids and ex-wife so much. The free old-age caretaker plan you envisioned has fallen apart, and you've got to take out your anger any way you can.

I will be taken care of post-retirement, and it doesnt involve relying on my kids. You may think im talking about myself, whem Im not and you'd be surprised to know that in the US there are MANY people in their 30's who are moving back in with their parents as they lose jobs, get downsized or laid off. Kind of like lots of Kuroganes. Parents want to retire but cant as they have a 35 year old son living in the basement.

My ex-wifes sisters husband came from a rich family in Nagoya. Parents bought them a house as a wedding gift. Guy drove a BMW.
Some trust fund babies live off their parents and get pocket money (in the five figures) to buy cars and overseas trips and flash apartments.

[Agitator]

I will be taken care of post-retirement, and it doesnt involve relying on my kids. You may think im talking about myself, whem Im not

Your current statement disagrees with your earlier statement.

and you'd be surprised to know that in the US there are MANY people in their 30's who are moving back in with their parents as they lose jobs, get downsized or laid off. Kind of like lots of Kuroganes. Parents want to retire but cant as they have a 35 year old son living in the basement.

OMIGOD PLEASE TELL ME MORE ABOUT AMERICA!!

My ex-wifes sisters husband came from a rich family in Nagoya. Parents bought them a house as a wedding gift. Guy drove a BMW.
Some trust fund babies live off their parents and get pocket money (in the five figures) to buy cars and overseas trips and flash apartments.

Your jealousy is unbecoming. And WTF does this have to do with anything?

You need professional help.

Clinically,
A.

[chiba]

Interesting comments

Pretty foolish to get a women pregnant in Japan while working as a teacher

[Genkii]

Kids are a waste of time and money IMO.

I'd rather spend it on manga and Gundam action figures.

[TJrandom]

Damn - rough crowd here ... I do hope I don't get trashed for saying this... but, while having kids and raising them does cost you your energies, financial resources, hairline, and maybe even your stomach lining... well, just your life....

It all gets repaid to you with considerable interest - the moment they have children of their own. For at that moment - you have grandchildren, and if you are still in a snot with your own kids for any reason - you have the satisfaction of knowing that they now face the same, or similar, hardships that you faced with them. (But just try to focus on the grandkids....)

[Glenski]

Here is someone who can give you straight figures.
http://www.______.com/en/columns/terrie/article/1636
EDIT: GP censor will not permit the address. Fill In the blank with d a i j o b without spaces.

Another set of figures.
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=623

More.
http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/di...s/Chapple.html
http://www.davidappleyard.com/japan/jp70.htm
http://www.ikjeld.com/japannews/00000205.php

Just realize that among those figures, the cost for birth is reimbursed by the government, even though you have to pay it up front.

[Effected After]

When my boy was born, we didn't even have to pay it up front. The government will pay it directly to the hospital now.