Recovering taxes

[kod]

Sorry, people, I've searched and searched, but can't find the answer.
I lived in Japan previously, for eight years. The first two I was an ALT for a jr. high, the other six I worked at eikaiwa. How can I recover any pension money that I paid in, or any other kind of money that is recoverable.
Also, I was married to a Japanese national the last six years, divorced when I left the country.
Thank you to anybody who can answer the question for me.

[Blah Pete]

You have to go to (or maybe contact by phone) the local insurance office where they have your records. They will give you some forms to fill out. You have two years since the time your visa was canceled to file for a refund.

[samuraiwig]

This is the official information you need:
http://www.sia.go.jp/e/pdf/english.pdf

And here is some unofficial stuff that might help:
http://www.stippy.com/japan-life/refund-get-back-your-national-pension-payments-when-you-leave-japan-lump-sum-withdrawal/

[kod]

It's been almost five years since I've been back in the US, so, I guess I am screwed. Oh well.

[FG Lurker]

It's been almost five years since I've been back in the US, so, I guess I screwed myself by not taking care of things in a timely manner. Oh well.

FTFY.

[IparryU]

FTFY.

just to be honest and halfway sympathetic...

what fucking eikaiwa kid knows what a pension is and/or even know how to file a claim for something besides a stolen bike?

after note:
even if they did know what a pension was... how many of them would actually care about it until they have got a real job and realized that 5 years of their pension is not tallied?

[FG Lurker]

just to be honest and halfway sympathetic...

what fucking eikaiwa kid knows what a pension is and/or even know how to file a claim for something besides a stolen bike?

after note:
even if they did know what a pension was... how many of them would actually care about it until they have got a real job and realized that 5 years of their pension is not tallied?

a) The vast majority of "eikaiwa kids" don't pay national health insurance or the pension plan. Most have private insurance or even no insurance at all.

b) Gaijin I have met who are paying into the pension generally know they can get some of it back when they leave. Some think they can get it all back and some are misinformed in other ways, but it is rare to find a foreigner who is paying into the pension plan who doesn't know that there is some sort of refund available.

[Samurai_Jerk]

a) The vast majority of "eikaiwa kids" don't pay national health insurance or the pension plan. Most have private insurance or even no insurance at all.

b) Gaijin I have met who are paying into the pension generally know they can get some of it back when they leave. Some think they can get it all back and some are misinformed in other ways, but it is rare to find a foreigner who is paying into the pension plan who doesn't know that there is some sort of refund available.

And if he was a JET ALT there is no excuse for not knowing because they tell you about it again and again.