Unclaimed Money in Japan
Japan's dormant account system underwent a major reform with the Dormant Deposit Utilization Act (休眠預金等活用法), which came into force on 1 January 2019. Under this law, Japanese banks must transfer all bank accounts that have been inactive for 10 consecutive years to the DICJ's Dormant Deposits Management Account. Before this reform, those funds were simply retained by banks. Customers can still reclaim their funds from their original bank at any time — the bank coordinates the return. The Japanese Bankers Association estimated approximately ¥960 billion in dormant bank deposits as of 2022.
Separately, Japan Post Bank (Yucho Bank) — the world's largest postal savings bank — manages a parallel system for postal savings accounts under the Postal Savings Law. And the Japan Pension Service maintains a searchable register for lost or unmatched pension contribution records, the result of Japan's major pension administration scandal that emerged in 2007.
What You Can Search For
Dormant Bank Accounts
Accounts at Japanese banks (megabanks, regional banks, shinkin banks) inactive for 10+ years are transferred to the DICJ. Contact your original bank first; if transferred, the DICJ can assist with recovery.
Japan Post Bank (Yucho)
Yucho Bank holds unclaimed postal savings from accounts inactive for 20+ years. You can search at any Japan Post counter or at yucho.jp. These accounts were very common among older generations and emigrants.
Lost Pension Records
The Japan Pension Service manages a database of over 50 million unmatched pension contribution records. If you lived or worked in Japan, check nenkin.go.jp to verify your full contribution history and claim entitlements.
Unclaimed Dividends & Securities
Listed Japanese companies must transfer unclaimed dividends to the Legal Affairs Bureau after a statutory period. Contact your broker or the company's transfer agent. The Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC) can help trace securities holdings.
How to Find Dormant Accounts in Japan
- Contact the original bank directly. Start with the bank branch where the account was held. Bring a valid photo ID, your residence card or My Number card, and any old passbooks or bank cards. For recently dormant accounts (under 10 years), the bank holds the funds.
- For accounts dormant 10+ years: Under the Dormant Deposit Utilization Act (2019), the bank will have transferred the funds to the DICJ's Dormant Deposits Management Account. Contact your original bank first — they coordinate the return of funds directly. You can also visit dic.go.jp for information on the DICJ's role.
- Japan Post Bank (Yucho): Visit any Japan Post counter with your ID and any old passbook number. Alternatively, call Yucho Bank customer service on 0120-108-420 (free). Old postal savings accounts dating back to before privatisation in 2007 may be retrievable even without a passbook number.
- Pension records: Log into nenkin.go.jp with your Basic Pension Number (Kiso Nenkin Bangou) or My Number. Review your full contribution history. If contributions are missing, submit a correction request online or call 0570-05-1165. Corrections can go back decades.
- Deceased relatives: Gather the family register (koseki tohon) showing your relationship to the deceased. Banks will require this plus a death certificate and your own valid ID. For Japan Post Bank accounts, a family register and death certificate are sufficient for direct heirs.
📌 For overseas Japanese nationals and emigrants: If you moved abroad and left a Japanese bank account dormant, the 10-year rule still applies. Contact your original bank by international post or via their overseas customer service line. Japan Post Bank has a dedicated overseas inquiry service.
Japan's Pension Record Problem
In 2007, the Japanese government revealed that over 50 million pension contribution records — dating back to the 1960s — could not be matched to individual recipients. This became known as the nenkin mondai (pension problem). The Social Insurance Agency (now the Japan Pension Service) has been working since then to reconcile these records.
If you ever worked in Japan and paid into the national pension (Kokumin Nenkin) or employees' pension (Kosei Nenkin), you may have unclaimed entitlements. The Japan Pension Service allows you to check your entire contribution history online at nenkin.go.jp, and will accept correction requests with supporting employment records, salary slips, or employment contracts as evidence.
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