Moving to Japan means opening a bank account, using ATMs, and eventually navigating online banking — all in Japanese. Even convenience store ATMs that offer English menus can switch back to Japanese at critical moments. Understanding the kanji on screens and forms isn’t just helpful; it’s a financial survival skill.
This guide covers every kanji you’ll encounter from inserting your card at an ATM to reading your monthly credit card statement. Let’s start with the screen you’ll see most often.
ATM Main Screen Kanji
When you insert your card into a Japanese ATM, you’ll typically see these options on the main menu:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 引き出し | ひきだし | Withdrawal |
| 預け入れ | あずけいれ | Deposit |
| 残高照会 | ざんだかしょうかい | Balance inquiry |
| 振込 | ふりこみ | Transfer |
| 暗証番号 | あんしょうばんごう | PIN number |
| 通帳記入 | つうちょうきにゅう | Passbook update |
| カード | カード | Card |
| 確認 | かくにん | Confirm |
| 取消 | とりけし | Cancel |
| 訂正 | ていせい | Correction |
Seven Bank ATM Walkthrough
Seven Bank ATMs at 7-Eleven stores are the most foreigner-friendly in Japan. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of what you’ll see:
Step 1: Insert your card. The screen displays お取引を選んでください (おとりひきをえらんでください) — “Please select a transaction.”
Step 2: Select your transaction. For a withdrawal, press 引き出し (ひきだし). You’ll then see 金額を入力してください (きんがくをにゅうりょくしてください) — “Please enter the amount.”
Step 3: Enter the amount using the keypad. Common amounts appear as quick buttons: 1万円 (いちまんえん, ¥10,000), 3万円 (さんまんえん, ¥30,000), 5万円 (ごまんえん, ¥50,000).
Step 4: Confirm with 確認 (かくにん). The screen shows the amount and asks for your 暗証番号 (あんしょうばんごう, PIN).
Step 5: Take your cash, card, and 明細書 (めいさいしょ, receipt/statement).
Opening a Bank Account: 口座開設（こうざかいせつ）
Opening a bank account in Japan requires filling out forms packed with kanji. Here are the most important terms you’ll encounter:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 口座開設 | こうざかいせつ | Account opening |
| 普通預金 | ふつうよきん | Regular savings account |
| 当座預金 | とうざよきん | Checking account |
| 定期預金 | ていきよきん | Fixed-term deposit |
| 届出印 | とどけでいん | Registered seal/stamp |
| 身分証明書 | みぶんしょうめいしょ | Identification document |
| 在留カード | ざいりゅうカード | Residence card |
| 氏名 | しめい | Full name |
| 住所 | じゅうしょ | Address |
| 電話番号 | でんわばんごう | Phone number |
| 生年月日 | せいねんがっぴ | Date of birth |
| 職業 | しょくぎょう | Occupation |
Most major banks — MUFG（三菱UFJ銀行）, SMBC（三井住友銀行）, and Mizuho（みずほ銀行） — require you to visit a branch in person. Bring your 在留カード (residence card), 印鑑 (いんかん, personal seal), and proof of address.
Banking App Interface Kanji
Once you’ve opened an account, you’ll likely download the bank’s mobile app. Here are essential navigation kanji:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 残高 | ざんだか | Balance |
| 入出金明細 | にゅうしゅっきんめいさい | Transaction history |
| 振込・振替 | ふりこみ・ふりかえ | Transfer / Account transfer |
| 手数料 | てすうりょう | Service fee |
| 設定 | せってい | Settings |
| ログイン | ログイン | Login |
| ログアウト | ログアウト | Logout |
| お知らせ | おしらせ | Notifications |
Money Transfer Kanji: 振込（ふりこみ）
Transferring money is one of the most common banking tasks in Japan. Rent, utility bills, and even some online purchases require bank transfers. Here’s what you need to know:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 振込先 | ふりこみさき | Transfer destination |
| 口座番号 | こうざばんごう | Account number |
| 支店名 | してんめい | Branch name |
| 支店番号 | してんばんごう | Branch number |
| 金額 | きんがく | Amount |
| 依頼人名 | いらいにんめい | Sender’s name |
| 受取人 | うけとりにん | Recipient |
| 実行 | じっこう | Execute |
Credit Card Statement Kanji
Reading your monthly credit card statement (利用明細書, りようめいさいしょ) helps you track spending and catch unauthorized charges:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 利用日 | りようび | Transaction date |
| 利用先 | りようさき | Merchant name |
| 利用金額 | りようきんがく | Transaction amount |
| 請求金額 | せいきゅうきんがく | Billed amount |
| 支払日 | しはらいび | Payment due date |
| 一括払い | いっかつばらい | One-time payment |
| 分割払い | ぶんかつばらい | Installment payment |
| リボ払い | リボばらい | Revolving payment |
| 年会費 | ねんかいひ | Annual fee |
| ポイント | ポイント | Reward points |
Online Banking Terms
As more banking moves online (ネットバンキング), these kanji appear frequently on web portals:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ワンタイムパスワード | ワンタイムパスワード | One-time password (OTP) |
| 認証 | にんしょう | Authentication |
| 本人確認 | ほんにんかくにん | Identity verification |
| 自動引落 | じどうひきおとし | Automatic debit |
| 口座振替 | こうざふりかえ | Direct debit |
| 送金 | そうきん | Remittance |
| 海外送金 | かいがいそうきん | International remittance |
| 為替 | かわせ | Exchange rate |
Common Bank Form Kanji
Filling out bank forms (申込書, もうしこみしょ) requires recognizing these additional fields:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning / Context |
|---|---|---|
| フリガナ | フリガナ | Katakana reading of your name |
| 署名 | しょめい | Signature |
| 捺印 | なついん | Seal impression |
| 勤務先 | きんむさき | Employer / Workplace |
| 年収 | ねんしゅう | Annual income |
| 利用目的 | りようもくてき | Purpose of use |
For the 利用目的 (purpose of use) field, common options include 生活費 (せいかつひ, living expenses), 給与受取 (きゅうようけとり, salary deposit), and 貯蓄 (ちょちく, savings).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Many convenience store ATMs (Seven Bank, Lawson Bank) offer English menus. However, branch ATMs at major banks like MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho may only have Japanese interfaces, so knowing key kanji like 引き出し (withdrawal) and 預け入れ (deposit) is essential.
Key kanji include 口座開設 (こうざかいせつ, account opening), 届出印 (とどけでいん, registered seal), 身分証明書 (みぶんしょうめいしょ, ID document), 普通預金 (ふつうよきん, savings account), and 氏名 (しめい, full name).
Look for 振込 (ふりこみ, transfer) on the main screen. You’ll need the recipient’s 口座番号 (こうざばんごう, account number), 支店名 (してんめい, branch name), and 金額 (きんがく, amount). Confirm with 確認 and complete with 実行.
Master Banking Kanji with Kanjijo
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