Technology, money and life in Japan.https://smkabir.com/enhttps://smkabir.com/posts/japanese-paperwork-vocabulary/https://smkabir.com/posts/japanese-paperwork-vocabulary/A short glossary of terms that keep turning up on forms and at counters, with the reading next to each one.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>Everyday life in Japan runs on forms. A handful of words cover most of them, such as <span lang="ja">本免許</span> (honmenkyo, full driving licence) and <span lang="ja">表札</span> (hyōsatsu, nameplate). Hover or tap a term to see the English.</p> <figure><img src="https://smkabir.com/fixtures/sample-landscape.svg" alt="A placeholder landscape illustration" width="1600" height="1000"><figcaption>A placeholder figure with a caption.</figcaption></figure> <p>Cars have their own vocabulary too. The plate on the back is the <span lang="ja">ナンバープレート</span> (nanbā purēto, number plate), and it is one of the first things to hide in a photo.</p> <p><img src="https://smkabir.com/fixtures/sample-landscape.svg" alt="A placeholder landscape illustration" width="1600" height="1000"> <img src="https://smkabir.com/fixtures/sample-portrait.svg" alt="A placeholder portrait illustration" width="1000" height="1400"> <img src="https://smkabir.com/fixtures/sample-landscape.svg" alt="A placeholder landscape illustration" width="1600" height="1000"></p> <blockquote><p>Before publishing any photo, check the plate, the nameplate, street signs and reflections. See the checklist in the editor.</p></blockquote> <p>If you have a favourite word that tripped you up, <a href="https://smkabir.com/contact/">tell me</a>.</p>