Utilities, Digitized Mail, and Tax Representation Services with John Cross of Mailmate

Navigating Property Purchases and Utilities in Japan with Mailmate Link to MailMate: https://mailmate.jp/ In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, host Take welcomes John Cross, the founder of Mailmate, to discuss essential services for foreigners purchasing property in Japan. They delve into the importance of having local support to avoid missteps in areas such as setting up utilities and handling tax representations. John explains how Mailmate provides a virtual mailbox service that facilitates receiving and paying bills online, simplifies the setup of utilities, and offers additional services like tax representation and local coordination. Emphasizing the cultural nuances and challenges, the discussion highlights the 'Akiya Mate' package collaboration between Mailmate and Akiya Mart, designed to streamline these processes for foreign property owners in Japan. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:43 Meet John Cross: Founder of Mailmate 01:20 John's Journey in Japan 02:15 What is Mailmate? 03:27 Navigating Japanese Bureaucracy 07:10 Tax Representation in Japan 09:27 Challenges of Opening a Bank Account 13:06 Setting Up Utilities in Japan 18:46 Supporting Insurance Premium Payments 19:00 Handling Management Fees and Local Bank Transfers 19:17 Limitations on Payments for Owners Abroad 20:44 Setting Up Utilities and Internet Services 22:22 Mailmate's Can-Do Attitude 24:18 Rapid Fire: Can Do or Can't Do 27:28 Mailmate's Expertise and Services 30:00 Akiya Mate Package Collaboration 31:32 Onboarding Process and KYC Requirements 33:18 Why Choose Mailmate? 34:15 Contact Information and Closing Remarks