After 12 months in Japan I decided it was about time to play grown-up and start sending money back home.
Internet banking is not common in Japan so in order to transfer funds you must do so via an ATM. To transfer to another country there are a few companies who create a proxy account into which you deposit your funds, and it is then forwarded on to your home account.
Simple?
One failed trip to an ATM and a lot of swearing later, I returned home for a dose of medicinal coffee and Whittakers, only to discover that no explanatory videos or blogs covered my particular bank (each seems to have a slightly different process - mine being particularly picky...).
SO - for those of you struggling with transferring money using a combination of "GO Remit" and Hokuto Ginko 北東銀行- hopefully this helps. For the very few readers who thought they were getting another update on my travels - I apologise.
I also apologise for the shocking quality of the photos.
First up - hit the button that says 振り込み furikomi (transfer/deposit)
Next a string of warnings/cautions/disclaimers - hit confirm 確認 kakunin
The next screen informs of of the date that the transaction will take place - again hit confirm 確認 kakunin
Select the only option "Card" カード kaado
At this point you will be asked to insert your bank card and enter your PIN.
Next you need to select which financial institution 金融機関 kinyuukikan to which you want to send your money, select "Bank" 銀行 ginkou.
You will then need to enter the name of your bank/institution 金融機関名 kinyuukikanmei. For those using Go Remit this will be "Mitsui Sumitomo Ginko" 三井住友銀行.
This information can be found on your "Making a Payment/Help Letter" that you receive after signing up with Go Remit DO NOT LOSE THIS LETTER.
Pressing the first character ミ mi will send you onto the next step.
Next select your bank 三井住友銀行 Mitsui Sumitomo Ginko.
You then need to input your branch name 支店名 shitenmei. For Go Remit this is the main branch 中央支店 chuuou shiten. Again, pressing the first character チ chi will suffice.
On the next screen hit 中央支店 chuuou shiten.
The next step I believe is what sort of transaction you are performing... either way just press "normal" 普通 futsuu.
Now you need to enter the account number to which you're transferring 口座番号 kouzabangou, this is on your Help letter. On entering it, hit confirm 確認 kakunin. If you need to make a correction press 訂正 teisei.
Next you'll enter the amount you wish to transfer, 金額 kingaku. Enter the amount and then press the 円 en button, or 訂正 teisei to make a correction.
Confirm that this is the correct amount 確認 kakunin or press 訂正 teisei to make a correction. (Please note I performed a dummy run for the purposes of taking photos so I would advise against transferring pitiful amounts like the 1000yen - about $13NZD that is entered here).
The next screen asks you if the name with which you wish to make the transaction is the same as on your bank card. For Go Remit press NO いいえ. The reason being is that you will need to enter the name that was assigned to you by Go Remit 振込人名 furikomijinmei, this will be 3 numbers followed by your last name.
Press the 英数字 eisuuji button for English letters and numerals. Enter your Transfer name as assigned by Go Remit. Then press confirm 確認 kakunin.
One the next screen you need to confirm all the information that you have entered. This includes:
Name of your financial institution 金融機関名
Branch name中央支店
Type of payment 普通
Account Number 口座番号
Beneficiary name 受取人名
Client's name 依頼人名
Phone number 電話番号
Amount 金額
Transaction fee 手数料
(NB. I have blanked out boxes for privacy reasons)
Press 確認 kakunin to confirm.
And with that my friends, the long and arduous process is complete. Hopefully this has been of some use to someone otherwise for my family that are reading this - this is the bullshit that I have to deal with *petulant wallow in self pity*. To the systems credit however (finance pun?) the funds did turn up in my home account less than 24 hours later.
頑張れ Good luck.
