For researchers planning to leave Japan before becoming eligible to receive their Japanese pension, a partial lump-sum refund (equaling no more than 3 years' worth of premiums) can be requested if the following conditions are met:

1. You do not have Japanese citizenship.
2. You have contributed to the Employees' Pension Insurance Fund for at least 6 months.
3. You do not have a registered address in Japan.
4. You have not already received a pension (retirement pension, special needs pension, or bereavement pension).

Some countries have a reciprocal social security agreement with Japan, allowing their citizens to count their pension contribution period in Japan towards their pension contribution period in their home country. Note that if you receive a partial lump-sum refund of your Japanese pension contributions, you will not be able to do this. For more details, see: http://www.nenkin.go.jp/english/ssa.html.

The refund claim process must begin outside of Japan and start no later than two years after your departure. Applications must be made directly to the Japan Pension Service. Claim forms will be provided to you when you retire from RIKEN. When you receive a lump-sum refund, ALL further rights to any pension benefits associated with the pension plan will be forfeited.

Income tax will be deducted from your refund at a rate of 20%. It is then possible to make a claim for the refund of that 20%, but you will need someone in Japan to be your representative and claim it on your behalf.

For more information, see the Japan Pension Service's website.