[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":14},["ShallowReactive",2],{"marketing-ja-adjustment_of_japan_social_insurance_rates_2026":3},{"id":4,"slug":5,"title":6,"description":7,"htmlContent":8,"bannerImage":9,"flagImage":10,"countryName":11,"image":12},"cG9zdDozODg0","adjustment_of_japan_social_insurance_rates_2026","Adjustment of Japan’s social insurance rates for 2026.","Japan Health Insurance Association Announces 2026 Premi […]","\n\u003Cp>Japan Health Insurance Association Announces 2026 Premium Rate AdjustmentsThe \u003Cstrong>Japan Health Insurance Association (Kyokai Kenpo)\u003C/strong> has officially announced the \u003Cstrong>health insurance premium rate adjustments for Fiscal Year Reiwa 8 (FY2026)\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The new rates will take effect starting from \u003Cstrong>March 2026 payroll (premiums paid in April)\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Overall, health insurance rates will \u003Cstrong>decrease in most regions\u003C/strong>, while \u003Cstrong>long-term care insurance premiums will increase\u003C/strong>. Additionally, the \u003Cstrong>Child and Childcare Support Contribution system\u003C/strong> has undergone structural adjustments.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For companies employing staff in Japan, these changes mean that \u003Cstrong>certain employment cost structures will shift\u003C/strong>, making it necessary to update payroll and social insurance calculations accordingly.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. 2026 Health Insurance Premium Rate Adjustments\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the data released by Kyokai Kenpo:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>40 prefectures will see premium rate decreases\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>7 prefectures will maintain their current rates\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>No prefectures will experience an increase\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The exact rates should be confirmed based on the official \u003Cstrong>“FY2026 Insurance Premium Rate Table (令和8年度保険料額表)”\u003C/strong> published by Kyokai Kenpo.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, in \u003Cstrong>Tokyo\u003C/strong>, where many companies are concentrated:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Health insurance rate:\u003C/strong> 9.85%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Previous rate:\u003C/strong> 9.91% (slightly reduced)\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The premium is shared equally between employer and employee:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employer contribution:\u003C/strong> 4.925%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employee contribution:\u003C/strong> 4.925%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Total:\u003C/strong> 9.85%\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although the decrease is relatively small, companies with larger workforces may still experience \u003Cstrong>noticeable cost changes\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Long-Term Care Insurance Premium Increase\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unlike health insurance, the \u003Cstrong>long-term care insurance premium\u003C/strong> will increase in FY2026.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The nationwide unified rate will be adjusted to:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>1.62%\u003C/strong> (previously \u003Cstrong>1.59%\u003C/strong>)\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This cost is also shared equally between employer and employee:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employer contribution:\u003C/strong> 0.81%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employee contribution:\u003C/strong> 0.81%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Total:\u003C/strong> 1.62%\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Long-term care insurance primarily applies to \u003Cstrong>employees aged 40 and above\u003C/strong>, so companies should pay special attention when calculating payroll for this group.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Adjustment to the Child and Childcare Support Contribution\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the more significant changes involves the \u003Cstrong>Child and Childcare Support Contribution (子育て拠出金)\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Previously:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>0.36% fully borne by the employer\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After the adjustment:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employer contribution:\u003C/strong> 0.115%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Employee contribution:\u003C/strong> 0.115%\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Total:\u003C/strong> 0.23%\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The overall rate decreases, while the cost structure shifts from \u003Cstrong>employer-only contribution\u003C/strong> to \u003Cstrong>shared contributions between employer and employee\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Effective Dates of the New Rates\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Companies should pay close attention to the \u003Cstrong>applicable timelines\u003C/strong> when implementing the new rates.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salaries (Regular Payroll)\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Health insurance:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>March 2026 payroll (paid in April)\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Long-term care insurance:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>March 2026 payroll (paid in April)\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Child and childcare support contribution:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>April 2026 payroll (paid in May)\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bonuses\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Health insurance:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>bonuses paid on or after March 1, 2026\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Long-term care insurance:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>bonuses paid on or after March 1, 2026\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Child and childcare support contribution:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Applies to \u003Cstrong>bonuses paid on or after April 1, 2026\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When issuing bonuses or adjusting salaries, companies must apply the \u003Cstrong>correct rates based on these timelines\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Employment Insurance Rates Expected to Decrease\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In addition to the above adjustments, market expectations indicate that:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Japan’s employment insurance premium rate may decrease in FY2026.\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the \u003Cstrong>final rate is still pending official confirmation from the Japanese government\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Three Key Points for Employers to Watch\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For companies employing staff in Japan, the following areas require particular attention:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1️⃣ Update payroll and social insurance calculation rules\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ensure that March payroll and subsequent bonuses are calculated using the new rates.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2️⃣ Monitor regional rate differences\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Health insurance rates are determined by \u003Cstrong>prefecture\u003C/strong>, so variations may occur across different regions.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3️⃣ Reassess overall employment costs\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although health insurance rates have decreased, the \u003Cstrong>increase in long-term care insurance and structural adjustments\u003C/strong> may still affect overall labor costs.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. SmartDeer Reminder\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Japan’s social insurance system is complex, and premium rate adjustments often involve \u003Cstrong>multiple components with different effective dates\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When handling \u003Cstrong>payroll calculations, bonus payments, or employee onboarding\u003C/strong>, companies should closely track these rate changes to avoid calculation errors or compliance risks.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>SmartDeer will continue to monitor updates to Japan’s social insurance policies and provide enterprises with \u003Cstrong>timely regulatory insights and global workforce compliance support\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"/>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About SmartDeer\u003C/h1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>SmartDeer is a leading global one-stop HR compliance platform dedicated to helping enterprises manage international workforce operations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Our services include:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Cross-border employment compliance\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Employer of Record (EOR) / HRO services\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Global payroll\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Visa and immigration support\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>HR SaaS systems\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With coverage across \u003Cstrong>200+ countries and regions\u003C/strong> and wholly owned entities throughout \u003Cstrong>Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Europe\u003C/strong>, SmartDeer provides \u003Cstrong>secure, efficient, and compliant workforce solutions for global expansion\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Whether you are \u003Cstrong>hiring overseas employees or managing multi-country HR compliance challenges\u003C/strong>, SmartDeer ensures your global operations run smoothly and compliantly.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https://blog.smartdeer.work/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/微信图片_20250723033911-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1832\" style=\"width:132px;height:auto\"/>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">📮 \u003Cstrong>Scan the QR code to connect with a dedicated consultant and receive more policy insights & compliance guidance.\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n","https://blog.smartdeer.work/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-1.png","","Japan",{"node":13},{"sourceUrl":9},1778680542355]