Tokyo will pay you ¥11,000, no catch! (well, almost...)

POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa · Apr 15, 2026 · 10m

If you think your soul is worth no more than ¥11,000 (69USD) like I do, then press play.Free money. Well — almost. It’s complicated. It’s Japan.In this inaugural episode of Post-Whatever, Ken Nishikawa guides you through the surprisingly rewarding ordeal of claiming ¥11,000 from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government — via a My Number Card, two apps, and what remains of your soul and dignity. Along the way: a brief history of Japan’s heroically unsuccessful war on paper, a character study of Governor Koike Yuriko, a serious conversation about points that become other points, and a heartfelt…