[Nyororin]

For some reason you seem to have taken my post in the wrong way. I wasn`t saying that you *hadn`t* planned. I was just noting that while you planned to stay with her family for a short time, I didn`t see any sort of hints as to how exactly you planned to end that arrangement.

I think that more than actual cash-in-hand issues, it`s going to be a problem finding somewhere which will rent to someone who is unemployed... Regardless of their employment history. If your wife is employed, you shouldn`t have trouble. However, that wasn`t clear in your first message.

Regarding aliases - you cannot use your alias on *official* documents. Believe me, I`ve tried. My "alias" is the same as my official name, just the alias uses the kanji. Nope, they won`t allow it. I have to write it out in block caps in any and every official document. I am assuming that you are planning to take her last name... You can register it as an alias pretty much right away - however, if you want to have anything official in that name you`ll have to officially change it. And even then, unless you have citizenship you won`t be able to officially use Japanese ordering or characters.

Just a note - marriage doesn`t give you the legal right to reside in Japan either. It just gives you the ability to apply for the spousal visa, which then grants you legal permission to reside, work, etc.

Your list is very thorough, but I certainly can`t read your mind - I just thought I`d throw out a few things you might not have given too much thought to.