Japan Credit Bureaus (CIC, JICC, KSC) Disclosure: How to Read Your File
Japan has three private credit bureaus, each holding different data and each with its own disclosure procedure. Pulling all three reports before any major application is the smartest ¥2,000–¥3,000 you can spend. This guide explains what each bureau holds, how to disclose, how long negative records stay, and what symbols to watch for on your CIC file.
Japan has three private credit bureaus. Each holds different data, and each has its own disclosure procedure. Before any major application — especially a mortgage — pulling all three reports is the smartest ¥2,000–¥3,000 you can spend. Once you read your own file, you'll know exactly why your last card was rejected (or why your next one might be).
- CIC: credit cards, mobile installment, consumer-loan history. Online disclosure ¥500. Records kept up to 5 years from contract end.
- JICC: consumer-finance lenders, some card issuers. Online ¥1,000. Records kept up to 5 years from contract end.
- KSC (全国銀行個人信用情報センター): bank loans and mortgages. ¥1,000 by mail. Bankruptcy/civil-rehabilitation records kept 7 years (shortened from 10 in November 2022).
- Foreign-resident note: Online disclosure at CIC and JICC requires a MyNumber card with electronic certificate. Without it, mail-based disclosure works for everyone.
Information current as of May 2026 based on each bureau's published procedures: CIC online disclosure, JICC disclosure portal, and KSC at the Japanese Bankers Association. Bureau retention periods cited come from each bureau's official FAQ and rules updates.
Most foreigners in Japan never pull their own credit report. They apply for a card or loan, get rejected with a one-line "総合的な判断" (comprehensive decision) message, and never learn what tipped the algorithm. Reading your bureau files is the only way to know — and Japanese consumer protection law gives every individual the right to disclosure on demand.
Which bureau holds what
| Bureau | What's reported | Who reports to it |
|---|---|---|
| CIC (株式会社シー・アイ・シー) | Credit card usage, monthly status, mobile installment (携帯分割), some consumer loans | Most credit-card companies, telecom carriers (DOCOMO, au, Softbank), shopping credit |
| JICC (日本信用情報機構) | Consumer-finance loans (Acom, Promise, Aiful, Lake), some card issuers (overlap with CIC) | Consumer-finance lenders, card companies (often double-reporting with CIC) |
| KSC (全国銀行個人信用情報センター) | Bank loans, mortgages, バンクカードローン, gazette-published 自己破産/個人再生 records | Banks, credit unions (信用金庫), some 信用組合, JBA member institutions |
The three bureaus do exchange certain "incident" data via the FINE (Financial Information Network) system — specifically, default and bankruptcy markers. So a 異動 mark at CIC will show up in cross-bureau queries by lenders even if the loan itself is registered only at JICC. This is why a single negative event affects your file across all three.
How to disclose: CIC
Online (¥500)
The fastest method, but with one foreign-resident sticking point. Per CIC's online disclosure portal, you need a MyNumber card with a valid 署名用電子証明書 (signature-use electronic certificate). The certificate has a 5-year validity and renews at your municipal office.
Steps:
- Visit cic.co.jp/mydata/online/
- Use the スマホアプリ "CIC開示アプリ" or the PC web flow with an IC card reader
- Pay ¥500 by credit card or carrier billing
- The PDF report is generated immediately
- Re-disclosure is free within 96 hours
By mail (¥1,500)
If you don't have MyNumber yet:
- Download the disclosure request form from cic.co.jp/mydata/postal/
- Buy a ¥1,500 定額小為替 (postal money order) at any post office
- Enclose a copy of your 在留カード (both sides) and one secondary ID
- Send to: 〒160-8375 東京都新宿区西新宿1-23-7 新宿ファーストウエスト15F (株)シー・アイ・シー 開示相談室
- Report arrives by mail in ~10 days
How to disclose: JICC
Per JICC's disclosure portal:
- App-based online disclosure: ¥1,000 via the JICC スマホアプリ — requires a smartphone, photo of 本人確認書類 (residence card OK), and SMS verification.
- Mail disclosure: ¥1,000 with form and ID copies sent to JICC. Form available at the same URL.
For foreign residents without MyNumber, JICC's smartphone app is the most accessible path — it accepts 在留カード directly without requiring an IC reader.
How to disclose: KSC
KSC is mail-only — no online disclosure as of 2026. Per the JBA Personal Credit Information Center page, fees were revised effective April 1, 2026. Process:
- Download the request form ("登録情報開示申込書") from the KSC site
- Pay the fee with a 定額小為替 (current fee approximately ¥1,000–¥1,124 — verify on the live page)
- Enclose two pieces of ID (在留カード + 健康保険証 or similar)
- Mail to the JBA address listed on the form
- Report arrives in ~10 days
If you're applying for a mortgage, KSC is the report your bank will pull — it's the one that holds bank loan history and gazette-published 自己破産 records. Don't skip it.
Reading your CIC report: the symbols that matter
The CIC 開示報告書 uses single-character symbols to indicate monthly payment status. The columns to watch:
| Symbol | Meaning | Effect on new applications |
|---|---|---|
| $ | Paid as agreed | Positive |
| P | Partial payment | Negative |
| R | Customer requested delay (rare) | Mildly negative |
| A | Customer-caused delay | Negative |
| B | Customer-caused full default | Strongly negative |
| C | Reason unclear, not paid | Negative |
| (blank) | No statement that month | Neutral |
The most important fields:
- 異動 (in the お支払いの状況 row): Default. Triggered by 61+ days of non-payment, guarantor-company payout, or debt restructuring. Stays 5 years from contract end. Single most disqualifying mark for new credit.
- 申込情報: Every application you've made in the past 6 months. More than 3 in 6 months = "申込ブラックリスト" pattern, auto-rejection at most issuers.
- クレジット・ガイダンス: 200–800 numerical score, available since 2022. Not equivalent to FICO. Use as a directional indicator, not a hard cutoff.
Retention periods: what stays, for how long
| Record type | CIC | JICC | KSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active card/loan | While active + 5 years | While active + 5 years | Variable; bank policy |
| 異動 (default) | 5 years from contract end | 5 years from contract end | Recorded if bank loan |
| 任意整理 | 5 years from completion | 5 years from completion | Not directly recorded |
| 個人再生 | 5 years from completion | 5 years from contract end | 7 years from gazette publication |
| 自己破産 | 5 years from 免責確定 | 5 years from contract end | 7 years from gazette publication (was 10y until Nov 2022) |
| 申込情報 | 6 months | 6 months | 6 months |
The KSC reduction from 10 to 7 years took effect November 4, 2022, applying to records existing on that date and later. This is meaningful: someone who declared bankruptcy in 2018 saw their KSC record clear in 2025, three years sooner than under the old rule. Sources: KSC overview page and reporting from multiple legal-aid sources.
If you find an error
Bureaus are required to investigate disputed entries on request. The procedure at all three bureaus is:
- Submit a 訂正・削除申立書 (correction/deletion request form) with the bureau
- Bureau queries the reporting member (the bank or card issuer)
- If member confirms error, the entry is corrected within ~30 days
- If member maintains the entry is correct, you can submit additional evidence
- Final escalation: 個人情報保護委員会 (Personal Information Protection Commission) for 不適切な取り扱い complaints
Common foreign-resident errors include: name misspellings (alphabet vs katakana mismatches), wrong address from a previous city, and stale "active" status on a card that was actually closed when you moved. None of these are catastrophic if caught and corrected before a major application like a mortgage.
If your report is in Japanese only and you can't tell which entries are problematic, posting on LO-PAL with a screenshot (redact the personal info first) gets you a local helper who can read the symbols and flag anything concerning. Free to ask; you only pay if you accept hands-on review help.
When to pull each bureau
- Before applying for a mortgage: All three. KSC is mandatory because that's what your bank will see.
- Before applying for a new card after a previous rejection: CIC. Look for fresh 申込情報 records and any 異動 marks.
- Before applying for a consumer loan: JICC. CIC is also useful for cross-check.
- Before naturalization or PR application: All three. Clean bureau record supports the 独立生計能力 evaluation, even though immigration does not directly query bureaus.
- After 5/7 years post-default: Pull all three to confirm records have actually cleared before applying for new credit.
Phrases for bureau correspondence
- 「信用情報の開示を申し込みたいです」 (Shinyou jouhou no kaiji wo moushikomitai desu) — I'd like to request disclosure of my credit information.
- 「異動の記録を訂正してください」 (Idou no kiroku wo teisei shite kudasai) — Please correct the default record.
- 「契約終了から何年経ちますか？」 (Keiyaku shuuryou kara nannen tachimasu ka?) — How many years have passed since contract end?
Related articles
- Credit, Loans, and Mortgages in Japan for Foreigners (2026)
- Building Credit History in Japan from Zero
- Debt Recovery and Credit Rebuilding
- Why Your Overseas Credit History Doesn't Transfer
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Bureau fees, retention periods, and disclosure procedures change. Verify current rules on the bureau's official page (CIC, JICC, KSC) before disclosure. If you find disputed entries, consider consulting a 弁護士 or 認定司法書士 — bureaus are required to investigate but the process can require multiple submissions.
Get Help Reading Your Bureau Report
The CIC and JICC disclosure reports are technical Japanese — full of single-character symbols and terms like 異動 / 完了 / 残債. Post your question on LO-PAL for free: a local Japanese person can walk through your report with you, flag any concerns, and help you draft a correction request if you find an error. Posting is free; you only pay if you accept task help.
Written by
Founder, LO-PAL
Former Medical Coordinator for Foreign Patients (Ministry of Health programme) and legal affairs professional. Built LO-PAL from firsthand experience navigating life abroad.
Written with partial AI assistance
Read full bio →
