October 19, 2026

Beware of “Now that interest rates are rising” | 3 psychological traps that make you a target during rate hikes

Conclusion of this article (3 lines)

Conclusion: More than the rate hike itself, be wary of the pressure to “decide on the spot” using the rate hike as a reason.

The policy interest rate rose to 1.25% in September 2026, making it a period when proposals using interest rates as a justification are easily accepted.
What clouds your judgment are three psychological factors: “the initial number,” “you’ll lose out if you don’t decide now,” and “it’s fine to stay as is.”
The countermeasure is not to decide on the spot, but to verify fees, deadlines, and cancellation methods in writing.

Updated: October 17, 2026 (Created based on public information as of October 17, 2026)

This article is organized based on public data from the Bank of Japan, the Financial Services Agency, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, the Real Estate Information Network for East Japan, and others.

What you will learn in this article

Conclusion: After reading this, you will be able to notice where the psychological traps are in sales pitches.

How deposit and mortgage interest rates moved during the 2026 rate hikes
Three products often proposed during rate hike phases and common phrases you will hear
The true nature of anchoring, loss aversion, and status quo bias, and how they appear in actual data
Five steps to verify the fees of foreign currency-denominated insurance yourself
10 question templates you can use directly with sales representatives and 3 examples of how to decline without causing friction

Do you have these concerns?

Conclusion: The cause of your hesitation is not a lack of knowledge, but the “structure of being forced to decide on the spot.”

You received an investment proposal from a bank immediately after the maturity of a time deposit or receipt of a retirement allowance.
You are being encouraged to refinance your mortgage, saying “switch to a fixed rate before interest rates rise.”
Because the representative is someone you have known for a long time, you cannot bring yourself to say no for fear of damaging the relationship.
You didn’t really understand the explanation, but you answered “yes” because you were embarrassed to ask for clarification.

Even if some points apply to you, it does not mean your judgment is poor.

The human brain has a tendency to bias judgment when presented with numbers or deadlines.
Just by knowing about this tendency, your perception will change even when receiving the same explanation.

Check the terminology first

Conclusion: I will define the six terms used in this article, one line at a time.

Policy Interest Rate: The short-term interest rate targeted by the Bank of Japan. It currently refers to the ‘uncollateralized overnight call rate’.
Anchoring: A psychological phenomenon where the first number you see becomes a ‘benchmark,’ dragging your subsequent judgments along with it.
Loss Aversion: A psychological phenomenon where, for the same amount of money, the pain of losing is felt more intensely than the joy of gaining.
Status Quo Bias: A psychological phenomenon where one prefers to keep the current state even in situations where it would be better to change.
Sales Commission: A fee received by agencies such as banks that sold the product.
Cooling-off: A system that allows you to withdraw an application within a certain period.

The policy interest rate has risen to 1.25%, the highest in 31 years

Conclusion: In 2026, there were rate hikes in June and September, and the interval between rate hikes has shortened to three months.

June 16, 2026: Around 0.75% → Around 1.0% (The highest level in 31 years since 1995)
July 31, 2026: Held steady at around 1.0%
September 18, 2026: Around 1.0% → Around 1.25% (3 months since the last one. The shortest interval since Governor Ueda took office)

Source: Bank of Japan ‘On the Conduct of Monetary Policy’, Kyodo News reports (June/September 2026)

Interest rates close to daily life are also moving.

Ordinary deposit interest rates at the three megabanks: 0.4% per annum → 0.5% per annum from November 2, 2026 (before tax)
Minimum interest rate for Flat 35 (repayment period of 21-35 years): 3.83% per annum in October 2026. The highest since the current system began in October 2017
People who chose variable rates for home loans: 75.0% (Survey by the Japan Housing Finance Agency. A 4.0 percentage point decrease from the previous 79.0%)

In his September press conference, Governor Ueda stated that the timing and pace of future interest rate hikes will be considered while examining forecasts and risks.

In other words, the Bank of Japan itself has not decided in advance when the next rate hike will be.
We will use this fact in the later ‘loss aversion’ countermeasures.

Three products often proposed during interest rate hike phases

Conclusion: All of these are proposals that use the correct fact that ‘interest rates are rising’ as an entry point to solicit a different decision.

Refinancing home loans to fixed-rate

Conclusion: ‘Switching to fixed before rates rise’ is a choice that can be either profitable or costly depending on how interest rates rise.

Common phrasing: ‘Variable rates will rise from here on. Get peace of mind with a fixed rate while you still can.’
Things to compare: Future interest rate trends, refinancing costs, and the remaining repayment period

Switching to a fixed rate locks in your repayment amount, but you will be paying a monthly ‘peace of mind fee’ for it.
I will show calculation examples for how to compare the amounts in a later chapter.

Foreign currency-denominated insurance (single premium)

Conclusion: The very method of comparing ‘higher foreign currency interest rates than yen deposits’ is a pitfall in judgment.

Common phrasing: ‘The accumulation interest rate for US dollars is ○%. It is incomparable to yen deposits.’
Things to compare: Exchange rate movements, cancellation fees, sales commissions, and the yield when converted back to yen

As of 2018, the Financial Services Agency has pointed out issues regarding solicitation materials for foreign currency-denominated insurance.
The point is that there is a risk of misleading people into confusing the ‘accumulation interest rate’ with the yield on the premiums paid.

Products touted as ‘inflation-resistant’

Conclusion: ‘Inflation-resistant’ is a description of a property, not an explanation of whether the price is reasonable.

Common phrasing: ‘If prices rise, the value of physical assets will also rise.’
Examples: Investment real estate, gold-related products, etc.
Things to compare: Purchase price, maintenance costs and fees, and the price at which it can actually be sold

Even for assets considered inflation-resistant, if you buy them at a high price, it becomes difficult to make a profit.
Whether the price is reasonable can be verified by looking at the data in the next chapter.

Psychology 1: Anchoring (The first number becomes the benchmark)

Conclusion: The higher the first number you are shown, the ‘cheaper’ subsequent numbers will appear to be.

Psychologists Tversky and Kahneman reported this tendency in a 1974 paper.
Even if the first number shown is irrelevant to the judgment, people’s estimates are drawn toward that number.

There is a large gap between asking prices and transaction prices

Conclusion: For used condominiums in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the asking price per square meter is about 40% higher than the transaction price per square meter.

These are the figures published by the Real Estate Information Network for East Japan (REINS) for July 2026.

Transaction price per square meter (properties where sales were actually completed): 841,700 yen
Inventory price per square meter (properties listed for sale at the end of the month): 1,183,000 yen
Difference: 341,300 yen (Inventory is about 1.41 times the transaction price)
Average price: 52.67 million yen for transactions, 68.66 million yen for inventory (difference of 15.99 million yen)

Even in the January-March 2026 period, the price per square meter for newly listed properties was 1,104,300 yen.
This is about 28% higher than the transaction price per square meter of 862,600 yen for the same period.

However, there is a point to note regarding this comparison.
Since inventory and transactions are collections of different properties the differences in building age and location are also included in the gap.
It does not mean that there is a 40% discount from the asking price.

Even so, if you memorize the asking price as the ‘market rate,’ an anchor is set at a high position.
The seller is likely to feel ‘it should sell at this price,’ and the buyer is likely to feel ‘it’s a bargain because it dropped a little.’

For financial products, the ‘numbers presented’ become the anchor

Conclusion: As a rule, do not use numbers presented as ‘originally,’ ‘usually,’ or ‘by other companies’ as your benchmark for judgment.

‘The usual fee is 3%, but this time it is 1.5%’ → What you should compare is the total, including options that do not charge fees.
‘The accumulation interest rate for US dollars is ○%’ → What you should compare is the yield and costs when converted back to yen.
‘○○ yen off the asking price’ → What you should compare is the transaction price of properties with similar conditions.

Countermeasure: Set your own anchor first

Conclusion: Before listening to the pitch, decide on one comparison number yourself.

Real Estate: Transaction prices for similar conditions (can be checked via ‘REINS Market Information,’ operated by the Real Estate Information Network System designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
Deposits/Insurance: Current deposit interest rates (e.g., ordinary deposits at megabanks are 0.5% per annum as of November 2, 2026)
Mortgage: Your current interest rate, balance, and remaining repayment period

Psychology 2: Loss Aversion (Vulnerable to ‘You’ll lose out if you don’t decide now’)

Conclusion: Because people feel losses more intensely than gains, they rush to make decisions when told they will ‘lose out.’

The foundation is ‘Prospect Theory,’ published by Kahneman and Tversky in 1979.
Their 1992 study estimated that losses are felt with about 2.25 times the weight of an equivalent gain.

Commonly used ‘loss’ phrasing

Conclusion: If a deadline and a loss are mentioned together, it is a sign that loss aversion is being triggered.

‘You’ll lose out if you don’t decide before the next rate hike.’
‘This interest rate is only available for applications this month.’
‘Due to inflation, your savings are steadily losing value.’
‘If you stay on a variable rate, your total repayment amount will increase significantly.’

All of these may contain partial facts.
The problem is jumping straight from a partial fact to the conclusion that you must ‘decide today.’

‘Before the next rate hike’ is not a strong basis for a deadline

Conclusion: Since even the Bank of Japan does not decide the timing of rate hikes in advance, it is not a valid basis for a ‘by [Month]’ deadline.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, the Bank of Japan states that it will consider the timing and pace of future rate hikes while monitoring the situation.
If there is a genuine deadline, such as a product application period, it should be provided in writing.

Countermeasure: Confirm deadlines in writing and check withdrawal methods in advance

Conclusion: Just by asking, ‘Could I have that deadline in writing?’, much of the sense of urgency will disappear.

Also, confirm the system for withdrawing an application in advance.

Life Insurance: Generally, within 8 days from the later of the application date or the date of receiving the document regarding cooling-off (varies by company)
Examples of life insurance that are often excluded: cases where a medical examination was performed, contracts with an insurance period of one year or less, etc.
Real estate: If you apply for a property where a real estate agent is the seller at a location other than an office, such as a coffee shop, you can withdraw within 8 days from the date you were notified in writing.
Examples of real estate exclusions: applications made at offices or model rooms, cases where you specified your own home or workplace, or after receiving delivery and paying the full price.

The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan warns that with foreign currency-denominated life insurance, you may still incur losses even if you use the cooling-off period.
It is not safe just because you can withdraw; checking before you apply is the basic rule.

Psychology 3: Status Quo Bias (leaving old conditions as they are)

Conclusion: Even when it would be more profitable to change, you continue with the current state due to the hassle of the procedures.

This is a psychological term named by Samuelson and Zeckhauser in a 1988 paper.

The difference caused by “neglect” widens during periods when interest rates fluctuate

Conclusion: The less you have reviewed your savings or insurance in recent years, the more it is worth checking the conditions at least once.

The interest rate for ordinary deposits at megabanks was 0.001% per year before the lifting of negative interest rates in March 2024.
From November 2, 2026, it is 0.5% per year (before tax).
Calculation example (hypothetical figures): If you deposit 10 million yen for one year at 0.5% and 1.0% per year, the difference in interest is 50,000 yen (before tax).

Another typical example is leaving the conditions of insurance or time deposits you signed up for long ago unchecked.
Just by making it a habit to read the contents on the day you receive a maturity or renewal notice, things will change.

Status quo bias is also used in the “opposite direction”

Conclusion: Being told “you are losing money as things are” and acting too much can also lead to other losses.

A Financial Services Agency official pointed out concerning realities in some single-premium foreign currency-denominated insurance policies in a contribution.
It states that there were many cases where policies were canceled once they reached the investment target, and the same customer bought the same product again.

In this case, the sales commission for the remaining period is not returned, and the customer ends up paying the commission twice.
Since both “neglect” and “switching too often” can lead to losses, taking stock once a year on a fixed date is realistic.

5 steps to check foreign currency insurance commissions yourself

Conclusion: Always ask these two questions: “What is the sales commission percentage?” and “How much will be returned if I cancel midway?”

Public data you should know beforehand

Conclusion: According to an analysis by a Financial Services Agency official, although the majority of contracts are for 10 years or more, the actual duration of the contracts was 2.5 years.

These figures are based on an analysis presented by a Financial Services Agency official in the June 2024 issue of ‘Financial Journal’.
The source is an interim monitoring report published by the Financial Services Agency in April 2024 (covering 8 popular US dollar-denominated products).

Initial contract period: Majority are 10 years or more (less than 10 years accounts for 6% of the total)
Contract duration: 2.5 years
Customers who ended their investment within 4 years of purchase: Approximately 60% (mainly target-maturity insurance)
Sales commissions: Customers pay for the entire contract period (e.g., 10 years for a 10-year contract) at the time of purchase, and the remaining portion is not refunded if the contract is canceled early.
Typical form of commission received by sales companies (L-shaped): 4.5% in the first year of the contract, 0.05% from the second year onwards

Assuming a rate based on a premium of 10 million yen, the first-year commission is calculated at 450,000 yen.
From the second year onwards, it is 0.05% per year, which is 5,000 yen per year.
Since actual rates vary by product and sales company, please be sure to check individually.

You can also check the performance of each sales company using the ‘Common KPI’ aggregated by the Financial Services Agency.

End of March 2026: Over 80% of customers had positive investment gains/losses on foreign currency-denominated insurance (simple average of 140 companies)
End of March 2025: The same ratio was just under 70% (simple average of 155 companies)
The Financial Services Agency attributes the rise to the ‘impact of fluctuations in exchange rate levels, etc.’

These figures are from a period when the yen was weakening, so if the exchange rate moves in the opposite direction, the results will change.

The alert issued by the National Consumer Affairs Center in February 2020 is also a useful reference.

Consultations regarding foreign currency-denominated life insurance: 538 cases in fiscal year 2018, more than three times the number in fiscal year 2014
About half of those who consulted were 70 or older, and the average contract purchase amount remained around 10 million yen

5 Steps

Conclusion: Gather the documents and check them in the order of interest rates, commissions, amount received upon cancellation, and the sales company’s performance.

Receive documents: Obtain the pre-contract document, cautionary information, and the ‘Important Information Sheet’ if available.
Distinguish between the two interest rates: Confirm that the ‘accumulation interest rate (interest rate for investment in foreign currency)’ and the ‘yield on the premium paid’ are different things.
Ask about sales commissions: Ask, ‘Please tell me the commission rate your company receives for this contract, broken down by the first year and the second year onwards.’
Check the payout amount upon cancellation: Ask for the presence of surrender charges and Market Value Adjustment (MVA), and request a simulation of the payout if cancelled after 1 year or 5 years.
Check the distributor’s common KPIs: Search for ‘Foreign Currency Insurance Common KPI’ on the distributor’s website to verify the distribution of customer profit/loss and costs.

If they cannot answer your questions about commissions, that response itself serves as a basis for your judgment.

Comparing ‘refinancing to a fixed rate’ for home loans using numbers

Conclusion: The peace of mind of a fixed rate is not free; it is paid for through the difference in monthly repayments.

Calculation example (hypothetical figures): Comparing a balance of 30 million yen, 25 years remaining, using equal principal and interest repayment.

If a variable interest rate of 1.0% per year continues for 25 years: Approximately 113,000 yen per month, total repayment approximately 33.92 million yen
If a fixed interest rate of 3.83% per year is used: Approximately 156,000 yen per month, total repayment approximately 46.66 million yen
Difference: Approximately 42,000 yen per month, approximately 12.75 million yen over 25 years

3.83% per year is the same level as the minimum interest rate for Flat 35 (21-35 years) as of October 2026.
If variable interest rates rise in the future, the difference will narrow, and it may even reverse.

In other words, what you should compare is the threshold of ‘how much the variable interest rate must rise for the fixed rate to become more profitable.’
Since refinancing also incurs administrative fees, guarantee fees, and registration costs, verify these in the simulation document.

It will be easier to make a decision if you ask your sales representative for the following three simulations.

Total repayment amount if the variable interest rate remains as it is
Total repayment amount if the variable interest rate rises by 1% or 2%
Total repayment amount at a fixed interest rate, including refinancing costs

10 ‘Question Templates’ to ask your sales representative

Conclusion: Whether or not you can get answers in numbers and in writing is a benchmark for judging the sincerity of the proposal.

The Financial Services Agency’s ‘Important Information Sheet’ contains examples of questions for customers to ask salespeople.
The following are questions summarized for a rate-hike phase, based on that concept. You can copy and paste them into your smartphone’s notes.

【商品を勧められたとき】
1. この商品で御社が受け取る手数料は何%ですか？（初年度と2年目以降で）
2. 私が負担する費用を合計すると、年何%・いくらですか？
3. 同じ目的で、もっと費用の安い商品はありますか？
4. 元本割れするのは、どんなときですか？
5. 途中でやめると、いくら戻りますか？（1年後・5年後の試算で）

【期限や「損」を言われたとき】
6. その期限は、書面でいただけますか？
7. 申し込みを撤回できる期間と方法を教えてください。

【乗り換え・借り換えを勧められたとき】
8. 今の契約を続けた場合と乗り換えた場合を、費用込みで比べた試算をください。
9. 金利が今より1%上がった場合と、下がった場合の試算もください。

【最後に】
10. 家族と相談してから決めます。資料一式をいただけますか？

Tips for asking questions

Conclusion: Not saying ‘yes’ when you don’t understand is your best form of self-defense.

If the answer is full of jargon, ask them to ‘please explain it again without using technical terms’.
If they cannot provide figures on the spot, say ‘please provide it in writing later’ and take it home to review.
Take notes on the answers, including the date and the name of the person in charge.

3 Ways to Decline Without Causing Offense

Conclusion: Don’t over-explain your reasons; simply state your personal rule of ‘not making decisions on the spot’.

【その場で決めないとき】
ありがとうございます。大きなお金のことは、家族と話してから決めると決めています。資料だけいただけますか。

【はっきり断るとき】
検討しましたが、今回は見送ります。費用と期間が、私の目的に合わないためです。

【何度も勧められるとき】
今のところ、この種類の商品を増やす予定はありません。必要になったら、こちらからご連絡します。

Declining a product and ending your business relationship with that bank or company are two different things.
The longer you have known your representative, the more clearly you should communicate, as it saves both of your time.

7 Checks Before Signing a Contract

Conclusion: If even one answer is ‘no’, do not sign up that day and take the information home.

Can you explain the purpose of choosing this product in one sentence using your own words?
Have you grasped the total cost (fees and the amount deducted upon cancellation) in monetary terms?
Can you rephrase the conditions under which you might lose your principal in your own words?
If there is a deadline, have you confirmed that deadline in writing?
Have you confirmed the period and method for withdrawing from the contract?
Have you compared this with other options (doing nothing, or choosing a lower-cost product)?
Have you explained it to a third party, such as a family member, at least once?

If all seven are ‘yes’, you can at least say that your decision was not rushed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: I will provide brief answers to points that are easy to get confused about.

Q. Should I avoid foreign currency insurance or fixed-rate products during a rate hike phase?
A. You do not need to avoid them across the board. If they fit your goals and you understand the costs and conditions for potential principal loss, they can be an option. What you should avoid is making decisions without understanding them because you feel rushed by a deadline.

Q. Is it rude to ask about sales commissions?
A. It is not rude. The Financial Services Agency’s “Principles for Customer-Oriented Business Conduct” requires that important information be presented in an easy-to-understand manner. If they seem reluctant to answer, ask for a written response.

Q. Can I cancel any contract if I use the cooling-off period?
A. No. For life insurance, cases where you have undergone a medical examination are excluded, and for real estate, it may not apply depending on where you signed the application. With foreign currency insurance, you may still incur losses even if you withdraw.

Q. Is the difference between the asking price and the closing price a good indicator of a discount?
A. It is not. Since inventory and closed sales consist of different properties, the differences in building age and location are also included in that gap. Please use it as a figure to understand that “the asking price is not the market price itself.”

Q. When is the next rate hike?
A. It has not been decided. The Bank of Japan states that it will consider it while examining forecasts and risks. Treat any talk of “before the rate hike in [Month]” as mere speculation.

Q. Where should I go for advice when I’m in trouble?
A. If you call the Consumer Hotline at “188,” you will be connected to consultation services such as your local consumer affairs center. There are also consultation desks at the Life Insurance Association of Japan for insurance and the Japanese Bankers Association for banking transactions.

List of Sources

Bank of Japan, “On the Conduct of Monetary Policy” (June 16, 2026) https://www.boj.or.jp/mopo/mpmdeci/mpr_2026/k260616a.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Bank of Japan, “On the Conduct of Monetary Policy” (September 18, 2026) https://www.boj.or.jp/mopo/mpmdeci/mpr_2026/k260918a.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Bank of Japan, “On the Conduct of Monetary Policy” (July 31, 2026) https://www.boj.or.jp/mopo/mpmdeci/mpr_2026/k260731a.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Kyodo News (published in Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun), “BOJ decides on rate hike on the 16th; 1% for the first time in 31 years amid governor’s absence” https://kumanichi.com/articles/2002727 (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management, “Focus Special Report” (June 16, 2026 issue) https://www.bk.mufg.jp/tameru/toushin/report/pdf/market_report_jp_432.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Kyodo News (published in Kanagawa Shimbun), “BOJ rate hike to 1.25%” (September 18, 2026) https://www.kanaloco.jp/news/social/article-1305496.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Newsweek Japan (distributed by Reuters), Article on Governor Ueda’s press conference https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/articles/-/334600 (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Impress Watch, “Megabanks set interest rates to 0.5%; individual hikes by each bank” (September 20, 2026) https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2142489.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Habitto Blog, “Bank Interest Rate Comparison (2026)” https://www.habitto.com/blogs/ginkou-kinri-hikaku-ranking-2026/ (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Kyodo News (published in Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun), “Flat 35 interest rate at 3.83%, hitting a record high for October” https://kumanichi.com/articles/2041676 (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Shinkin Central Bank Research Institute, “Trends in the Mortgage Market During a Period of Rising Interest Rates” (September 8, 2026) https://www.scbri.jp/reports/.assets/newstopics_20260908.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Real Estate Information Network for East Japan, “Monthly Flash Report: Market Watch Summary Report, July 2026” https://www.reins.or.jp/pdf/trend/mw/mw_202607_summary.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Real Estate Information Network for East Japan, “Quarterly Report: Market Watch Summary Report, January–March 2026” https://www.reins.or.jp/pdf/trend/sf/sf_202601-03.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Announcement regarding “REINS Market Information” https://www.mlit.go.jp/kisha/kisha06/01/011128_.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Financial Services Agency, “[The Life Insurance Association of Japan] Regarding Monitoring in the Insurance Sector for the Current Fiscal Year” (September 2018) https://www.fsa.go.jp/common/ronten/201809/09.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Financial Services Agency, Toshinori Yashiki, “Issues Regarding the Structuring and Sale of Foreign Currency-Denominated Single-Premium Insurance and Structured Deposits” (Published in Financial Journal, June 2024 issue) https://www.fsa.go.jp/frtc/kikou/2024/2024June.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Financial Services Agency, “Analysis of Common KPIs for Foreign Currency-Denominated Insurance <As of the end of March 2026>” (September 18, 2026) https://www.fsa.go.jp/news/r8/kokyakuhoni/20260918/kpi_hoken_20260918.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Financial Services Agency, “Guide for Creating and Utilizing ‘Important Information Sheets'” (May 12, 2021) https://www.fsa.go.jp/news/r2/singi/20210512/01.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, “Consultations regarding foreign currency-denominated life insurance are increasing!” (February 20, 2020) https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20200220_2.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Japan Institute of Life Insurance, “Cooling-off for Life Insurance” https://www.jili.or.jp/knows_learns/q_a/life_insurance/149.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Osaka Prefecture, Consumer Information Materials (Including explanation of Cooling-off under Article 37-2 of the Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Act) https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/documents/2000/koreisha2.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
e-Gov Law Search, “Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Act,” Article 37-2 https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/327AC1000000176 (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Financial Services Agency, “Principles for Customer-Oriented Business Conduct” (Revised September 2024) https://www.fsa.go.jp/news/r6/20240926/02.pdf (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Government Public Relations Online, “Consumer Hotline 188” https://www.gov-online.go.jp/kurashinosodan/list/fu_caa.html (Accessed: October 17, 2026)
Tversky, A. & Kahneman, D. (1974) “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases”, Science, 185
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. (1979) “Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk”, Econometrica, 47
Tversky, A. & Kahneman, D. (1992) “Advances in Prospect Theory”, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 5
Samuelson, W. & Zeckhauser, R. (1988) “Status Quo Bias in Decision Making”, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1

Disclaimer

This article provides general information based on publicly available data as of October 17, 2026.
It does not constitute solicitation for specific financial products or individual investment, tax, or legal advice.

Interest rates, fees, and system details are subject to change and may vary depending on the product and the selling company.
Calculation examples are hypothetical figures for illustrative purposes and do not guarantee future results.

Please make your own decisions regarding contracts and, if necessary, consult with professionals such as financial planners or lawyers, or contact a consumer affairs center.

One thing to do today

Conclusion: Copy and paste these 10 question templates into your smartphone’s notes today.

The next time you receive a sales call or an invitation to visit a store, simply opening your notes will prepare you to ‘not decide on the spot’.

The reality behind money and sales pitches is also organized in other articles.
https://note.com/pro_consult_lab