What is the social insurance system?
The social insurance system is a system which provides livelihood security and social benefits for the insured and his or her family in times of illness, injury, times of physical handicap, death, old-age or unemployment.
The social insurance system is divided into “Social Insurance” and “Labor Insurance” and falls under the jurisdiction of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
Included under the umbrella of “Social Insurance” are medical insurance, which includes the Social Health Insurance, National Health Insurance and Nursing-Care Insurance, and pension insurance, which includes the Social Security Pension and National Pension.
Included in “Labor Insurance” are Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance and Employment Insurance.

l For details, see 8-7 Social Insurance, Labor Insurance

Social Health Insurance
The Social Health Insurance (sometimes known as Employee’s Health Insurance) is a medical health insurance system that provides medical payment support to the insured and his or her family in times of illness and injury thus providing livelihood security. Procedures for joining the system are carried out at the insurance system’s offices. The cost of insurance payments (premiums) is shared equally between the employer and the employee.

Note 1 For details, ask a person who understands Japanese to enquire for you at your city, ward, town or village office, social insurance office or health insurance association.
Note 2 The information given is that confirmed as of July 2002. Note that a new system or system revisions may have been introduced after this date.

This information is from the CLAIR website. The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) was established in July 1988 in response to rising concerns about local level internationalization in Japan.