| Driving in Japan legally has recently | | | | can have a translator explain to me exactly |
| afforded new challenges to foreigners from | | | | what needs to be done. |
| China, Brazil and the United States. | | | | |
| Released in November 2002 and updated in | | | | I return home to find out why they said I am |
| February 2003, Traffic Act Article 107-2, has | | | | unable to drive in Japan, and hop on the net |
| begun to create many problems for foreigners. | | | | to do some research. After a short time I |
| | | | come to find out that I can be fined up to |
| Until June 2002, Foreigners driving in Japan | | | | 300,000 yen (about $2,800) or spend up to a |
| (who held a valid drivers license from their | | | | year in prison. Needless to say, my eyes were |
| home country) could apply for an | | | | bulging out of their sockets. |
| international driving permit (IDP) and drive | | | | |
| in Japan permanently. Since that time | | | | A few days later, I go to this police |
| however, IDPs are only valid for one year. If | | | | station. I am sweating bullets and to make |
| a foreigner stays in Japan for more than one | | | | matters worse they do NOT have a translator |
| year and decides to reapply for an IDP, they | | | | to explain the situation. Fortunately, I have |
| would have to leave Japan for at least 90 | | | | a more then basic understanding of Japanese |
| days in order for the IDP to be legal upon | | | | so I am able to understand that I cannot |
| their return. | | | | drive legally in Japan with an IDP. Luckily |
| | | | this fairly new law, that has been such a |
| Those visiting Japan for a short time, of | | | | pain for foreigners, is far from being well |
| course IDPs are the way to go. They are quite | | | | known. I am let off with a warning and told I |
| cheap (around $10-20). Beware however there | | | | cannot drive until I get an actual Japanese |
| are many sites on the internet that offer | | | | drivers license. |
| IDPs for several hundred dollars. These are | | | | |
| scam sites and are to be avoided at all | | | | Fast forward about a month. |
| costs. | | | | |
| | | | Discovering that there is only one book in |
| Quite a few countries have a much easier time | | | | Japan that has been translated into English |
| in obtaining a valid Japanese drivers license | | | | regarding the laws of the road in Japan, I am |
| when compared to the United States. Citizens | | | | forced to buy it. This book is about 90% |
| from Australia, New Zealand, Britain, | | | | useless. There was a whole two pages about |
| Switzerland, Canada or Germany can simply | | | | driving motorcycles/scooters in Japan. I am |
| have their license translated and officiated | | | | fortunate enough to have some Japanese |
| after a minimal fee and an eye check. | | | | friends sit me down with a Japanese language |
| | | | motorcycle practice test book and ask me some |
| Why are American citizens screwed over? You | | | | questions that may be on the test I was |
| may check this link found on the US Embassy | | | | preparing for. In less than a week, I was |
| in Japan website and find out why. If you | | | | ready to tackle this test. Or so I thought. |
| take the time to read the reasons why as well | | | | |
| as the requirements Japan is asking for in | | | | The Japanese scooter test is made up of 48 |
| order to overturn this new law you may very | | | | questions. 45 questions or more must be |
| well cry, or laugh. If you don't want to take | | | | correct in order to pass with a time limit of |
| the time to read the reasons and | | | | 30 minutes. Let me remind you that Japan has |
| requirements; in short, it's a better idea to | | | | been required to have this test in English |
| try and take the actual Japanese driving test | | | | since the changing of the law so at least |
| instead of waiting for this law to be | | | | that was one thing in my favor. "Piece of |
| overturned. | | | | cake, done in 15 minutes"! Or so I thought |
| | | | again. |
| Let us rewind to an actual experience of | | | | |
| mine. | | | | Not since Shakespeare's time where double |
| | | | negatives considered a proper grammatical |
| Blissfully unaware that my IDP was considered | | | | form for English! This test took me for so |
| invalid, (I had been living in Japan for | | | | many twists and turns with its EXTREMELY poor |
| three years at the time) I parked for a few | | | | translation and its "no" + "no" = "yes" |
| minutes in a no parking zone (I drive a 50cc | | | | terminology that I felt I was going to vomit. |
| scooter, for its sheer convenience). BIG | | | | I took the entire 30 minutes to complete this |
| MISTAKE. I come back to find I have a parking | | | | test with a certainty that I was going to |
| ticket. "Oh darn, I have a parking ticket. Oh | | | | fail. At least I got that part right. |
| well, I may as well go pay the small fine and | | | | |
| bite the bullet on this one". I take my | | | | So, to all the American citizens living in |
| scooter to a police station and show them my | | | | Japan and wanting to drive or currently |
| passport and IDP. After much difficulty in | | | | driving illegally, I would suggest taking the |
| communication it turns out that I cannot | | | | driving test in Japanese instead of English. |
| legally drive and I must go to the city's | | | | You will likely score higher. S.B. |
| main police office a few days later so they | | | | |