Applying for my Japanese Driver's License

According to Japanese law, an American driver's license, in combination with an International Driving Permit, is only valid for one year in Japan. So folks like me who drive and plan to reside in Japan for more than a year eventually have to get a Japanese driver's license. Because my first year over here ends in August and many foreigners supposedly fail the driving test at least once, I decided to get a jump-start on the application process.

The first step was to fork over about 30 bucks to the Japanese Automobile Federation for a translation of my American license. The price seemed a bit steep, since the only information on my American license is a bunch of numbers, such as my address, my date of birth, and the dates of issue and expiration. But the translation was required, so I sent away for it. A few days later, I received the document in the mail.

The next step was to drive to the licensing center so that the proper authority, a Ms. Kai, could look over my documentation to ensure that I was indeed eligible to apply for a Japanese license. I did that on a Friday afternoon, just over a week ago.

I had to bring my passport, alien registration card, American driver's license, and International Driving Permit, as well as, of course, the translation of my driver's license. Unfortunately, I had to drive the three-plus hours to Miyazaki City to take care of this, since that is the only licensing center in the prefecture that handles driver's licenses for Americans.

I figured the process would only take a few minutes, but it took a solid hour. Luckily, Ms. Kai was very kind.

The first question she asked me when I found her was, "Do you have an appointment?" Since I didn't, I thought, "Oh, no! Don't tell me I've come all the way here for nothing!" But it turns out Ms. Kai was at least sort of expecting me. See, my supervisor had talked to her on the phone earlier in the week to find out a bunch of information regarding the whole process I had to go through to get my Japanese license. So when I told her my name, she quickly put two and two together and, lucky for me, told me that she had time to help me. I, in turn, bowed to her a couple times and told her how sorry I was. Believe me, bowing and apologizing goes a long way in Japan.

Anyway, while Ms. Kai looked over my documents, she had me fill out a four-page form filled with questions having to do with how I obtained my American license:

Have you ever had a learner's permit? If so, how long was it good for and when did it expire? Have you ever taken lessons at a driving school? If so, how many hours of lessons did you have? What size engine did the car that you drove when you took your driving test have? Whose vehicle did you use for the driving test? Did you have your driving test on a closed course or on the open road? Did you take a written test as part of the licensing procedure? If so, how many questions were on it, what sort of questions were asked, and how long did you have to complete the test? How much did you pay to get your license? And on and on and on.

Whether or not how I answered any of those questions actually had anything to do with whether or not the Japanese authorities were willing to issue me a Japanese license is beyond me. I simply tried to be as truthful as possible. At the same time, however, I took a bit of poetic license so Ms. Kai wouldn't come to the conclusion that I got my driver's license just by opening up the right box of Cracker Jack.

In the meantime, Ms. Kai went over my documents with a fine-tooth comb, filling in one checklist after another.

The craziest and most nerve-wracking part of the whole process was when she was looking through my passport page by page, trying to piece together where I had been from the time my driver's license was issued until the day I had left the United States for Japan.

Apparently there's a law that states that a holder of an American driver's license who wants to obtain a Japanese license must have been in the United States for a period of at least three months after the license was issued or he or she will have to go through the entire process of obtaining a Japanese license (hours and hours of lessons, countless tests, a lengthy driving test, and so on), rather than the shortened process.

I knew darn well that I met that three-month condition, but I was still sweating bullets watching Ms. Kai create a timeline indicating where I had been over the past few years. I kept waiting for her to say, "Oh, I'm so sorry Yama-san. I see here that you went to Europe recently. Well, Rule 2.1.0.4 clearly states that ..."

I really had no reason to be fearful of such a statement. But you know how it is: The power that bureaucrats hold over you can drive you nuts. Alas, when Ms. Kai was finally finished looking over my documents, she indicated that they were all in order. Whew!

She then went over that other form with me line by line, made sure I understood everything I had filled in (the form was in both Japanese and broken English), and had me sign it on the last page.

Ms. Kai then collected all my paperwork, gave me a checklist of things to bring on Monday, when I planned to take my driving test, and wished me good luck.

So, after a three-hour drive and another hour at the licensing center, I was a little bit closer to getting my Japanese driver's license. Boy was I relieved!