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Tokyo Weekender
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Tokyo Weekender
Japan To Ban Foreign Tourists From Converting Driver's Licenses
In this week's news roundup we report on the revised law banning foreign tourists from converting their driver's licenses in Japan. Human rights nongovernmental organizations condemn the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of the House of Councillors election. Donald Trump says Japan and South Korea will be hit with 25% tariffs . Mourners pray for Shinzo Abe on the third anniversary of his assassination. Two Americans are rescued on Mount Fuji before the Shizuoka trails open. And in rugby, Japan defeat Wales 24-19. List of Contents: Foreign Tourists Will No Longer Be Able To Convert Driver's Licenses The Rise in Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Ahead of the House of Councillors Election Trump Hits Japan and South Korea With 25% Tariffs Mourners Pray for Shinzo Abe on the 3rd Anniversary of His Death Two Americans Rescued on Mount Fuji Before Shizuoka Trails Opened Japanese Players on the Move Related Posts Foreign Tourists Will No Longer Be Able To Convert Driver's Licenses in Japan From October 1 On Thursday, Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) announced that it will be implementing stricter procedures for converting foreign driver's licenses into Japanese ones. Under the new regulations, applicants must provide a valid address in Japan. Currently, foreign tourists can declare their hotel or the home of an acquaintance as their place of residence. The test on Japan's traffic rules will also become harder, increasing from 10 to 50 questions. The NPA plans to start operating the revised system from October 1, after soliciting public opinion. From that date, foreign tourists can only drive in Japan with an International Driving Permit (IDP). Drivers from countries such as China, Brazil and Vietnam that haven't signed the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic are excluded. Recent high-profile accidents caused by foreign nationals have led to growing calls for tighter regulations for foreign license conversion. In May, a Chinese man was arrested following a hit-and-run incident involving four children in Saitama Prefecture. That same month, a Peruvian man was apprehended after driving in the wrong direction on the Shin-Meishin Expressway. Original Image: Wikimedia Commons, edits TW Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Rising Ahead of the House of Councillors Election On Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations released a joint statement condemning the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of the House of Councillors election. An example of this could be seen in front of JR Kakogawa Station in Hyogo Prefecture last Friday. NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana began his stump speech by stating that he is 'afraid of foreigners.' He then added, 'It's scary when groups of Black people or people of Islamic background are gathered in front of the station.' The following day, Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the minor right-wing opposition Conservative Party of Japan, said that foreign people 'disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people and steal their belongings. In northern Kanto you see many towns like this that are no-go zones. If we don't do something about it; Japan's public safety will be threatened.' The right-wing populist party Sanseito, meanwhile, has been gaining a lot of attention due to its 'Japanese First' approach. The party is known for its stance against immigrants and coronavirus measures. Trump Hits Japan and South Korea With 25% Tariffs Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described Donald Trump's letter to Japan as 'truly regrettable.' He added that his country would not waver in defending its national interests in future talks. A day earlier, the US President announced that the United States' 'reciprocal tariffs' on both Japan and South Korea would be raised to 25% effective August 1 unless they reach a trade deal. He publicly released the near-identical letters that were sent out to the two nations on Truth Social. The president concluded the letter with a warning. 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Japan's Tariff, and Non-Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Trade Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!' Shinzo Abe | Anthony Quintano Mourners Pray for Shinzo Abe on the 3rd Anniversary of His Death On July 8, mourners gathered in front of Kintetsu Railway's Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara Prefecture to pay their respects to Shinzo Abe on the third anniversary of his death. A flower stand was set up there by a local volunteer group two days earlier. 'I came with the hope that this would be the last time a politician would die during an election,' a 21-year-old student who traveled from Kyoto to the site told The Asahi Shimbun . A memorial service was also held at Choanji temple in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Abe was gunned down while giving a stump speech. Flown to Nara Medical University Hospital, the former prime minister was pronounced dead five and a half hours after he was shot. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, was quickly detained at the scene. He told investigators that he targeted Abe because of his links to the Unification Church, a religious organization that allegedly caused financial ruin for his family. The first hearing for Yamagami's trial is scheduled for October 28. According to sources , he's not planning to contest the murder charge. Two Americans Rescued on Mount Fuji Before Shizuoka Trails Opened The three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Mount Fuji opened on Thursday. Before entering, climbers must apply in advance, pay a fee of ¥4,000 and complete a short test, which covers safety issues and environmental protection. Introduced this year, it is hoped that this test will help to protect the mountain's fragile ecosystem and make accidents less likely. Unfortunately, there are still some climbers who feel they don't need to follow the rules, including two Americans who recently needed rescuing. Last Friday, a 69-year-old man fell ill while camping on the seventh station. Suffering from hypothermia, he was allegedly wearing sandals when the rescue team arrived. The following day, another American citizen needed saving. This time, it was a 59-year-old woman, who reportedly made it to the top but then got lost while making the descent. Panicking in the dark, she got through to the authorities via her cell phone provider. The rescue team managed to locate her after a three-hour search. Original Image Courtesy of JLEAGUE Japanese Players on the Move It's been a busy week of transfers for Japanese soccer players. Kota Takai completed his move from Kawasaki Frontale to Tottenham Hotspurs. Kyogo Furuhashi and Kanya Fujimoto joined Birmingham from Rennes and Gil Vicente respectively. Hayato Inamura left Albirex Niigata for Celtic. Keigo Tsunemoto signed for FC Basel from Servette. Sota Kawasaki arrived at Mainz from Kyoto Sanga. Junnosuke Suzuki left Shonan Bellmare for FC Copenhagen. And Yuki Kobayashi joined Jagiellonia Białystok from Portimonense. In women's soccer, Hikaru Kitagawa signed for Everton from Hacken. In rugby news, Japan defeated Wales 24-19 in a match played in extremely humid conditions in Kitakyushu. The away side led 19-7 at the break but wilted in the heat in the second half. Halatoa Vailea completed the comeback win for Eddie Jones' side with a 71st minute try. It was a record 18th successive Test defeat for the Welsh team. If they lose to the Brave Blossoms again on Saturday, they'll become the first tier one rugby nation in history to lose 19 successive international games. Related Posts Sanseito Leader Says 'Japanese First Approach Is Not Based on Xenophobia Nearly 500 Earthquakes Rattle Japan's Tokara Islands Taichi Kokubun of Tokio To Be Suspended for Compliance Violation
Yomiuri Shimbun
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Foreign Drivers License Conversion Rules to Be Toughened; NPA to Make Testing More Thorough, Exclude Tourists
Regarding the system for converting an overseas driver's license to a Japanese one, the National Police Agency officially compiled on Friday a draft revision of the enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Law to tighten the screening process and to bar foreign tourists from the system. The number of questions to check knowledge of traffic rules is planned to be increased to 50 from the current 10. After a public comment procedure, the revised system is envisioned to be put into operation on Oct. 1. Cases of overseas tourists obtaining Japanese driver's licenses using the addresses of their hotels or other lodgings have become a problem. In addition, there has been a string of traffic accidents caused by foreign drivers who do not understand basic traffic rules. These issues have prompted calls for a review of the system. According to the NPA, the draft limits the method of address verification at the time of application to a copy of the applicant's residence certificate in principle, thus making it impossible for tourists and other short-term visitors to obtain a driver's license through the system. But it makes exceptions for diplomats and certain temporary visitors, such as racers, allowing them to use identification documents issued by public institutions or sponsoring organizations for applications. As a result, foreign tourists who can drive in Japan will be limited to those with an international driver's license issued by a member state of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Short-term visitors with licenses issued by nonmember states, such as China and Vietnam, will be excluded. The test, which asks about traffic rules, will also be substantially revised. Currently, seven out of 10 questions using a true-false format must be answered correctly in order to pass the test. The number of questions is likely to be increased to 50, and the threshold for passing the test will be raised to 90%, the same as when a new driver's license is obtained. The test will be designed to comprehensively check knowledge of Japanese traffic rules, such as the prohibition of drinking and driving, protection of pedestrians and what needs to be checked when turning right and left. New tasks are planned to be added to the practical driving test for situations such as passing through crosswalks and railroad crossings. Correct practice in such situations as turning right and left and signaling while driving will also be more strictly checked. The overseas driver's license switchover system was introduced in 1933. Initially, it was intended for Japanese who had obtained a license abroad to switch to a Japanese license after returning to their home country, but in recent years it has been used more and more by foreigners. Last year, 68,623 foreigners obtained Japanese licenses through the system, a 170% increase from the number 10 years ago. By country of origin, Vietnam had the largest number at 16,681, followed by China at 15,251. Accidents involving foreign drivers totaled 7,286 last year, an increase of 342 over the previous year. An NPA official said: 'The number of foreign drivers is expected to continue to increase in the future. We would like to ensure that Japanese traffic rules are strictly enforced.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Driver's Licenses for Foreigners: Create System to Facilitate Understanding of Traffic Rules
There have been a series of accidents involving foreign drivers who cannot be said to have a sufficient understanding of Japanese traffic rules. The system should be revised so that licenses are issued after a thorough assessment of a person's driving knowledge and skills. The National Police Agency is considering changing the system that allows a driver's license obtained overseas to be converted into a Japanese license, in order to make it stricter. The system was introduced in 1933. Initially, its main purpose was to enable Japanese citizens who had obtained a driver's license overseas to smoothly become able to drive in Japan upon their return. Since the 1990s, the number of foreigners using the system has exceeded that of Japanese nationals. With the increase in inbound visitors to Japan and foreign workers, the figure reached 69,283 last year, accounting for 94% of the total. Vietnamese and Chinese nationals are particularly numerous. Many countries drive on the right hand of the road, and traffic signals and pedestrian safety measures differ from those in Japan. Just as Japanese people driving abroad may be confused by differences in the traffic rules, foreign drivers likely face similar challenges in Japan. Accidents involving foreign drivers are on the rise, exceeding 7,000 cases last year. In a recent incident in which a driver was going the wrong way on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Mie Prefecture, and a recent hit-and-run incident involving elementary school students in Saitama Prefecture, both the drivers were foreign nationals who had used the foreign license conversion system. There is strong criticism that the current system is too easy. The test on traffic rules uses a yes-or-no format, and a score of 7 out of 10 questions is required to pass. The passing rate exceeds 90%. Even short-stay tourists can apply to obtain a Japanese driver's license through the system by using their hotel or an acquaintance's address as their residence. This arrangement effectively allows the provision of Japanese driver's licenses to foreigners who may not fully understand Japanese traffic rules. Vietnam and China are not parties to the Convention on Road Traffic, more commonly known as the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Therefore, some people are believed to abuse the conversion system in a bid to obtain a Japanese international driver's license, which is valid in about 100 countries that are party to the convention. If accidents involving foreign nationals who hold Japanese driver's licenses become frequent overseas, it could undermine trust in the Japanese driver's license system. The NPA plans to increase the number of yes-or-no questions and make the behind-the-wheel driving test more rigorous. Tourists will be excluded from the system by requiring people to submit a copy of their residence certificate at the time of application. In Japanese society, where the population continues to shrink, foreign workers have become an indispensable part of the workforce. Whether a person has a driver's license directly impacts their career choices and income level. Going forward, it will be necessary to implement measures that take foreign nationals' perspectives into account, such as increasing the number of road signs that have instructions in other languages. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22, 2025)
Japan Forward
23-05-2025
- Japan Forward
Japan Reviews 'Too Easy' Foreign Driver's License Conversion After Crashes
Japan's National Police Agency is reviewing how it handles the conversion of foreign driver's licenses, a system known as gaimen kirikae . This was announced by Commissioner General Kusunoki Koshinobu at a press conference on May 22. The gaimen kirikae system allows foreign nationals to convert a driver's license from their home country into a Japanese one. Currently, applicants can do so using just a passport and a certificate of temporary stay, without needing to be officially registered as a resident. However, in response to a recent string of serious traffic accidents involving foreign nationals, the agency now plans to tighten the requirements. As a general rule, applicants will need to submit a copy of their juminhyo (resident record) to be eligible. Commissioner General Yoshinobu Kusunoki of the National Police Agency outlined plans to revise the foreign driver's license conversion system at a press conference on May 22, Chiyoda, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Misaki Owatari) "To confirm the address of each applicant, regardless of nationality, we will in principle require a copy of the juminhyo ," said Commissioner Kusunoki. "License conversions will not be allowed for those staying in Japan for tourism." Exceptions will be made for Japanese citizens temporarily living abroad and for diplomats, who will be allowed to verify their addresses using alternative documents. The agency also plans to make the knowledge and driving skill tests for foreigners more rigorous. Kusunoki said the new approach will help ensure that applicants fully understand Japanese traffic laws. National attention focused on one May 18 case that happened on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture. A 34-year-old Peruvian man, Elias John Rossi Cruz, was driving the wrong way in the outbound lane when he collided with two oncoming vehicles. He fled the scene without notifying the police. However, he was later arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act for failing to report the accident Cruz, a company employee living in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, had obtained his Japanese license by converting his Peruvian one under the current system. This incident followed a similar case in May involving Deng Hongpeng, a 42-year-old Chinese man. He was arrested in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, for a hit-and-run that injured four elementary school children. Deng had also acquired his Japanese license through the foreign license conversion process. Police officers examine the scene of the crash in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, on the afternoon of May 14. (©Sankei by Kazuya Kamogawa) Drivers from countries not party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, such as Vietnam, China, and Nepal, cannot use international driving permits in Japan. As a result, many citizens of these countries rely on the conversion system. Even drivers from countries that are signatories to the convention sometimes prefer to convert their licenses, depending on the validity period and conditions of their permits. According to the National Police Agency, about 60,000 people obtained a Japanese driver's license through the conversion system in 2023. The largest group came from Vietnam, with 15,807 conversions, followed by China with 11,247. While the process generally requires taking a skills and knowledge test, applicants from certain countries are exempt from parts of the process. Surprisingly, applicants without a residence card were still able to take the test if they showed proof of accommodation. Some reports suggest that even tourists have been able to apply. Currently, the written knowledge test is available in up to 24 languages and consists of 10 true-or-false questions. A passing score of 7 is required. In comparison, the standard Japanese driver's test has 95 multiple-choice questions scored out of 100, with a passing requirement of 90 points. This stark difference has added to criticisms that the conversion process is too lenient, but that is now changing. ( Read the related article in Japanese . ) Author: The Sankei Shimbun
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Move to end foreign licence conversion gains praise over fraud concerns
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to discontinue the conversion of foreign driving licences to Malaysian licences has been welcomed as a positive step to strengthen the process and help prevent potential issues, including alleged fraud cases. Ch'ng Toh Ghee, managing director of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) agency Alter Domus, said the policy shift is understandable as Malaysia seeks to tighten compliance and improve road safety standards involving foreigners. He said while MM2H participants are exempted from the ruling, the move is still timely and necessary to ensure uniformity and prevent abuse. "This policy is a good move as it helps strengthen the process and enables authorities to prevent potential issues, such as document fraud during the conversion of foreign licences," he told the New Straits Times. He added that the decision likely stems from previous cases of possible fraud, prompting the authorities to act. "Some countries do not follow Malaysia's standards when issuing driving licences. "By standardising the process, the government is ensuring that all drivers, regardless of nationality, meet local safety and competency standards," he said. Ch'ng also acknowledged that, although the announcement came at the last minute, it demonstrates the government's urgency in addressing the matter. "Although the announcement was only made on May 17, with implementation set for May 19, we understand the urgency. It shows the government is serious about curbing issues related to licence fraud. "While last-minute, it is a necessary and commendable move that deserves support." The Road Transport Department (RTD) on Saturday had announced that all applications to convert foreign driving licences to Malaysian driving licences (LMM) will be discontinued effective May 19. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said that foreigners requiring an LMM will now have to follow the existing procedures to obtain the licence, just like Malaysian citizens. However, several categories of applicants will not be affected by the new ruling, including members of the diplomatic corps and participants in the MM2H programme. Meanwhile, foreigners residing in Malaysia temporarily for less than 12 months are subject to specific conditions. Citizens from countries that are signatories to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic are allowed to drive using an International Driving Permit issued by the relevant authorities of their respective countries. As for Asean nationals, they only need to use their domestic driving licences, in accordance with the 1985 Asean Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences.
