Comments on: “What a wasted day” or “My third trip to the Kyoto DMV” http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140 Not a photo blog, but sometimes I play one on TV Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:30:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.12-alpha by: Alton Harkcom http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-12051 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:36:21 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-12051 All these years and I didn't realize that we are close to the same age... Unless of course you have altered that also? How generous is this 'previously had a Japanese Driver's license'? I will be returning to Japan and would prefer not to have to take the tests. My Japanese driver's license expired in Heisei 9. Is there some web site with the details about converting with an expired Japanese license? All these years and I didn’t realize that we are close to the same age…
Unless of course you have altered that also?

How generous is this ‘previously had a Japanese Driver’s license’?

I will be returning to Japan and would prefer not to have to take the tests.
My Japanese driver’s license expired in Heisei 9.
Is there some web site with the details about converting with an expired Japanese license?

]]> by: 匿名 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-7233 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:03:31 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-7233 A 14-digit licence number gives a hint that it's been obscured. In contrast, the only visible obscurity in the address is one of the Kanji, which I could probably look up if I weren't lazy. I'd worry about the address. This is probably enough for Yahoo executives to figure out where you live. A 14-digit licence number gives a hint that it’s been obscured. In contrast, the only visible obscurity in the address is one of the Kanji, which I could probably look up if I weren’t lazy. I’d worry about the address. This is probably enough for Yahoo executives to figure out where you live.

]]> by: Jeffrey Friedl http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-664 Thu, 02 Feb 2006 12:52:51 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-664 Claton, take what I say with a grain of "each prefecture may be different" salt, but no, I don't think it's true. If you have a foreign license, the only paperwork preparation you need is an official translation from JAF (Japan Auto Federation), which runs 3,000 yen and takes just a few minutes for them to type up. Then, bring that with your gaijin card, foreign license, passport (showing that you were in said foreign country for a three month period sometime after the foreign license was issued), a photo (which you can probably get on or near the DMV), money, and a book of your choice to pass the time with. Whether you must take a test and what kind of test you must take depends on the country that issued your license. If it's Germany, for example, you don't need to take the test. If a US state, you do. (Countries which have submitted paperwork to Japan about traffic death statistics that meet a certain criteria are exempt from the test. The US has not bothered submitting such paperwork.) That's the paperwork preparation. It's also good to prepare for the driving test by doing a practice session. Being able to drive skillfully and safely does not even come close to guaranteeing that you'll pass. Being a monkey able to jump through hoops is not enough -- you must be able to jump through <i>their</i> hoops, in <i>just</i> the right way. I know someone with 6+ years of driving experience in America who has so far failed three times. Claton, take what I say with a grain of “each prefecture may be different” salt, but no, I don’t think it’s true. If you have a foreign license, the only paperwork preparation you need is an official translation from JAF (Japan Auto Federation), which runs 3,000 yen and takes just a few minutes for them to type up. Then, bring that with your gaijin card, foreign license, passport (showing that you were in said foreign country for a three month period sometime after the foreign license was issued), a photo (which you can probably get on or near the DMV), money, and a book of your choice to pass the time with.

Whether you must take a test and what kind of test you must take depends on the country that issued your license. If it’s Germany, for example, you don’t need to take the test. If a US state, you do. (Countries which have submitted paperwork to Japan about traffic death statistics that meet a certain criteria are exempt from the test. The US has not bothered submitting such paperwork.)

That’s the paperwork preparation. It’s also good to prepare for the driving test by doing a practice session. Being able to drive skillfully and safely does not even come close to guaranteeing that you’ll pass. Being a monkey able to jump through hoops is not enough — you must be able to jump through their hoops, in just the right way. I know someone with 6+ years of driving experience in America who has so far failed three times.

]]> by: nils http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-663 Thu, 02 Feb 2006 10:07:47 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-663 I was going to comment on the unobscured number -- very clever. I was going to comment on the unobscured number — very clever.

]]> by: claytonian http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-660 Thu, 02 Feb 2006 04:03:34 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-660 btw Jeff, I was told I have start the paperwork for a license months ahead of time. Is this true? (I will have to take the driving test.) btw Jeff, I was told I have start the paperwork for a license months ahead of time. Is this true? (I will have to take the driving test.)

]]> by: KS http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-657 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:47:17 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-657 >Also pay another $10 as a “donation” ---That Kyoto-fu Kotsu Anzen Kyokai (Kyoto prefectural traffic safety association?) fee that you don’t have to pay. They do all most nothing, just feeding retired police persons. I have never paid the donation for nothing =( http://www.kyoto-ankyo.or.jp/ >Also pay another $10 as a “donation”
—That Kyoto-fu Kotsu Anzen Kyokai (Kyoto prefectural traffic safety association?) fee that you don’t have to pay.
They do all most nothing, just feeding retired police persons. I have never paid the donation for nothing =(
http://www.kyoto-ankyo.or.jp/

]]> by: Jeffrey Friedl http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-654 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:32:42 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-654 Hah, yes, of course. I changed the license number to something pseudo-random before posting. (It's not totally random because I used only digits that were in the original). I think it's nicer if it <i>looks</i> as if it hasn't been obscured, even though it has. Hah, yes, of course. I changed the license number to something pseudo-random before posting.
(It’s not totally random because I used only digits that were in the original).

I think it’s nicer if it looks as if it hasn’t been obscured, even though it has.

]]> by: mmk http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-653 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:19:02 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-653 Might just be being paranoid, but is putting up the image as is wise? Some obscuring / fuzzification of the image may be in order. On the other hand the whole identity == drivers licence may be moot in Japan, so... Might just be being paranoid, but is putting up the image as is wise? Some obscuring / fuzzification of the image may be in order.

On the other hand the whole identity == drivers licence may be moot in Japan, so…

]]> by: Claytonain http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-650 Tue, 31 Jan 2006 16:01:41 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-01-31/140#comment-650 Oh I am so not looking forward to doing this Oh I am so not looking forward to doing this

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