On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 17:12:46 GMT, Jason Cormier <fjlij@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I still don't get the ranting about the testing centres. In both prefectures
>in which I lived, the foreigners generally had no problems getting a license
>and none were every told to go to driving school....and Mie and Aichi ain't
>exactly freewheeling, open-minded prefectures either. They're no different
>than most of the prefectures in which you guys live.

How can you say that the prefectures you lived and/or took the test in
are no different than the prefectures those of us with Menkyo Center
horror stories live in having not actually lived in ours? I can only
assume that the others in here reporting extreme hassles in getting
their Japanese license are telling the truth about their experiences.

For myself I won't repeat my whole long story but because of some
problems with re-entry stamps in my passport I was denied even TAKING
the test for switching from my US license for several years until I
turned up enough "proof" for them that I was eligible. After that the
instructors here in Matsuyama made it clear to me that they didn't
even think Americans should be eligible to switch licenses since our
tests at home are so "weak" in their opinion. Then I failed the first
time but passed on the second try of the road test but it was close.

I've never dealt with a more rock-headed bunch of policy-loving
bureaucrats then the ex-cops who run the Menkyo Center. That INCLUDES
the rock-headed, policy-loving bureaucrats at the Immigrations
Department and the rock-headed, policy-loving police who were getting
ready to send me for hard time the second time they caught me driving
on an expired International Driver's Permit (a few years back before I
finally managed to get my Japanese license.).

I say be glad that your own experiences are happy ones. You're
fortunate.

Raj