The Tale of a Japanese Driver's License

It started on a Wednesday. We knew that getting our Japanese driver’s licenses would be tricky, but we had no idea just how naïve we were being at the time. I decided to write a long, and possibly boring, blog about the experience, mainly because pain and frustration is always lessened when it is shared. Fortunately, you the reader can, unlike us, skip to the end if my diatribe becomes too tedious.

First, some background on the rules regarding licensing in Japan. Before coming here, we obtain an International License from the AAA. Easy enough. We then learned that we would have one year to apply for our Japanese license. In the past, a person could drive on their International license much longer, but not anymore. We gave ourselves time to get settled before pursing anything. Then it was winter and the roads were not very good, so we didn’t want to make a bunch of trips to Kitami on snowy roads. We decided to wait until spring.

Spring arrived and Aaron discovered that his American license would expire this year on his birthday. Once it expired, his international license would no longer valid. Oops. We then realized that Aaron’s deadline would be June 9th instead of August 16th. So, the drama began. Aaron read the notes from past Juneau teachers and researched on the Internet to determine the correct procedure for us to follow. It seemed a little complicated, but no big deal. We were a little nervous because we kept reading about how hard the driving test is. I couldn’t help but think, “Too bad we’re not Australian.” Aussies don’t have to take the driving test. Here’s the way it all played out:

Wednesday, May 17: Aaron left early in the morning to go to Asahikawa. I must go to work late so I can drop off Ridge and Holt. Once in Asahikawa, Aaron must locate the Japanese Auto Federation office. This was easily done, and in a matter of hours he had a Japanese translation of my license. They told him they needed more time for his. I guess it’s because his American license was a commercial license (for driving the tour buses).

Thursday, May 18th: Aaron’s translation arrived. Happy day – that was fast! On to Step 2.

Friday, May 19th: Aaron and Fusae called the driver’s license office in Kitami. This is the one we must use. Kitami is three hours away. They were not helpful and insisted that Aaron come on Monday so they can examine our paperwork. Faxing is not an option. They said he could take the test on Tuesday.

Monday, May 22nd: 8:30 a.m. Aaron leaves early for Kitami, prepared to stay the night in a hotel. This will save him a trip. We crossed our fingers that when he came home on Tuesday, it would all be done. I mentally prepared myself for having to be alone and take the boys with me to my adult English class. I also had to ask Mr. Kamaya for the loan of another car so I can drive to Kamiokoppe the following day, since Aaron will have the car.
4:30 p.m. – Surprisingly, Aaron comes home! While I was very happy to see him, the news was not good. The staff in Kitami were unkind and very upset by the language barrier. They took our paperwork and let him sit a while. Then, they made him call Colin so he could translate. Colin explained to Aaron that the staff wanted to examine our papers for a while. He could come back next Tuesday. He should also call tomorrow (Tuesday). So, Aaron drove home.

Tuesday, May 23rd: 10:00 a.m. Aaron and Fusae again called Kitami. They said the papers were fine, and he can come next Tuesday for the test. However, they want us to bring an interpreter. Oh great. I popped upstairs to explain to Mr. Kamaya that Aaron and I need to go to Kitami on Tuesday. We rearranged my schedule a little bit so the Kamiokoppe kids, whom I see only on Tuesdays, won’t miss out on their lesson. He was very helpful and we worked things out with no trouble. He seemed a little concerned, though, about Aaron taking the test without any driving lessons.
1:00 p.m.: I returned to the office and I can tell Mr. Kamaya had been thinking more about Aaron and the test. He and Mr. Tasaki (the assistant superintendent) had a 20-minute meeting. Afterwards, they talked to me about how difficult the test is, how it was that the last Juneau teacher failed, and that the last Juneau teacher took five hours of lessons. For the next two hours, we talked, phone calls were made to the Kitami office and to a driving instructor, and we talked more. Our communication was very difficult. I wasn’t interested in Aaron driving to Kitami five times for lessons I wasn’t sure if he needed, despite what everyone said about the test. Finally, I called Colin so he can again translate for us. Apparently, Mr. Tasaki told him that sometimes people are failed because the tester sees they haven’t had any driving lessons. I was in a hard position, because I didn’t want to be disagreeable. I understood everyone was trying to help, but things were just getting more and more complicated. We developed a tentative plan involving Aaron driving to Kitami three times.
4:45 p.m. Mr. Kamaya called the house and asked Aaron to come over.
6:00 p.m. Aaron returned home with the “plan-that-you-can’t-argue-with” (because it would be rude if you did). The lessons have been arranged for and a hotel reservation made for one of the nights. Mr. Kamaya very regretfully informed us that we have to pay for Aaron’s fees ourselves because he isn’t an employee of the village. Bummer.

Wednesday, May 24th: We sent out some desperate emails to folks in the Kitami area to see if anyone can meet Aaron at the office in Kitami to translate. Notice that it has now become only Aaron. There were too many disapproving noises when I suggested going with Aaron on test day just to try the test without lessons. Keep in mind, too, that we always have to consider Ridge and Holt and what we will do with them. So, it seemed best to just have Aaron doing the lessons and testing for now. Fortunately, our American friend who lives only 30 minutes away from the office was available to help Aaron. Hooray! Then I just had to change my schedule once again for next week. Aaron will be in Kitami for lessons on Monday so I must stay home with the boys (no pre-school on Monday). I will also need a loaner car on Tuesday to get to Kamiokoppe. I will also have to leave work early on Thursday to get the boys from pre-school.

Thursday, May 25th: Aaron went to Kitami for a lesson. He stayed the night in a hotel.

Friday, May 26th: Aaron had another lesson at 7:00 a.m. and returned home

Sunday, May 28th: Sports Day! The whole village turns out. I spent Saturday shopping and preparing lunch for us to eat at the Sports Day event.

Monday, May 29th: Aaron returned to Kitami, just for the day, for a one-hour lesson. Fortunately, we were all able to go with him and make it into a fun day.

Tuesday, May 30th: Aaron went to Kitami once again for the test. Thank goodness he passed! It turned out we didn’t need our friend to translate. Aaron’s instructor brought a friend of hers, but there was little for her to translate. Since by this time Aaron had driven the course about 40 times, he knew exactly what to do.

Total cost for this experience: 48, 450 yen ($430)
Translation of our licenses = 6,000 yen total (3,000 each)
Aaron’s lessons = 23, 000 yen (this includes the instructor fee and course rental fee)
Hotel for Thursday night = 4,800 yen
Testing fees = 2,400 yen (just to take the test)
License fee = 1,650 yen (after he passed)
Photographs = 600 yen (because the passport photos we brought were too big to use)
Two tanks of diesel = 10,000 yen

I felt better when Mr. Kurata told me that most Japanese people go to driving school for one month and it costs them 300,000 yen ($2,600).

Now we just have to get MY license taken care of!!