Conversion of foreign driver’s licenses to Japanese licenses—commonly called gaimen kirikae—became stricter in October. The tougher regulations have left many foreign residents saying the “questions have become harder.”
Forged License Translations Uncovered
In September, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested two Chinese nationals on suspicion of illegally obtaining translated copies of forged Taiwanese licenses. Investigators believe they did this to avoid the stricter gaimen kirikae rules that took effect in October.
What Is Gaimen Kirikae?
Gaimen kirikae lets holders of foreign licenses obtain Japanese licenses. Rising accidents and the ease of the former tests drew criticism, leading to a stricter system from 1 October.
Seiji Kiyomatsu, Deputy Chief, Oita Prefectural Police Driver’s License Section
“Previously, people could submit temporary-stay documents from hotels and receive a license. After the revision, a resident record (jūminhyō) is now basically required.”
Voices of Confusion from Foreign Drivers
Knowledge Test: Ten illustrated questions have been replaced by fifty non-illustrated ones, and the pass mark has jumped from 70 % to 90 %. According to the Oita police, about 90 % of applicants had passed the knowledge test under the old system.
Skills Test: New elements include crossing pedestrian crossings and railroad crossings. Right- and left-turn methods and failure to signal are now graded more strictly.
Comments from foreign applicants at a license center:
- Male applicant: “The questions are harder, so I have to study traffic rules. It’s a challenge, but it’s important that everyone drives more safely.”
- Female applicant: “I’ve lived in Oita since April, and you really need to drive here. Gaimen kirikae feels a bit difficult for foreigners.”
Rental-Car Industry Responds
In Oita Prefecture last year, 512 car and motorcycle licenses were issued via gaimen kirikae, and the number is rising annually. Police have posted multilingual warning videos on their website, and the knowledge test is now available in 21 languages, including English, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
Seiji Kiyomatsu, Deputy Chief, Oita Prefectural Police Driver’s License Section
“The new tests are tougher, but we want people to follow Japan’s traffic rules and drive safely to avoid accidents and violations.”
While obtaining a Japanese license has become harder, demand from foreign tourists and residents continues to grow. At Niconico Rent-A-Car in Beppu, foreigners make up roughly 10–20 % of all rentals. To avoid accidents and violations, the company lends cars only to those who hold a Japanese driver’s license and can communicate in Japanese.
Hiroki Kotsubo, Niconico Rent-A-Car
“This is our pre-departure contract. If you can’t understand Japanese, we can’t accept the booking. Because the driving skills and knowledge match Japanese rules, we believe lending to foreigners is no problem. We want everyone—Japanese or foreign—to enjoy sightseeing in Beppu.”
With the stricter gaimen kirikae rules introduced in response to rising accidents and violations, the hope is that all drivers on Japan’s roads will be able to drive with greater peace of mind.