Legal Driver in Japan...

Good Morning all,

Shiho, the kids and I drove the 90 minutes to the driving license center, and they were just waiting for us. The second we walked in, my guy walks to the counter, opens the window and calls me over. I then went to another window and paid my 2400yen to take the tests. Then back to the other window to see my guy again and I had to write my name a bunch of times (in the right order of course.)
Then after a few minutes in the lobby, I was escorted to a back room where I was given my written test. They had an English version, but to be honest, the questions were so badly translated, I was not sure I was going to get the required 7 of 10 correct. I actually started to try to read the Japanese version of the questions to see if I could understand some of the things they were trying to say in English, but I figured that it would just make my odds of passing worse. So 10 minutes for 10 very easy questions (if not for the horrible translation), I was sent back to the lobby to wait. A few minutes later, I was told I passed this part, and it was then time for the eye exam. Very easy test. It was just circles with a small part missing. I just had to tell him if it was the top, bottom, left or right part that was missing. Then I had to identify red, yellow and blue colors. Too easy! I was passed in 20-30 seconds for this part.
Then I was told I could take the driving test in an automatic or a manual transmission. Having driven a stick shift for an hour 5 months ago, I figured this would be the one.

Thanks Non for making me drive the truck buddy, otherwise I would have had to think more about it.

I got a course map and a half hour to walk the course and relax just a bit. The driving test is a bit different than in California. It is held on a closed course, but it has traffic lights and obstacles for you to negotiate around. It has very narrow roads that you must transverse (figure S), and parts that you almost must backup on to get through (the crank.) There are blind intersections that you must honk your horn at, and at railroad tracks, you have to stop and look, then roll down your window to listen for trains. And the instructors really want you to exaggerate all movements to be sure you are a safe driver that looks all around at everything...
Anyways the 30 minutes went fast. I spent it all walking the course with Shiho, while the kids were running around. I actually got to be tested by the same guy whom we dealt with from the first day. I think this really helped with my not being so nervous. I received one free loop around the track to get used to the clutch, and then started the real test. All I can say is that it was not to bad. The only things that I think I did to lose points is to signal right as I came up to a turn, and to use the windshield wipers, instead of the turn signal two times. Oh well. (**).

Anyways, we finished the test, and he went in the back, where I think he talked to the people up stairs in the control tower (the top of the motor vehicle building is like a airport control tower.) Maybe they looked at some of the footage from all the cameras on the track as well, they are all over the place as well. It is almost like a high security area.
10 minutes passed, and he came back and explained to Shiho that I had passed the test. That is it. We waited a bit later, they took some photos and another 4000yen of my money, then I received my new license about 45 minutes later.

The biggest parts of the story for me are that I got my Japanese drivers license on the first try, and it only took 2.25 hours this visit. This is really great for Japan. Maybe all those blogs and websites I read are full of it... or maybe I just got sooooooo lucky. I don't care, I GOT MY LICENSE!!! (**)!!!

The guy whom I dealt with at the Shimane License Center was great by the way. He is one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet in Japan. He breaks the stereotype of the DVD employee, which are quite simular to CA DMV workers.
Plus he gave me my license...

That is the news for today. Hope you and yours are great. I am going to bed, and I hope you slept well.

Take care,
Steve.