It is very difficult to pass the driving test in Japan. About 6 out of 10 people fail the test the first time around. A lot of time is required to get a license. One day was spent taking the written test. Another day was spent taking an optional driving test. Today I spent 5 hours at the Hirabari driving center waiting in lines and completing forms before taking the actual driving test.
I think the test is hard to pass because the Japanese are sticklers for detail. Most of the general, common sense rules are the same as in the U.S. but there are a few things that are different in Japan. There is a proper way and order of getting into and out of the car. When chaning lanes you have to look first in your rear view mirror and then the side mirror and then look forward and then change lanes. Nevertheless, you need to get every detail correct, or you will fail. Also, you are required to memorize the driving course route to boot.
My test appointment was scheduled for 11:40 PM. At 11:50 AM the 10 students in my test group were allowed to walk the driving course. The driving test started at 12:45 PM. Our names were called and we all lined up in numerical order, waiting to drive the car. We each completed the route one by one. After each person was finished driving, the test manager briefed each one of us on what we did wrong. I was getting worried while I was waiting because I learned that many of the test takers did not pass the test the first time around. One guy from Nigeria had failed the test seven times – no kidding ! Another guy from Sri Lanka was taking the test for the third time – yikes. Another guy from California told me that I could almost be guaranteed that I would not pass the first time around. This made me relax a bit.
Bye the way, an interesting note for all you Bruin fans, this guy from California looked a bit familiar. He was about 6 feet 9 inches tall and wearing a UCLA jacket. I asked him his name and he said JR… Then it dawned on me that he was JR Henderson (now known as J. R. Sakuragi, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._Sakuragi) who played on the UCLA NCAA championship team in 1995. Wow, what a nice surprise to meet another fellow bruin at the Hirabari driving center in Nagoya, Japan of all places. I chatted with J.R. about the good old days of UCLA Basketball.
I made a few mistakes on the driving course and was almost certain that I would not pass the test. My test group was required to go back to a waiting room at 3:15 to hear the test results. I felt like I was in the grammer school once again.
I got back to the waiting room at 3:16 PM just as my name was being called. I was then ushered into the next waiting room along with JR and six of the other foreigners. I was preparing myself for bad the news. However, the guy from Brazil told me congratulations. I was surprised because he informed me that I had passed the test. I was ushered into the room where photos are taken for the driver’s license. Everyone in the room was smiling and celebrating because they had passed the test. I gave a high five to JR and told him that we needed to do a true blue UCLA 8-clap and he laughed.
Anyway, I was relieved that the ordeal was over. A lot of time, effort, and money are involved in getting a driver’s license in Japan. Now I am legal. Bye the way, Bettina did not have to take the driving test. Bettina's license was issued on the spot because there is an agreement between the German and Japanese Governments to not require a written or driving test.
-Tony "Munuyosu"
