Japan to tighten rules for switching foreign driver's licenses

The policy was presented at the first meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's special committee on creating a harmonious society with foreign nationals. 

The meeting took place at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Some have taken issue with the current system allowing people to apply for Japanese licenses using temporary addresses such as those of hotels, and with the passing grade for the system's knowledge test being too low at seven out of 10 answers correct.

The NPA plans to require in principle a copy of applicants' residence certificates, and to increase the number of questions on the knowledge test, to make it more difficult to obtain Japanese licenses.

LDP policy chief Itsunori Onodera, who heads the special committee, visited the Samezu driver's license center in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Wednesday to inspect the desk for applying to switch driver's licenses.

"We will examine whether the driver's license switching system is one of the factors behind accidents, and ask the government to review its operation," Onodera told reporters.

Recent accidents caused by foreign drivers include a hit-and-run incident and a case involving a vehicle driven in the wrong direction on an expressway.