Driving in Japan: New Rules, Accidents, Getting your License | Conbini Cult Ep 58

There’s been a lot of news lately about increased traffic accidents involving foreign drivers in Japan, and that’s prompted some new rules and regulations regarding driving and getting your license. With the aging population, there is also an increase of accidents involving elderly drivers.Let’s break down some of these confusing new rules and chat about our own experiences driving here and getting our license. We’re also got some listener stories and recent news stories. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected] - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsZainichi means “residing in Japan”, but the term has become synonymous with the ethnic Korean population in Japan.運転免許 unten menkyo - driver’s license田舎 inaka - countryside初心者マーク shoshinsha mark - beginner mark (in this case for new drivers)ウィンカー winkaa - turn signal Nikkei - Japanese person living abroad原付 gentsuki - one word for moped or motorbikeまぶしい mabushii - bright (like the sun or the lights)Kei car - small, lightweight vehicle that is cheaper and offers tax and insurance benefits, but in an accident I (Frankie) personally feel they are not the safest References/sources:Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from Octoberhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/crime-legal/npa-drivers-license-conversion/#:~:text=The%20National%20Police%20Agency%20on,car%20accidents%20by%20such%20driversGuide: learning how to drive in Japanhttps://mailmate.jp/blog/learning-how-to-drive-in-japanJapan to bar foreign tourists from converting driver's licenseshttps://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250710_07/#:~:text=An%20agency%20survey%20of%20license,%23Foreigners%20in%20JapanSeniors Make Up Over 50 Pct of 2023 Traffic Deaths in Japanhttps://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/33754Elderly driver who killed 2, injured 9 in 2019 dies in prisonhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15524048Two sisters, aged 5 and 7, killed in bus-car collision in Fukuokahttps://japantoday.com/category/national/two-sisters-aged-5-and-7-killed-in-bus-car-collision-in-fukuokaPhoto: https://www.reddit.com/r/japannews/comments/1ev561v/two_sisters_killed_fukuoka_car_accident/Japanese Drivers Practical Test (Hiroshima) is kicking my ass! Any suggestions appreciated!(r/Japan 12 years ago)https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/xqyks/japanese_drivers_practical_test_hiroshima_is/All cars in Japan to have systems preventing accidents from gas/brake pedal mistakes by 2028https://japantoday.com/category/national/all-cars-in-japan-to-have-systems-preventing-accidents-from-gas-brake-pedal-mistakes-by-2028Elderly driver’s panic: https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/154wtes/japan_elderly_drivers_panic/2024 marks 3rd-lowest year on record for traffic deaths in Japanhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15577054#:~:text=Special-,National%20Report,were%20either%20driving%20or%20walking.Despite Law, Many in Japan Fail to Belt Up in the Back Seathttps://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01596/#:~:text=Under%20road%20traffic%20law%2C%20it,importance%20of%20wearing%20a%20seatbelt.Time stamps00:00 Cheyenne is back2:47 increased accidents involving foreign drivers7:10 new regulations/rules for changing your license11:10 converting your license in Japan/driving test39:09 driving school40:48 driving age42:46 listener stories about driving/getting license53:56 traffic accidents involving the elderly/ no seatbelt

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