Never imagined that 3 years have passed since I got my Japanese drivers license. I can still remember how I cried so hard when My papers were not accepted in Seibu menkyo senta and the feeling of hopelessness every time the proctor fails me on the practical tests… those were the days! 😂
Anyways, So last week the Japan drivers license sent me a hagaki/notice that I need to renew my unten menkyo until aug 14. This hagaki contains all the details you need in renewing you menkyo (don’t throw this away, you’ll need it when applying for the renewal). Like your name, address, license number, place to renew, and type of license to renew in my case I’m getting a blue colored license meaning I am no longer a noob which is the green one. ✌🏻
My hubhie thought that it can be renewed on our local police station ( we didn’t look at the hagaki carefully) just like what he did before but the lady from the police station said that I should bring it to Seibu menkyo center because I need to attend a 2 hrs seminar. yes, people! A 2 hrs seminar.
Ethan caught as Spider Man
We immediately go to the Seibu menkyo senta for the registration will only be accepted during the allotted time.
I don’t know if this will apply to all menkyo centers but first, they gave out some forms and health questionnaires that you need to fill up. You need to fill this up carefully or else they will ask you to rewrite it again, for example, you need to mark the box with ✔️ not / and 7 not 7 with a dash in the middle. Kibishi da ne?
Then an eye examination where you need to identify the position of the C whether it is facing downwards, upwards, left and right.
The examiner will then stamp your application and will ask you to proceed to the uketsuke counter where you will hand over your form, hagaki, and menkyo. They will check your information and your menkyo if it’s legit. You will then proceed to the cashier and pay the renewal fee. After that, they will take a picture of you and off you go to the seminar room.
Since it’s my first time to get the blue menkyo, we have a 2 hrs seminar about safety driving, different accidents, and numbers of accidents. Actually, I didn’t understand everything but what catches my attention is the new law implemented last March. I didn’t quite understand it at the seminar, so I researched a little bit about it and found out that it was actually a new type of restriction.
Basically, there are 3 types of restrictions base on a car’s weight. ( these apply to both MT and AT cars)
- Futsu menkyo : 3 tons max of 5 tons
- chuugata menkyo : 6.5 tons max of 11 tons
- Oogata menkyo : 11 tons above
Now with the new junchuugata menkyo this has changed into:
- Futsu menkyo : 2 tons max of 3.5 tons
- Junchuugata menkyo: 3.5 tons max of 7.5 tons
- Chuugata menkyo: 7.5 tons max of 11 tons
- Oogata menkyo: 11 tons above
So what type of cars can I use base on my restrictions? Taka a look at this infographic from jta.jp
In my case, I can now drive a small truck for hikoshi like of that in the picture as long as it’s an AT. Now the question is, with this new type of restriction will it affect the previous restrictions. The answer is NO.
If you have a chuugata menkyo before the revision of the law you will still have it and for those who have futsu menkyo before the revision, it will be changed into junchuugata menkyo by the time of your renewal. So don’t be surprised when you have an extra comment attached on your menkyoshou. Though the facts I’ve written here is based on other Japanese Blogs if you know something about this please do write them in the comment section below.
Laws here in Japan are really confusing but we have no choice but to abide them! 😋
Hope this helps! Thanks for reading 〜
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