Japan has recently experienced a surge in hit-and-run incidents involving foreign drivers, prompting authorities to modify the regulations regarding the conversion of foreign driver's licenses. Going forward, foreigners without a resident card will be unable to exchange their foreign licenses for Japanese ones.

For instance, on May 14, in Saitama Prefecture, a Chinese driver injured four elementary school students before fleeing the scene. Shortly after, on May 18, a Peruvian man drove in the wrong direction on a highway in Mie Prefecture and also fled after injuring two vehicles. These incidents have led Japanese authorities to address this issue seriously and consider modifications to the driver's license conversion regulations.

During a press conference on the 22nd, National Police Agency Commissioner Yoshinobu Kusunoki explained that recent incidents have raised concerns about the ease of converting foreign driver's licenses to Japanese ones. Currently, foreign nationals only need a passport and proof of short-term residency to pass a simple test of true/false questions. However, in light of the recent events, the authorities are aiming to implement a more rigorous review process that will require documentation proving residency.

Additionally, the written test will also adopt more stringent standards. As of last year, the number of foreigners obtaining Japanese licenses had doubled to 75,905, while accidents caused by foreign drivers persisted at alarmingly high levels.