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From: Aly Rustom
Date: July 11, 2026
On July 5, 2026 my wife, and I went to change my carrier to Rakuten mobile. A week earlier in my wife had already changed to RM and the process was taking too long so I couldn’t get my carrier changed on the same day as well. Therefore, we elected to go on the 5 of July.
All went well and smooth until the staff member directly asked me for my Zairyu card. I remembered last week that he only asked my wife for ID and she produced her drivers license which he accepted without any issues. However, when I said that I would also be presenting my drivers license as that is what I always do when I am asked for my residence card. I noticed that he was a bit uncomfortable, but said OK.
After the paperwork was pretty much finalized, he said I’m sorry, but it’s Rakuten’s policy that we need to see your Zairyu card. I responded with that is illegal to request that. My driver’s license is a Japanese drivers license that is valid. I pay the same taxes as any Japanese so I should be treated the same. He wouldn’t relent so we canceled the contract and got up and left.
I wonder if any other people have had the exact same experiences I have. Has anyone else gone to Rakuten and been specifically asked to show their card when they have a drivers license? Because that is exactly what happened to me.
Sincerely, Aly Rustom
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— Hi Blog. Debito here. Anyone else finding that for trying to get service from a private-sector business, ID that would suffice for a Japanese, e.g., their driver license, has not sufficed, and they have unlawfully required you produce your Zairyuu Card?
There were a couple of situations I encountered on my trips to Japan like this — not for contracts, but for government agencies. I just said I was a citizen, produced my Japanese driver license, and that sufficed. But that’s not a panacea for everyone.
More on this issue of producing Gaijin Cards here (ancient page, but still valid). Debito Arudou, Ph.D.
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