Immigration hurdle

Some of you might remember the US visa episode (when I did the internship in Boston). This was scary enough, but it happened again. I thought I was so smart just quickly going to Korea and coming back. Despite the fact, that I could have gone to the Immigration Bureau and extended the visa in Fukuoka. I didn’t do it due to 2 reasons: First, I thought they probably speak only Japanese and it will be totally cumbersome and second I feared my visa status would not be “temporary visitor” anymore – and that would mean I couldn’t use my JRail Pass anymore (it’s only usable with a certain visa status).
So I went to Korea, came back the next day and guess what – the immigration officers did NOT like it. I properly filled out my declaration. Well, let’s say as properly as I could. I wasn’t sure what I should write for “occupation”. Technically I’m a student right now, so that’s what I wrote. Another question I was struggling with was the address in Japan. I hadn’t really booked anything for the night and accordingly had no address.
So, I presented my passport and the officer looked at the declaration, the last visa and the very short stay in Korea and decided that I deserved a little interrogation. I had to wait until all the other passengers had passed and then four immigration officers were inviting me to their office… First thing was of course why I had gone to Korea for such a short time only. Then they questioned how I could finance such a long stay in Japan and reminded me that the visa does not allow me to work. I didn’t want to go into details and explain that I am still employed with a company but not working anymore. That would sound very improbable to a Japanese I guess. Then they asked about the address - which I couldn’t give. Then they asked for a contact person in Japan and a phone number – which I didn’t know by heart. Then they asked for my return ticket – which I didn’t have with me. So I fully agree with these guys for questioning me – I was a fishy case indeed.
They started talking in Japanese and guessing whether I wanted to work illegally in Japan. Then one of them said “she must really like Japan a lot if she stays so long”. I took the opportunity and said in Japanese: “Yes, I do indeed like Japan very much and that is why I would like to learn your language better”. This was sort of a turning point, they got much friendlier all of a sudden (well, they had not been aggressive arrogant assholes as the US immigration officers anyway).
They said that they needed some sort of proof that I have sufficient funds for the stay in Japan and asked whether I had a credit card. I showed my Mastercard and Visa and counted the Korean Kwon. They noted that and then finally gave me my visa.
It was a bit nerve-wrecking, because it would have been quite a disaster otherwise. I am really happy to be back now and feel like it’s a privilege.