I always wondered this, too. If I ever have to relocate to Jpn, I'll lose MS opportunities as well. All I can think of is the airline credit card with no foreign transaction fee at the moment. I don't think Jpn is all that much into Gift card like US since CASH is preferred especially in a denomination of $300 or more (i.e. in a gift-giving situation that is). And even if you can buy a gift card, I don't know how to liquidate without a huge margin loss (there is always a pawn shop or Kinken shop). GOOD LUCK.