When I entered Japan in Hakata port, the immigration officer at passport check clearly didn't speak any English. He directed me by hand signals to use the fingerprint machine and look at the camera as they fingerprint and photograph visitors. Then he just put normal 90 day landing permission sticker into my passport. As I proceeded to customs counter I could see in the corner of my eye same guy making hand gestures and pointing at me. At the counter I was greeted by two officers who spoke excellent English and they asked me couple of pretty standard questions about purpose of trip, where I am going to stay, and about my onward ticket from Japan. I guess they could have still refused entry if necessary.