Originally Posted by seigex

Yep. That's just the requirement for approval of TTP. As a tourist (with global entry or platinum card approval) you enter japan once, then apply for the TTP, get your initial inspection complete, then you need to enter japan to do your secondary inspection (the counters for secondary inspection are landside) within 12 months of the first entrance and 3 months of the completion of the initial inspection and you are handed the card once you show your documents to them. As long as you have on entry before you fly to japan to do the secondary, you will pass.

Once you have the card, for all future entries you can bypass immigration and go straight to the unmanned entry gates, put your card in the gate and it will print your temporary visa status on the back of the card. The card itself lasts 3 years, or until your passport expiration, whichever is sooner, and can hold up to 15 temporary visitor visas on the back before it's full.