Originally Posted by
AlexS
As everyone said, if possible, try and avoid the Japanese banks.
I found Mizuho was particularly difficult to deal with unless you're very proficient in Japanese because all of the documentation is in Japanese, they require you fill out the forms yourself in Japanese, and you'll need a hanko.
Really? Even during the Bakufu, Fuji (now part of Mizuho IIRC) didn't require a hanko (at two separate times in my life I've had "sign kouza" with them, and I have never owned a hanko).