Unfortunately, the article doesn’t discuss what happens if you don’t make that statement or what you exactly have to do. It just states that consumers have to do it, and the reason no one’s come up with a product to fill this seemingly huge opportunity is that the banks in Japan aren’t set up for it, focusing mostly on large loans. The bottom line seems to be that credit cards in Japan are really more akin to debit cards here in the States.

I too pay as much as I can by credit card, but I am using it as a FORM OF PAYMENT, NOT AS A LOAN. I pay the full balance every month and reap the reward offers without every paying the CC companies a dime of interest. I’ve done this throughout my entire 11-yr credit history, and while I know many people with credit troubles I also know I’m not alone in responsible payment behavior either.

Now, while I say “Viva Japan” for most of the credit card features you mentioned above, the last thing you listed baffles me:

Do you mean to tell me that I would be REQUIRED to tell a waitress in Japan that I plan to pay over a few months at unsecured interest rates, when I know darn well I’m paying the full amount and actually earning cashback on it rather than paying any interest? Do you have more info on what type of verbal statement is required? And what happens if you don’t make the statement?