It was a time in my career when I was traveling frequently overseas from Japan and I was about to fly to Hong Kong on business one June. My 3-year spouse's visa had plenty of time to run, but I had neglected to renew my multiple reentry permit, which lasts only a year. Of course, I didn't notice this until I had already got my boarding pass, purchased my airport tax coupon, and queued up in line for immigration control at Narita's Terminal One, about 40 minutes before my flight was to depart. Perhaps you can imagine the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I realized the predicament I was in.

I figured I had three options: 1) turn around and cancel my flight to Hong Kong, including the possibility of losing the business I had there; 2) surrender my original disembarkation card and visa and leave the country, with the hope of reentering as a tourist or under another visa; or 3) ask the Narita immigration officials for a temporary reentry permit. Not wanting to give up my business or my visa, I chose to beg.

I got out of the line I was in and went to the special immigration window for pilots, crew, and pre-processed passengers. Fortunately, it was not crowded. I explained to the official there in my most respectful and apologetic Japanese that I had made a terrible mistake. With tears welling up in my eyes, I pleaded for a single journey reentry permit. At first, the official was unmoved. He told me I would just have to apply through the normal channels and depart when I had the proper permit. But I was adamant. I had to go. They were calling my flight number. I already had my boarding pass. I was going to lose business. I had family in Japan. I had to return. I was extremely distraught, panicked. Couldn't he please, please, please make one exception?

Either he really did care, or he just wanted me off his back, but for whatever reason, he came up with the papers I needed to sign to make my application, and he approved them for me right there on the spot.

He stamped a single journey reentry permit in my passport and I was allowed to leave Japan and return without changing my travel plans and without giving up my visa. I realized it was an amazing exception that he had made, and I did all of the bowing and apologizing and used every Japanese phrase of appreciation I knew to thank him for his mercy.

I got lucky. No one should have to go through such an experience. Why can't the reentry permits run concurrent with the visa? Why do we need reentry permits at all? Then again, it is a revenue generator for the immigration people, isn't it? Perhaps being a guest here simply has its price.

TAJ is the publisher of Legacy Memoirs. This article originally appeared in The UMJ Volume 4.1, the newsletter of United for a Multicultural Japan (UMJ).