Housing rental references

This isn't the normal question about moving to Japan, actually it's about moving back home!
If this isn't an appropriate place to post this, please feel free to delete it!

I've been in Japan for a decade now.
Every time I moved and rented a new apartment here, I was never asked for previous rental references.
I will return to the US next year though.
In the US, you're usually required to submit previous rental references.

Has anyone ever asked their Japanese rental company for such a thing?
If so, how did it go?
How should I go about this?

Housing reference is simply not known in Japan. You�fd have to ask your landlord/real estate agency for a letter – or better yet, you might have to let them know what needs to go into such a document, or draft one yourself – and ask them to stamp/sign it. No, I�fve never done it. Best wishes.

Thank you! I�fll email my housing company with information on a reference and what should be in it. I�fll get it professionally translated so the housing companies in the US can read it.