Getting a credit card in Japan

wrong information!!

To apply for e-bank account,you must fax copy of an Alien Registration Form 外国人登録原票記載事項証明書 issued whthin 6months. And no need to fax a copy of your passport.

Thanks for the replies.

I agree with Bob: using the card issued in my country is not at all efficient and I have to pay useless fees, plus a dreadful exchange rate. Moreover, I am not going to move money around the world just to settle the monthly instalment of my credit card.

I can pile up money, but I cannot change my nationality, or create a credit history if I don't have a credit card... So sounds to be an inner circle.

I don't know if I'm going to apply another time (at least for the time being), since I feel really disappointed of the system, and I'm afraid I can be recorded as "the guy we'll never issue a card".
But still, having a credit card makes things much easier. I couldn't buy the mobile because they said they didn't accept cash or bank transfer for the up-front of the handset.

It's really frustrating reading some 外国人 had to wait years for having one issued...

I'll give a try to e-bank, but open another bank account is not ideal.