I cant seem to understand this:
(There are many stories of people who fled the country after the quake and when they went to their ward office to get their re-entry permit, they could't because the queue was so long.)
Why doesn't everyone just buy the 6000 yen multiple re-entry, rather than the single re-entry or not getting it at all. Since it doesn't expire doesn't it just make sense to get it after you get your gaijin card?