How can a japanese person in japan get an id card without a driver's liscense?

Question:

there seems to be NO WAY for someone who doesn't have a drivers license and is not in school to get a id .. does everyone need to carry their passports to get alcohol or something?
how can i , as someone who has a japanese passport and lives in japan get an id?

Answer:

1. In Japan they virtually never check ID when purchasing alcohol.

2. Use your health insurance card, there's no photo on it, but it is recognized by many places as an acceptable form of ID card. For example opening a bank account or even visiting Narita Airport to visit (or to say goodbye) to someone, showing a health insurance card is good enough for the non airside security.

If you don't have an health insurance card or not enrolled in health insurance, enrollment in one of Japan's health insurance programs is compulsory for residents of Japan.

3. A copy of your Jūminhyo can be used for virtually all official purposes in Japan.

4. Japanese people can get a "Basic resident registration card" from the city office they live in. This card is DIFFERENT from the Alien Registration Card that foreigners get. Most people don't have this card to begin with because it is not required.

On a regular daily occasion, Japanese people usually don't have to show their IDs. So carrying around a picture ID all the time is not required. Purchasing alcohol, tobacco from the store etc, they virtually never check IDs.

When needing to do business where an ID card is required (eg opening a bank account, etc, then usually the Health Insurance Card and/or a copy of the Jūminhyo is usually enough).