[ToshiXeero]

That's what I found on the webside of the Mitsubishi Bank:

Since October 1990, the Government has required Japanese banks to identify the name and address of customers when they open a new account and/or perform large cash transactions. With the enforcement of the "Law on Customer Identification by Financial Institutions" and the "Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (Amended)," the following changes have come into effect as of January 6, 2003. These laws apply to overseas branches of Japanese banks as well as banks or branches of foreign banks in Japan.


1. Identification Items

(1) Individual customers - Name, address and date of birth In the event a transaction is initiated by a proxy, identification of the proxy is also required.
(2) Corporate customers Name of the corporation and address of the head/main office Name, address and date of birth of the person initiating the transaction at the branch/office.


2.Transactions Requiring Identification

Banks will request customer identification when a customer:

(1) Opens a new account, rents a safe deposit box, enters into a custodial transaction, etc.
(2) Initiates cash transactions exceeding two million yen. [e.g. domestic/overseas remittances, money exchange (foreign currencies/traveler's checks, etc.)] Banks may request customer identification in other instances.


3. Identification Documents

(1) Individual customers Valid Driver's License, Valid Passport, or Foreign Resident Registration Card
(2) Corporate customers Certified Copy of Registration of Incorporation, or Seal Registration Certificate (The individual initiating the transaction at the branch/office is also required to present the documentation mentioned in the above 3(1).) Notes: Transactions using another person's identification documents are strictly prohibited by Law. Banks may decline to conduct a transaction when a customer cannot be properly identified. Thank you for your cooperation.

Means theoretically it should be possible to open an account with a passport.