Well, the Japanese medical standards is tough, but not that heavy duty.
If I could pass the tests....
Many guys in my class smoked and drank tons of beer. None of us were health food freaks or astronauts.
Eyesight, cholestrol and blood pressure were big items, but that was 10 years ago.
Don't know if things have changed, but many of the Japanese pilots also smoked a couple of packs a day and enjoyed their shots of Saki and glasses of beer.
Politics? Yes, for a while the medical department kept flunking candidates as they were not consulted on new hiring. After the proper meetings and many cups of tea later, more ex-pats got accepted and everybody was happy.
The moral of the story? Uh, if they like you, they pass you.
Be humble, look down, don't shake hands, and in general: Play the game.
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Men, this is no drill...