Credit cards weren't allowed for a long time in Japan, although charge cards were. So the burden was shifted to the seller: the seller would bill the charge card in increments. This is still quite normal in Japan: when you rock up to the till, they will ask you whether you want a single payment, or multiple payments. There's some mysterious breakpoint above two payments.
NiCOS is the cretins at MUFJ, and operate Amex in Japan.