Man caught impersonating son for company entrance exam

Thursday 15th January, 06:27 AM JST

NARA —

A 54-year-old man was caught impersonating his 20-year-old son to take an exam, even getting a perm to make himself look younger, an official said Wednesday. The father, who runs a medicine distribution company, was attempting to take a test to get a license for handling over-the-counter drugs so that his son could work with him, an official in Nara Prefecture.

An examiner noticed the man looked unusually old, said government official Masaaki Nakamori. The father earned his own license last year after using an admission card photo showing him with straight hair and glasses. “This time, he curled his hair and did not wear glasses,” Nakamori said.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

medievaltimes at 09:16 AM JST - 15th January

I would like to think this is story of the year...but there's a long way to go yet.
tmarie at 10:13 AM JST - 15th January

Sadly I don't find this shocking at all. What a great role model for his son. "Don't worry son, I'll take your test for you!" Man there are some pathetic parents.
timorborder at 10:16 AM JST - 15th January

And just when you think you have heard everything. Here is the dialogue between father and son on the morning before the exam.

Son: Are you right to go Dad?

Dad: Yes son. But, I am worried about my grey hair.

Son: That is OK dad. I will just nip down to the local drugstore and buy some hair color.

Dad: Thanks son.

Son: Will I need a prescription?

Dad: Don't you know son? Hair color products are OTC.
paisley at 11:08 AM JST - 15th January

Although I see this as clearly wrong, I can`t help but see a little humor and sympathy for the father. I also think it is really sweet that the dad would go to such lengths to have his son to work with him. It was just over the counter medication so his "crime" is rather harmless. Hopefully the dad can just get some stern disciplinary measure from the company but keep his job and the son can take the test himself.
tmarie at 11:32 AM JST - 15th January

Sweet?? I think the dad should lose his license for handling over-the-counter drugs and be banned from the sales of drugs. OTC drugs can still kill people if taken incorrectly. Dear little Taro can't even take the test himself and both could have been putting lives at risk. All because his father lacks parenting skills and Taro doesn't seem to be able to do anything himself.
whyamiinjapan at 11:43 AM JST - 15th January

I wonder how they caught him . . .
oreoreda at 11:52 AM JST - 15th January

Was it his appearance that gave him away, or was it his kareishuu?
jamiejai at 12:07 PM JST - 15th January

I don't think a Perm would make him look much younger
jonobugs at 12:38 PM JST - 15th January

Why didn't the son take the test himself? If they spent as much time studying as they did trying to get into the test he would have passed with flying colours. Unless the son didn't really want to go and the father took the test on his own initiative. Obviously it's a breach in ethics. I would vote to take away this man's license, but the son shouldn't be penalized as there is no real evidence that he is part of the scheme, although wouldn't be surprised to find out that he is.
Yelnats at 02:53 PM JST - 15th January

Why do you need a license to work at Matsumoto Kyoshi? It is just clerical work.
NuckinFutz at 03:16 PM JST - 15th January

Considering how "feminine" most young men in Japan look these days he shold have had mom take the test for him. They might have gotten away with it!
Wakarimasen at 04:59 PM JST - 15th January

If he had used some collagen or placenta (both available OTC) for a month before the test he would have looked 20 years old again (at least according to the ads on JTV).
Alphaape at 05:29 PM JST - 15th January

Was the son too stupid to take the test on his own? How many times did he take it before dad stepped in.

If I were the son, I would be more embarresed that my dad had to step in for me, a grown man to take a test for me.
usaexpat at 12:12 AM JST - 16th January

So junior's a little thick in the head and his old man wanted to help him out. At least I see the family loyalty in this story. Better than reading the son killed his father or vice versa.
AlfGarnett at 03:03 AM JST - 16th January

What is going on with Japan? Strewth this geezer must be daft to think he could get away with such a daft thing.

His bleeding son must be even dafter if he couldn't pass and had to get his father to help, what a bloody couple of idiots.