Poker doesn't seem to be popular in Japan. Only 1500 players on FTP/Party.

http://www.pokertableratings.com/top-countries-alltime

man, plz no japanese guys in poker, thought those were sick grinders, like korean guys

A Japanese guy I knew who got into online poker before moving back to Japan when he graduated told me that it is illegal in Japan.

Well jaywalking is illegal here. So is smoking pot in your basement. So is having anal with your wife (in some states). See where this is going?

Open your account here -- assuming you can get funds transferred to wherever you are in Japan (assuming this is not money laundering -- better check that out. seriously; federal prosecutors are not known for their sense of humor, no joke). When you play there nobody knows or cares where you are playing from -- just as if you played on a short visit.

gotta disagree with you here, the Japanese young guys I could see being sick grinders but not really since most of their life revolves around going to school for like ever to become a success and make their family proud, its just the way their society works. they'd prob be too ashamed to try making it as a professional gambler, probs be shunned from their family. but like 3/4 of today's Japan are really old businessmen who I could see being huge whales should poker ever become popular there. And to top it all off, most of their "gambling" comes in the form of pachinko parlors that have like no skill whatsover and if they bring that same attitude to the poker tables this could be like the biggest poker gold rush ever. Too bad gambling for money is illegal there

I've been in Japan for the past 3 months or so and have had no problems logging in and playing at FTP, Stars, and Cereus. Just don't tell anybody you play imo

Thanks everyone, you definitely helped out. Looks like i can still grind at nights. :-D

And im a student at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles. Im doing a transfer semester at Hosei University.

Agreed with the above comments - online poker is technically illegal in Japan but this is completely unenforced. I have not found any sites that block users in Japan. You should have no problems.

I hear the kamikaze games are all the rage there.

I heard that FTP was blocked in Japan. Now that I moved to japan, i was still able to connect to PS and FTP. anyone actually had experience or has address in Japan registered in PS and/or FTP? how do you prove your address? it's all in kanji and hiragana/katakana, none in english letters. also does japanese credit card work for deposit?

can you share your experience? thanks in advance.

I played online with a US address there in November. No problems from Tokyo Keio Plaza hotel. Full Tilt US account. Fired up my computer like I was in Ohio.

I was there last February and my buddy installed Stars on his Mac with no problems. He didn't try to fund it or anything but he had no problem accessing the program.

thx. looking for local online players. . .

Noticed this thread a bit late, but I am a Japan resident and have not had any issues with PS, Tilt, or pretty much any online site other than the Sega-branded casino and poker site.

I don't know about most Japanese credit cards, but I would guess most of them will block gambling transactions. On the other hand, you can still get a Neteller account as a Japan resident, and it works pretty well. Last I checked they do deposits and withdrawals via regular electronic transfers all Japanese banks support.

This is actually pretty sick but in comparison with any other high developed country an online poker is almost non-existent in Japan. Just another reason why I love this country.

Was in Japan in Jan and had no problems logging onto Stars or Tilt. Didn't actually play more than 20hands of poker though

No poker in Japan, everyone's busy working

I'm a reg in Japan as well. I just left my US residence on the account. From what the other response said above, if Netteller still works in Japan, that might be ideal. If you are new to Japan (and especially if you are not Japanese) it can be a bit difficult to get a Japanese credit card anyways. I decided not to mess with it since I'm only here for a few years.
I have had no problems with either FTP or PS.

Is surprising there isnt more of an online Japaneese precence

I'm in the military and i am stationed in Japan, does anyone know the legality of me playing online poker?

where do you reside?

Okinawa Japan