This article is to let people know there is another side to odo ( odometer ) tampering. Most countries have vehicles inspected before import to protect the consumer from purchasing a vehicle that has had the meter tampered with. All vehicles built and sold in japan have had mileage recorded on the registration papers at some point in time usually every two years when the compulsory inspection must be done. This being stated there's no stopping a previous owner clocking a vehicle back to shave a few miles off before a sale, but has to show mileage above last recorded record. Vehicles being imported ( used ) to Japan unfortunately are not subjected to this scrutiny because mileage is not recorded in such a fashion throughout its service abroad. Therefore any vehicle that's imported without service records, the mileage that's recorded by import facilities is whatever is shown on the actual odometer at the time of entry into Japan. No other information will be accepted ( such as car-fax ) so when purchasing a import in Japan then finding out the meter was tampered with, there is no claim that will be accepted by Auctions , government import facilities or police, as they will base their decision on what was recorded on the shaken paper ( vehicle registration paper ) when said vehicle arrived at the port and was inspected. Odometer tampering in japan is a criminal offense. Which is why mileage is recorded every two years on vehicle certification, to deter people from misleading the purchaser.