@Drew ***************
You've been told it's common to be called in for interviews IN JAPAN ?
I can probably count on one hand with fingers left over the number of people who have ever posted that they applied at a consulate in Japan since they went to eVisa (other than Japanese) 🙁
It seems that if you don't legally live in Japan long term on some type of visa they are HARD as nails on issuing visas.
I think you aren't gonna wing your way there as a tourist then apply at their consulates 🙁