I can only relate my own experience from 1998. I came to Japan as a tourist for 3 months, then went to Korea for 3 days. Upon my return the rather hardcore immigration official tried to make me accept a one week stay. I kept apologising for all the fuss I was making for him but stuck to my guns with regards staying for 3 months unless he could give reason as to why I wasn't allowed. They checked where I was staying, how much money I had, my return ticket (one year open) etc. He slowly caved, "okay, you can stay one month". "Sorry", say I...After some time he offers, "okay 2 months maximum!". "Sorry", say I..Finally and rather angrily he allows me to stay for 3 months. Then he had a red stamp placed in my passport (translated as HOU from Houritsu meaning law) and told me, "you stay for 3 month...after go back Australia you come back Japan before one year we not let you come in!"
Funny thing is that for the 2 hours this took I lost count of how many prostitutes I saw arriving from foreign countries.