Very smooth experience. Security and embassy staff were all very polite and professional.
The appointment was at 9AM. We arrived a few minutes early and were allowed to enter. There was no line to get in. Security was much more forgiving than specified on the embassy web site. We were both allowed to enter. We didn't bring any bags but other people had regular backpacks and such.
Waiting time was approximately 90 minutes total with three trips to the window: 1) submit documents, 2) verify identity (fingerprinting), 3) interview
The interview was very straightforward and took only 3-5 minutes. The interviewer was not Japanese but allowed the interview to be done in Japanese and had sufficient proficiency to do that. There were 10 questions, all routine (when/where did you meet family, have you ever been to the US, etc), mostly with yes/no or very short answers. At the end of the interview, the interviewer stated that the visa was approved and we received it by mail two days later!
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #22838
Review on November 15, 2017:
