Visa's and stuff

So I'm still waiting on my information packet from Oita University. Contained within that packet is something called my "Certificate of Eligibility". This piece of paper is essentially my permission from the Japanese government to enter the country and study for a year. I have been planning to enter Japan two weeks or so early in order to visit some people before the term starts. But until I get that certificate I won't know when I'm allowed to enter. I just got off the phone with the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco, and the woman I talked to said that I should expect it this month. So until I get that, I can't really progress with my travel plans unfortunately. I've got the visa paperwork all ready to go, I just need that info packet...