I don't know how you managed to apply again after that. And if I remember correctly, you also said something like you had been disqualified on a technicality in a previous year? You've got patience man.
Your saying you were made an alternate after receiving the embassy recommendation actually spooked me a bit, since I hadn't received any other indications that that could happen at that late a stage. Hopefully that wont happen to anyone this year.
Yeah... my attempts over the last few years have all ended in failure, it's almost dark comedy-worthy.
Year 1: Couldn't go for personal reasons that came up suddenly.
Year 2: Visa rejected due to technicality (new guy in charge of immigration)
Year 3: Applied, got recommendation, MEXT selected me as alternate.
Year 4: Applied, got recommendation, awaiting pending doom
Also, I'm making alternate plans to go to school regardless of MEXT's decision - I'm tired of being jerked around. If I don't get it this time, I'll damn well pay for it myself somehow (having saved for 4 years should give me enough to scrape by, but at the cost of all my savings and probably some loans).
Anyway, yeah. I've been there, been on the bad end for quite a while now. Those who did not get the recommendation have my sympathy.
As for getting selected as an alternate: that blindsided me, too. I had no idea being an alternate was really a possibility. I suspected that I could be rejected for some reason, but thought it was an outside chance. Being an alternate was almost worse - I got laid off from my job in February and couldn't really make any plans until April came so I could see if I got picked or what...<sigh>