Safe to say with your's Stanton I'm at a lose with it :D
The VIN of a Japanese import always has fewer than 17 characters. The World Identifier will always be omitted and will often begin with the model type.
Here is an example of a Mitsubishi Shogun VIN and its Japanese import counterpart, the Pajero. In this example the World Identifier of ‘JMA’ is not used on the Pajero and the VIN starts with the model type:
Shogun – JMAL049GWJJ000001 (UK) Pajero – L049-000001 (Import)
Even on models that share the same name, the VIN is always this way to confirm the vehicle is a Japanese import. This example is from a Toyota Celica:
Celica (ST205) – JT164STL500000001 (UK) Celica – ST205-000001 (Import)
Japanese import VIN lengths can vary between 10 and 14 characters. The Celica example above is from the ST205 model type; this is more apparent in the Japanese import VIN as it starts with ST205. Model codes are always needed in addition to the VIN to identify the correct components; our research shows that although many Japanese imports physically look the same as vehicles intended to be sold in the UK, many models have significant differences in the components used.
On Japanese imports, the model code is situated underneath the VIN on the chassis plate and takes the following format:
ST205-PQRRS (The letters on the end vary depending on the exact model.)
While the VIN and model code are vital in ensuring that you receive the correct parts, finding the code in the first place can prove to be a challenge even to the most experienced Japanese grey import specialists!
Right I think your vin number is :D
S= Forester
F = (Fuji heavy Ind)
5= XT
year 09/02/1998
so would make sense with less info in the vin number to be printed in other places :)