See also:
Many angles to acquiring Japanese citizenship A Q&A article that explains the conditions for acquiring Japanese nationality, the rules on dual nationality and why many Korean residents in Japan have been reluctant to apply for Japanese nationality. Japan Times, 27 Dec 2011.
Time to Revise Japan’s Outdated Nationality Act The nationality law that Japan adopted in the nineteenth century, based on Western models, was progressive by contemporary standards. A new Nationality Act was adopted in 1950, and it has since been amended to provide complete gender equality. But Japan still does not accept dual nationality, which is now commonly allowed by other countries. The provisions should be updated in line with today’s international standards. Nippon.com, 14 May 2018
Lawsuit challenges Japan’s ban on dual citizenship The law that requires Japanese citizens to give up their nationality if they acquire foreign citizenship is unconstitutional, lawyers leading a lawsuit against the government said Monday. Japan Times, 12 Mar 2018
Is it time for Japan to legally recognize dual nationality? The issue of dual citizenship captured nationwide attention when it emerged that Democratic Party (DP) chief Renho held dual Japanese and Taiwanese citizenship when she ran for the party's leadership election. While dual citizenship is not permitted under Japanese law, there has been a trend toward allowing dual citizenship, especially in the West, rendering the Japanese system an international minority. Mainichi Japan, 16 Oct 2016
Japan’s dual citizens get a tacit nod but keep their status in the shadows An article looking at the situation of people in Japan with dual nationality, and at the governments official and actual policies on the issue, which includes the stories of some individuals with dual nationality. Japan Times, 14 Sep 2016.
The Many Faces of Citizenship: A series of four articles about nationality and multiculturalism in Japan from the Japan Times:
1. Debate on multiple nationalities to heat up: Diet battle lines being drawn in wake of law change and amid Kono effort to rectify dual citizenship situation An article that looks at recent debates about nationality, especially the plan by Kono Taro to accept dual- or multiple nationality in Japan.Japan Times, Jan. 1, 2009.
2. Benefits in offing for those allowed multiple citizenship As background to the discussions about nationality law and accepting dual nationality in Japan, this article looks at the stories of some people born in Japan of Japanese and foreign parents, such as Sunny Yasuda whose father was Indian and mother Japanese, who are required to choose Japanese or foreign nationality under current nationality laws. Japan Times, Jan. 3, 2009.
3. A convenience in peace becomes matter of conflict in war This article discusses some possible problems caused by dual nationality, especially concerning questions of loyalty in time of war, looking at the example of Japanese-Americans in the United States during the Second World War. Japan Times, Jan. 5, 2009.
Tokyo court upholds deportation order for Thai teenager born and raised in Japan "A Thai teenager born and raised in Japan lost an appeal on Tuesday against a lower court ruling that upheld his deportation order, highlighting the country’s deep reluctance to accept non-Japanese people, even as its population ages and shrinks. The Tokyo High Court ruled that Utinan Won, a 16-year-old high school student living without a visa, should leave Japan. Won’s mother had already left Japan after lower court judges said her son could win residency if she returned to Thailand." Japan Times, Dec 6, 2016. See also the link below.
Japan-born son, Thai mom split by heartbreak legal deal This article looks at the case of a Thai woman who had been in japan more than 20 years, and was living on provisional release, who agreed to return to Thailand in order for her 16 year old son, who was born and grew up in japan, to stay in Japan. The article also looks at the situation of other similar families with members living on provisional release. Japan Times, Nov 24, 2016. See also the story above for later news on this case.
Six Filipino-Japanese to press for Japanese citizenship Six descendants of Japanese who live in the Philippines will leave for Tokyo on Tuesday to appeal for official recognition as Japanese citizens, an organization helping them said Monday. Japan Times, 4 Aug 2014.
Japanese nationality law Japanese nationality is generally governed by the Nationality Law of 1950. Wikipedia
The Nationality Law The Ministry of Justice
The Choice of Nationality The Ministry of Justice
Nationality Law FUKUI Prefectural Government
The Nationality Law Japan Children's Rights Network
Japanese Citizenship and the Nationality Law Up until 1984 Japan was a patriarchal society meaning that nationality could only be conferred through a Japanese father, not a Japanese mother. Per amendments made to the Nationality Law in 1984, nationality is now based on the child's parents' citizenship. Japan Children's Rights Network
Citizenship status in the US and Japan-Requirements for naturalization debito.org
What's in my name?-Japanese naturalization update debito.org
Foreigners face long slog to Japanese citizenship Seven years after he became the first foreign sumo wrestler to win the revered Emperor's Cup in 1972, Jesse "Takamiyama" Kuhaulua applied for Japanese citizenship. Japan Times, April 20, 2001.
Turning Japanese: It Takes More Than a Passport Windmills are hard to find in this farm town in northern Japan, but that hasn't stopped Arudou Debito Sugawara from seeking them out and tilting at them ever since he first arrived in this country 12 years ago. The New York Times, November 29, 2000.
Dual Nationality: The Japanese Perspective The following is an unofficial translation of an information pamphlet produced by the Japanese Ministry of Justice. Embassy of the United States.
>>> For plans to allow dual nationality in Korea see mulituculturalism in other countries >>>
Statement on Supreme Court Ruling the Nationality Law Unconstitutional Today, the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court overturned the decisions of the Tokyo High Court on two cases seeking Japanese nationality, which had denied the Japanese nationality of children born out of wedlock to non-Japanese mothers and Japanese fathers and acknowledged by the Japanese fathers after they were born, and confirmed that those children had Japanese nationality. Japan Federation of Bar Associations
Migrants, Subjects, Citizens: Comparative Perspectives on Nationality in the Prewar Japanese Empire Former Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro seems an unlikely champion of a multicultural Japan. His brief term of office is, after all, perhaps best remembered for the furore he evoked by a speech in which he described Japan as a “Divine Nation headed by the Emperor”. Japan Focus, August 28, 2008.
Japanese-Filipino kids await fate: Top court to rule on nationality law tied to paternal recognition An article on the background to a court case about children born in Japan to unmarried Filipino women and Japanese men cannot get Japanese nationality. It loooks at the situation of one of thees children, Masami Tapiru, as well as at the history and situation of Filipino women coming to work in Japan. Japan Times, June 4, 2008.
Children in Philippines eye Japanese nationality Thousands of children living in the Philippines will be able to claim Japanese citizenship after Japan's Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to base their nationality on their parents' marital status. The Star Online, August 4, 2008.
Japanese Supreme Court rejects nationality law Japan's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday against a law that denied citizenship to children born out of wedlock to Japanese fathers and foreign mothers, a court official said. USA Today,6/4/2008.
Ruling on Nationality Law spurs revision The Justice Ministry will start work on amending the Nationality Lawfollowing a landmark Supreme Court ruling Wednesday. The top court ruled that a clause stating that the parents of children born to foreign mothers and Japanese fathers must be married for the children to be recognized as Japanese is unconstitutional, as well as the clause that only grants nationality if the Japanese father, even in out-of-wedlock cases, comes forward before a child is born, but not after. Japan Times, June 6, 2008.
Citizenship for kids still tall order Many observers of the Nationality Law have welcomed the government's proposed revision approved Tuesday by the Cabinet that will soon allow hundreds of children born out of wedlock to Japanese men and foreign women to obtain Japanese nationality if the father recognizes paternity even after birth. Despite what seems to be a positive move, however, some also predict many challenges ahead before the children entitled to Japanese nationality can actually acquire it. Japan Times, Nov. 5, 2008.
LDP panel mulls easing law on dual citizenship: Mixed couples' kids could have two nationalities Liberal Democratic Party member Taro Kono said Thursday he has submitted a proposal to an LDP panel he heads calling for the Nationality Law to be revised to allow offspring of mixed couples, one of whom being Japanese, to have more than one nationality....Under the current system, Japan, in principle, requires Japanese nationals who also hold citizenship in another country to choose one or the other before they turn 22. Japan Times, Nov. 14, 2008.
'Japanese' kids speak out over identity battle Looks at the situation of children born out of marraige to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother who can't get Japanese nationality and at a law suit they are bringing to have the law changed to allow them to become Japanese. Daily Yomiuri, October 2, 2005.
>>> More on Japanese citizenship for children of mixed nationality parents in Children's issues in multicultural Japan >>>
Supreme Court scraps Japanese nationality requirement for legal training Ending what has long been labeled discriminatory, the Supreme Court has scrapped a clause requiring Japanese nationality among those seeking legal training to start careers in the judiciary. Non-Japanese who have passed the bar examination have, in fact, undergone legal training, but only under “exceptional” measures and if the Supreme Court deems them “adequate.” Asahi Shimbun, 2009/10/29.