nagoid 4 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Why do some gaijin want to become Japanese? As in officially change nationality to Japanese? I can't quite work out what advantages they would get from doing that. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 It's obvious! It allows you to forge a career based on the fact that Japanese people think nationality is determined by race, and constantly surprising and humiliating them by showing them how wrong they are. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Not that I'm interested in doing it, ( ), but what are the criteria for doing that? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 You have to be prepared to go about with a video camera and inject yourself into situations where petty officials are likely to ask to see your ID. You have to have a little patter ready that tends to elicit slightly cringe-worthy behaviour from the official. And you have to have quite a bit of gall and a burning conviction that what you're doing is important in the big scheme of things. Also if you have another talent like football or sumo, it used to be the done thing. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Haha. But seriously.... Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 From Wikipedia; The Minister of Justice must approve any application for naturalization in order for it to occur. Review of an application generally takes about one year. The criteria for naturalization are provided in Article 5 of the Nationality Act:[5] Continuous residence in Japan for five years or more At least 21 years old and otherwise legally competent History of good behavior generally, and no past history of seditious behavior Sufficient capital or skills, either personally or within family, to support oneself Stateless or willing to renounce foreign citizenship The Minister of Justice may waive the age and residence requirements if the applicant has a special relationship to Japan (for example, a Japanese parent). The Nationality Act also provides that the Diet of Japan may confer Japanese nationality by special resolution to a person who has provided extraordinary service to Japan. However, this provision has never been invoked. For many years naturalized citizens were required to adopt a Japanese family name.[6] This requirement was abolished in the late 1980s. -------------------- The good behaviour clause means that if you've taken more than three umbrellas that weren't yours from in front of shops, you can't become Japanese. I'm eligible because I've still only taken two. Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Naturalization! Sounds like getting your balls cut off or something. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I wouldn't do it myself, but you can become a town councilor etc. In inaka, the money's pretty good compared to what else is on offer. Link to post Share on other sites
gnarly-dude 1 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 That sounds like lots of meetings but more importantly... parties! Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: JellyBelly Naturalization! Sounds like getting your balls cut off or something. In Japan if you want to get your balls cut off, you have to have a letter from your wife permitting it. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I think the real question is why wouldn't you? What is stopping you if you are committed to living out the rest of your life in Japan? It shows a strong commitment to the country you have decided to live in and you are rewarded with every right that a native Japanese has. So if you are intending on living in Japan for the rest of your life why wouldn't you become a Japanese citizen? Although you are meant to give up your birth countrys' citizenship, from what I've read it appears pretty easy to get around this. Certainly I think if the Japanese allowed dual citizenship you'd see a lot more people naturalizing. I would have happily given up my Australian citizenship to become Japanese. I wouldn't have got through the process though as my Japanese language skills weren't anywhere near good enough. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native I think the real question is why wouldn't you? What is stopping you if you are committed to living out the rest of your life in Japan? It shows a strong commitment to the country you have decided to live in and you are rewarded with every right that a native Japanese has. So if you are intending on living in Japan for the rest of your life why wouldn't you become a Japanese citizen? Although you are meant to give up your birth countrys' citizenship, from what I've read it appears pretty easy to get around this. Certainly I think if the Japanese allowed dual citizenship you'd see a lot more people naturalizing. Why would you want to 'show commitment to the country'? What sort of vague bullshit sentiment is that? And unless you kept waving it in people's faces, how on earth would they be aware of your commitment anyway? I would do it if it were more convenient than my current status, but convenience would be the only factor. Link to post Share on other sites
loaf of bread 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I'd like to be called Suzuki bread though, that would be cool. Come on, you'd have to choose a cool Japanese surname! Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Sounds like a silly idea to me. I think I'd feel a bit of a knob. No-one would think of me as "Japanese" anyway. I'm too gaijin for that. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Ocean11 Why would you want to 'show commitment to the country'? What sort of vague bullshit sentiment is that? And unless you kept waving it in people's faces, how on earth would they be aware of your commitment anyway? I would do it if it were more convenient than my current status, but convenience would be the only factor. Vague bullshit? It's a bit like saying what kind of vague bullshit is marriage. It's mostly symbolic but symbols can be powerful. Most western nations (like the ones we are from) would expect people living in their country for the rest of their lives to naturalize I'd think. Certainly uncommon for people to move to Australia for instance to live out their lives there and not become Australian citizens. Now if you don't expect to live out the remainder of your life in Japan then I can fully understand not becoming a Japanese citizen. But if you do intend to stay forever why on earth would you not become a citizen?? Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native Most western nations (like the ones we are from) would expect people living in their country for the rest of their lives to naturalize I'd think. Really? Hmmmm, I wouldn't. I'd expect them to fit into society, for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Never really put much thought into it to be honest. I don't really know where my future lies, so it just isn't an important thing for me. What's the process of choosing a Japanese name if you want one anyway? Could I be Muika Bochi? Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Do I have to learn to bow properly and suck in before saying 'muzukashii desu ne' to show my 'commitment' to Japan. That would really suck. And if I become Japanese, are other Japanese people banned from commenting on how well I can use chopsticks? It might be worth it just for that! Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native It's a bit like saying what kind of vague bullshit is marriage. Not at all. You can make a real commitment to a person, which generally works better within some sort of formalized framework. With something as big and amorphous as a country, it's just ... vague bullshit. (Sarah Palin is a good example of where that sort of thing leads.) When you make this 'commitment' to Japan, what does that mean? Are you going to fight for the country? Spy for it? Throw your electoral weight behind some politician? Pay taxes? What would you do as a citizen that you wouldn't otherwise do? Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: @tokyo Originally Posted By: Go Native Most western nations (like the ones we are from) would expect people living in their country for the rest of their lives to naturalize I'd think. Really? Hmmmm, I wouldn't. I'd expect them to fit into society, for sure. Fit into society but not as a citizen? Personal choice of course... though I would have thought citizenship IS fitting in, officially Very interesting points of view here Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 How does just getting some piece of paper from the town office and perhaps changing your name make you fit in? You can still do that and not fit in by most people's meaning of the phrase. Surely fitting is more a case of joining in and taking part in your neighbourhood and society in general. Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Ocean11 Originally Posted By: Go Native It's a bit like saying what kind of vague bullshit is marriage. Not at all. You can make a real commitment to a person, which generally works better within some sort of formalized framework. With something as big and amorphous as a country, it's just ... vague bullshit. (Sarah Palin is a good example of where that sort of thing leads.) When you make this 'commitment' to Japan, what does that mean? Are you going to fight for the country? Spy for it? Throw your electoral weight behind some politician? Pay taxes? What would you do as a citizen that you wouldn't otherwise do? Are you saying there is no difference to just living somewhere as a resident/visitor and being a citizen? Or that being a citizen (from birth or otherwise) does not entail any commitment? Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: brit-gob How does just getting some piece of paper from the town office and perhaps changing your name make you fit in? You can still do that and not fit in by most people's meaning of the phrase. Surely fitting is more a case of joining in and taking part in your neighbourhood and society in general. Well you swear an allegiance, take an oath, fly/salute that flag sing the national anthem as your own etc (at least here) obviously that isn't really worth all that much to a lot of people these days Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Tex you swear an allegiance; take an oath; fly/salute that flag; sing the national anthem as your own etc (at least here) I don't do any of those things. In fact, I find them all pretty cringeworthy. Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 Not proud to be a brit then? Or just show pride in different ways? Link to post Share on other sites
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