Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyororin
You may not become genetically Japanese, but you will have a political voice with citizenship.
I love the town that I live in. I would like to have a say in the election of officials, and the ability to possibly run for a minor position in the future. Citizenship gives you those rights, while PR only says that you can live in Japan indefinitely. There is a MASSIVE difference. Some people may be happy to just go about their lives, but for me - my son will most likely be living in Japan for the rest of his life. He has a brain injury, and life will not necessarily be easy. I`d like to have an official voice in, say, whether they decide to implement new tax exemptions for children with disabilities (something that is currently in discussion). Or in whether they will provide additional transportation for people unable to drive... All things that you have to be a citizen to cast a vote in.
It`s not about "becoming Japanese" for everyone.
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Sorry... I didn't mean to imply that people who wished for Japanese citizenship were trying to become Japanese in the sense that they wanted to be recognized and accepted as ethnically AND culturally Japanese.
Rather I'm surprised that despite the fact that the Japanese have a very culturally conservative and exclusive national identity that some non-Japanese still persist. Though I suspect it's out of ignorance for some.