Well, I'm workin' on the marriage thing ^_^, but the Olympics? I'd rather spend a day w/ Bush, which believe me, is my worst nightmare.

I don`t think I`m misunderstanding you, if I go by what you say above. You are saying that it is surprising (and perhaps puzzling) that someone not of Japanese descent would want to gain citizenship in Japan. Because they will never *be* Japanese because of the sheer nature of Japan itself. Correct?
This is the feeling that I usually encounter, and it`s exactly what I`m trying to present my feelings about.

I`m not trying to challenge anything. I don`t feel that I am challenging anything. Japanese citizenship and Japanese ethnic identity are two very different things - but as Japanese citizens are for the large part ethnically Japanese... it`s very easy to make the two issues into one.
To support what I am saying - Someone can be born and raised in the US, but consider themselves, say, Chinese due to their genealogy. Regardless of what citizenship I may have, my ethnic identity will not change. I am not trying to change my ethnicity. Even in the US, the great example everyone gives of a country where immigration is a part of life... People who are not either straight white or black are almost *always* asked where they are from on a regular basis. I have a (or rather *had* - I haven`t spoken to her in years) a friend in the US whose grandparents immigrated to the US from China. Her parents were born and raised in the US, never visited China, and did not speak any Chinese. Needless to say neither did she. But she was asked, almost daily, where she was from. If she answered "America", they`d say "No, I mean where you`re really from."
Being as most everyone I know in Japan has been surprised to hear that I didn`t have Japanese citizenship automatically through marriage, I have a feeling that most people in Japan also recognize citizenship as something separate from ethnicity.

So... Being as the general view of citizenship in Japan is Japanese ethnicity, you are downplaying my desire to have Japanese citizenship. The destination is the same regardless of how you word it.

They do. They make it much easier for me to obtain citizenship.

I'm not sure exactly where in the US you are from but this is actually a very good point.

You do get that if you are not white and live in the Mid West or other white communities in rural areas.

I think people who oppose to Nyororin's citizenship is somewhat from white background because even if you come from multi-cultural society, you know if you are not white, you would run into occasions like people asking you where you REALLY come from just based on your apprearance.

Sometimes you don't see the racism because you are not targeted.

For example, when I lived in Australia, it was pretty well known that if you are Asian, you need to have a higher enter score (GPA) to get into medical and law programs.

Why?

There are too many Chinese immigrants and the white govt didn't like the idea of Chinese people taking all the high professions.

You wouldn't know if you are white cos well, you just don't experience it.

"And, after clarifying the situation, they had the nerve to say "Why bother registering him? He`s not going to survive anyway."

Never mind that. We can cope without US citizenship, thank you very much."

You should never willingly limit your options, or those of your son. The bureaucrats at the embassy are little different from those who work at the Department of Motor Vehicles or Post Office. They are small people who have much in life to resent, and they often take it out on others (and each other), as you have probably seen in frequent and often sensational news stories.

You might be able to cope without American citizenship for your son, but he would do better to have it.

<.<
go to Newyork....
yet at last im only 15 so I have no clue but I;ve heard that thats the best place to go

But her son wasn't born in America. He was born in Japan. He's automatically a Japanese citizen by default because of that alone. Since she plans on residing in Japan, along with her husband, and remaining there, with her husband, why go through the trouble of getting her already Japanese citizen of a son an American citizenship? If anything, she'd be better off getting her son a passport so they could visit the states. What good would getting an American citizenship do her son, if he lives in Japan, speaks Japanese, is being raised in Japan, etc.?

no, wrong. one does not get japanese citizenship by only being born in japan. not all countries r like the US, u know.

I understand what you're saying, but personally, i think that, if you CAN get a citizenship for a country like the US, then take it.
For example, when I have a family, I'd want my children to have Algerian citizenship as well as whichever country they're born in. Being Algerian is absolutely NO use internationally, but that's where my roots are from, and I'd hope that any child would get the oportunity to visit their parents home land. It's always good to see where one has come from. These days you hear too many stories of second generation immigrants wanting to go back to their home land, but they encounter too many problems... It might make good poetry, but it's also unfortunate and sad for the victims that can't visit their "home".

The way I see it is, leave the door open for your children, let them decide if they want it or not when they're older. But of course, I'm talking about the situations when it's not going to cost an arm and a leg to get the citizenship. I have no idea what it's like getting US citizenship. But if it's doable(sp?), then why not?!

I suppose, but the only problem where Japan is concerned, is that you can't have a dual citizenship or either it's not recognized, if I'm not mistaken.There's nothing wrong with that at all. If her son grows up and wants to go to the US, live there, then I'm sure he can go through the procedure of getting a citizenship there, but for now, due to his being so young, having a Japanese citizenship, which he already has, to my knowledge, would benefit him more so.

He does have a citizenship. He's over three years old, isn't he, and he was born in the country to an actual Japanese.

Choosing a nationality is a huge responsibility. You should choose the country you truly love. No one who loves their country wants to see someone else come to their country just for the benefits.
Once you gain citizenship in that country you should assimilate to that country's culture. Multiculturalism isnt all its cracked up to be. Tolerance of race and creed and multi-ethnicity is a great thing. But become part of the country you intend to stay in. If Nyororin can do that, that's great and she appears happy. Probably a benefit to her community. Most people cannot necessarily assimilate to Japan.

You seem to have taken a very specific part of what I said and interpreted it as the sole reason my son does not currently have US citizenship. That bit was nothing more than insult upon injury.

The real reason is that there was no feasible way to pull it off. Please read my message again - We were basically given 3 options - or 3) pay triple fees, along with additional late fees if we were unable to pull that off within the first 90 days after birth. It appears that now they are not even willing to make that much of an exception these days. If you can`t bring your child in, then they do not receive citizenship. It`s that simple.

Fees, well, they`re painful but something that can be dealt with. Risking the life of my son for citizenship is not.
I didn`t specifically choose not to get my son citizenship. I had no option to get him citizenship in the first place. The choice was made for me by the inflexible laws in place.

As for why we haven`t applied for citizenship after he was released from the hospital... Well, THIS -

Exactly how am I limiting the options of my son? (And, as implied, limiting my own options by choosing Japanese citizenship over US?) Especially as this is true.

There is nothing in his future preventing him from receiving US citizenship. Other than the fact that he will have to be considered of "sound mind", which is quite a wall in our case, but that`s really beside the point. He can make that choice on his own, later, when he is ABLE to make that choice. At this point, there is absolutely NO advantage that I can see. In fact, there are quite a few disadvantages. As my son is small, underweight, and bruises easily, I find it extremely easy to imagine a situation in which a trip to the US could lead to him being taken away from me on suspicion of abuse. I was already interrogated about it at the airport, but non-citizens aren`t exactly given the same priority. In Japan, I have medical records to back me up and show that it`s due to health issues. In the US, nothing.
This also opens the window for my less-than-desirable mother to challenge my husband for custody in the case that something happens to me.

If he grows up and has the mental capacity to make such a choice, then it is up to him. For now though, I honestly see no particular reason to bother with it. Anyone that feels I am doing my son a disservice is invited to tell me exactly what amazing advantage having US citizenship would be for my son. Keep in mind that A) We have no plans to make anything but short trips abroad. B) We plan to live exclusively in Japan. C) My husband does not speak English, and we use only Japanese in the home. D) My son is officially recognized as having a developmental disorder that will likely later be classified as mental retardation. E) My son will likely require some level of support/care for the rest of his life - he has a projected adult developmental age of 12.... And F) He is unlikely to ever be fluent in *any* language, let alone be bilingual.

He will be 4 next Sunday. He didn`t receive Japanese citizenship due to being born in the country, he received it because his father is a Japanese citizen. He has a Japanese passport, and we have visited the US with it.

And finally - to Paul11;

Thank you. That is exactly how I feel. Japan is my home, and it is the country I love and want to spend the rest of my life in. It`s not that I dislike the US - it`s just that I do not really consider it my country at this point. As I consider Japan my home and my country, I think it is only natural to want to be a citizen and be an official part of the community.

Early Happy Birthday to your boy, Nyororin.

I have seen this thread be really close to you, and I appreciate how you have opened up here.

tu, then there is no need for me to repeat this to ssjup81.

and i ditto what mmm said, happy early birthday to ur son.

this^^^ lol

Double Post...

That's pretty much what I meant, but what you said is more elaborated on.

That aside, I hope your son has a very nice birthday. ^_^But I already said this.I guess, in my post here, I should've been more specific and added "citizen" to the end of it.

good discussion, I originally posted this as another remind that it isn't easy to get citizenship or permanent residency in Japan to the scores of people I see posting here over the past few months who seem to think that it is easy and I think that this even further illustrates my point, I'm sorry some of you who are legitimately trying to go through the process are having a frustrating time but it seems like a good thread.

i am sry to have to continue this, but no my friend u said exactly the above, and especially this:

more technically u get japanese citizenship by being born by a japanese mother and/or by a japanese father who is married to the foreign mother or if not married to the foreign mother who at the time of birth or within a certain time period after the birth recognises the fatherhood.

there is an excellent case on a philippine (i am not certain about the nationality perhaps someone else knows for certain) mother giving birth to a girl in japan where the father was japanese but where no recognition of this was done done within a certain period of time and therefore the girl as not given japanese citizenship. do i remember it correctly that they were even given deportation orders by a lower court too?

And I rewrote it later on. Shouldn't the later post apply as opposed to the earlier one since I'd actually forgotten that those in the country don't become a citizen by just being born into the country, but being born to an actual Japanese citizen?

http://www.japanforum.com/forum/livi...tml#post502974

Thanks to those wishing my son a happy birthday. We`re hoping he`ll know what is going on this year, rather than just being surprised to be given a chunk of cake.

As for "opening up", well, I`m really very open about this sort of thing... However, there isn`t all that much opportunity to spout about my life because, quite frankly, I doubt that many people care.
There is a lot of negativity often directed toward my life choices, and I will gladly take the opportunity to clarify them.

I don`t really think it`s necessary to continue to badger SSJup81 about a mistake that has been corrected. It isn`t as if he is fighting about it. It was a mistake, and has been noted as such.

Anyway - the child receives citizenship if the mother is married to the father and he does not contest the link within a certain amount of time. The child is also considered his if it is born within 6 months of divorce and he has not contested it. He can choose to acknowledge the child as his at any time, but will require proof (blood test, etc) if a lot of time has passed.

I understand the powers that be are considering changing the 6 months rule to a shorter period of time. Initially, it was put in place to be more sure that the father of a child born after a divorce was fathered by the x-husband and not someone new. Yeah, I know that's not a sure thing, but..
supposedly it's changing to a matter of weeks.

They`ve had a bit on the news about it, thanks to a number of cases where the real father couldn`t be recognized as such due to the law... As far as I know though, it still stands.