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.