Muted in country of their birth, three women try to find their voice

Through the process of naturalization, Japan gives foreign-born residents a chance to take the same rights as a Japanese person. They have to have lived in the country for a prescribed amount of time, and must meet a number of other conditions, but it requires they give up any other nationality and their old passport.

But many foreign passport holders do not believe they should be required to forfeit their nationality in order to have a voice in their home country.

Well there you go. Many of these citizens are non-Japanese citizens by choice, not because of some mysterious xenophobic cabal that strives to deny non-ethnic Japanese citizenship. A crucial distinction clearly misrepresented by many around the world when it comes to Japan (and its Zainichi citizens). One can debate all they want about the fairness or unfairness of it all, but rules are rules, and Japan is hardly unique in only allowing one citizenship. There is no undue or unfair obstacles to become a citizens in that country.

I felt this kind of frustration because I have no right to vote in Japan*

Jus sanguinis (right of blood) is a principle of nationality law by which citizenship is determined by the nationality of one or both parents; jus soli (right of soil) provides citizenship to any born within the country. Japan offers only the former; America offers both, and also allows for multiple citizenships.

A strange quirk of Japanese law under jus sanguinis is that those like my children, born to a Japanese and American parent, can maintain their dual nationality as long as they don't flaunt it, while those who choose to naturalize must provide proof of renouncing their second nationality - even those (particularly Korean-Japanese) whose families may have lived in Japan for generations.

Trump wants to make the US citizenship system more similar to Japan's. I'd say Japan should make it's system more similar to America's.

I just feel there's a certain kind of hypocrisy in advocating that long timers with no Jcitizenship be allowed to vote. Allowing them to vote would be giving them a greater chance to continue their native countries' issues against Japan legally. The young people have great ideas but sometimes the real motive is smoke screened.

If these people are so committed to the country they live in and is planning for long haul, just naturalize. Many people choose to do this. It’s that simple.

Another quick about jus sanguinis in Japan is the plight of stateless people. If a non-Japanese woman gives birth in Japan but the father is unknown and her country only allows jus soli, the child is stateless.

More info is here: https://www.issj.org/en/statelessness

The nationality issue is a little more complex than the article reveals, in particular in the case of Zainichi Koreans. During the 35-year colonial rule, Korea was annexed to Japan and its people were made Japanese subjects (nationals, citizens). That means that Koreans living in Japan at that time had a Japanese nationality. However, that status was taken away from them by the Japanese government in 1952. Now, without given any choice as to whether to keep their Japanese nationality or not, these people were suddenly made foreigners. For many, that meant suddenly becoming a foreigner in the country of their birth (Japan) at no fault (and no choice whatsoever) of their own. If your family was made Japanese and then arbitrarily that status was years later stripped away, and now if you want your former Japanese citizenship back, you are forced to apply for it and explain in detail why you want this citizenship, how would feel about it? I think it's personal pity that these people were not even given a choice to keep their Japanese nationality (in 1952 or later, to correct what was done to them singlehandedly).

If these people are so committed to the country they live in and is planning for long haul, just naturalize. Many people choose to do this. It’s that simple.

I agree 100 percent with NigelBoy. If these women really do love Japan and are committed only to Japan, and want to have any voice, then simply become Japanese. Its not difficult, as Nigel wisely states.

@MiceVice  I read somewhere that the Koreans and Chinese in Japan lost their citizenship during occupation due to MacArthur, who thought Japanese citizenship had  been forced on them.  I'm trying to find a link to a history source, but I can't.  Have you hears anything about this.  This was finalized with the peace treaty in 1952 as you say.

Also, even if you can't vote, you can go visit politicians and let them know your opinions. The US guys at the company are all applying for naturalization.

Invalid CSRF

Firstly can they get naturalized Yes then get naturalized n vote n if they feel japan as the home y not get naturalized instead of blaming game.

It doesn't make sense to allow people who aren't citizens to vote. If they want to stay and have the right to vote then they can go through the process to become a citizen. Those not willing to forfeit their citizenship to become a Japanese citizen shouldn't complain.

After donkey years of waxing lyrical about themselves ( Japanese) being " the stuff" , the "headquarters of the authentic" and the orbit center of the bona- fides in " civilised democracy ", one can't help but see that every time the marginalized minority start catching up the pace, the dominant majority changes the tempo and the cycle begins again.

I'm not requesting/demanding Japanese voter right?

Sorry. I believe that’s with Japanese voting population.

It’s these two women in particular I have issues.

I'm not requesting/demanding Japanese voter right?

Sorry. I believe that’s fine with Japanese voting population.

It’s these two women in particular I have issues.

f there were any major changes to voting, such as allowing/enabling residents with PR the right to vote, that would be a matter for the government and Diet and not the "Japanese voting population".

Nope. It would be the matter of the voting public since they are the ones who will elect legislators who endorses such legislation

If there was no possibility for foreign residents to adopt the Japanese nationality then you could not justify giving them no voting rights.

However since foreign residents can adopt the Japanese nationality they need to make the effort to gain citizenship if they want to vote plain and simple.

that would be a matter for the government and Diet and not the "Japanese voting population".

According to me there are two options to justify implementing measures that have a significant impact on Japanese society such as giving foreign residents voting rights and by extension allowing double nationality.

Either political parties make it clear prior to elections that those measures are included in their program so if the Japanese citizens vote for them they have a democratic mandate to implement them or either you hold a referendum.

Implementing these significant measures without the mandate and consent of the Japanese citizens can never be an option.

Again, the matter would be decided by the Diet and I suppose if the voters didn't agree, then the voters would vote them out in the next election. Unless it involves a change to the constitution, such as Article 9, then voters don't get to decide the laws passed by the Diet.

But why would a legislator take that risk without confirming it to his/her constituents?

Where are the voters on the Oct sales tax increases?

This was decided by DPJ era and was also accepted by LDP.

here are parties in the Diet, such as the Komeito, which supports giving foreigners with PR the right to vote.

Yes. Most vocal during the opposition party days. But now?

I am a stateless voter without any voting rights in my birth country Britain, my adopted country America and my host country Japan.

I'd like to think you're missing a lot, but no. Most of us believe voting itself is a con. Most countries could as well, if they chose to be straight, emulate NK. It's much cheaper, non-polarizing and straight forward. Oops !! Did I just say that !!? I hope some day you can get to determine your choices when voting will really count.

I'm registered to vote in my "home" district - I keep my American residence at my mother's house, where I grew up, though I haven't lived there in 30 years. The local voting board practically shoves the ballot down my throat every two years, but I'm diligent - one reason why Orange County has flipped from red to blue. I don't know what I'll do on her demise - I'll have to find an alternative address.

As foreigners in their own country...

That is a contradiction in terms.

One solution to the lack of representation for foreigners

That is a solution is search for a problem. Foreigner by definition are neither citizens nor subjects of a state. Therefore, they have no (right to ) representation.

It's that simple.

@BlackSabbath

Aah, but did you not see that these women were activists? Ipso ergo sum. The activist by nature searches for problems to solve whether they exist or not.

@ Zichi

This is George Carlin (RIP). One of the best stand up comedian that ever passed this way, talking about voting.

https://youtu.be/KVJI3HHsWyg

@MiceVice

What you present is not exactly true.

The adoption of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which is what you refer to in 1952, brought the end of Zainichi Korean right to Japanese citizenship, since they would have had to abandon Korean citizenship in order to be naturalized as Japanese citizens. 

Most Koreans were not willing to make the necessary break at the time.

They had the choice, they chose not to.

What you are really referring to is their desire to remain Koreans but not go back to Korea. At best holding dual nationality (Japan and South Korea nationality laws do not allow multiple citizenship for adults); at worst wanting to exploit the position for greatest benefit, eg skipping draft, avoiding tax, laundering money, and so on.

It is also really not correct to refer to a singular group of individuals as you had North Korea allied groups and South Korea allied therefore reasons for the choice differ.

What are the North Korea groups in Japan doing, waiting for the regime to fall before returning?

When a foreigner lives in Japan for decades, having paid taxes, both local and state, then why is some form of representation not allowed?

Putting a piece of paper in a box, with your mark on every four years, in the internet age is woefully inadequate.

To suggest that one should change nationality to have representation is wrong-taxation without representation is!

Japan provides a path to voting for foreign born. Why should they allow the vote to those who do not want to take that path? By not taking that path the person is proving their higher loyalty is to a foreign nation. Letting people vote in federal elections when they have proven their allegiance is not to Japan makes no sense.

To suggest that one should change nationality to have representation is wrong-taxation without representation is!

If the person chooses to not become a person that can choose their representation, then the person has no place to complain about not being able to choose their representation.

Compare the Oath Statements of Japan and the USA (below). It you cannot even take the former, what rights should you have?

We are talking primarily about the Zainichi Koreans and the idea of them as "discriminated victims" is popular because it fits the stereotypical view of Japan. But the truth about them and the position they have chosen is different.

Try and imagine the USA tolerating schools within the US or teachers who refuse to naturalize and indoctrinating children into Juche.

On the other hand, I suspect many other immigrants would swear the oath and take citizenship but still be insincere in it.

In both cases, ultimately, it is about individuals exploiting a system for self-advantage. Having a cake and eating.

Look at the problem you have in the USA and American politics with dual citizens loyal primarily to Israel, even carrying out serious state esponiage and financial crimes, and then run off beyond the reach of the law.

Now consider who Japan's nearest neighbors are.

The transnational crimes still happen due to Korean presence in the Yakuza (Mindan was controlled by them, with the backing of successive South Korean governments, North Korean Chongryon was involved in the numerous abductions of Japanese citizens,) but at least they are at a low level and do not lead to wars.

Why would you willing give them full citizenship?

Who know what which Chinese are up to what.

Japan

I swear to obey the Constitution of Japan as well as its laws and ordinances, fulfilling the established duties, and become a good citizen.

Fullstop.

U.S.A.

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

As a foreigner I say.... Don't do it Japan. Stay Japanese.

MiceViceAug. 25  10:08 am JST

During the 35-year colonial rule, Korea was annexed to Japan and its people were made Japanese subjects (nationals, citizens). That means that Koreans living in Japan at that time had a Japanese nationality. However, that status was taken away from them by the Japanese government in 1952.

It's unfair to blame Japan for that because it was the victorious WWII Allied Powers that chose to strip Korea away from the Japanese Empire. That was made clear as early as 1943 at the Cairo Conference, well before WWII even ended. Defeated Japan really had no say in the matter