figure skating

Tran considers turning Japanese

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I'm too sure Japan will grant this guy nationality in order for him to compete in the Olympics, it's not unheard of (for Japan or any other country to do). Of course the rest of everyone else have to wait 10-20 plus years and hope they approve to look at the application.

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In the most celebrated case of nationality-swapping, Canadian-born Tanith Belbin obtained dual U.S. citizenship in late 2005

I thought the most celebrated (notorious?) case was that of Zola Budd.

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“I’m seriously considering (seeking Japanese nationality) for this season to see how it goes,” Tran said.

For this season - hmmm.

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If this kid is dumb enough to give up a Canadian passport for a Japanese one, I hope he wins. And I hope the Canadian government refuses to take him back when he realises the mistake he made. Japan has issues excepting half kids and white kids who have changed their nationality. Half Vietnamese and Cambodian? Ha! Perhaps he might want to try living here and see how he gets treated.

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accepting damn it!

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Japan's national rugby and men's soccer teams have naturalized citizens, so why not?

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once you give up canadian passport its tough to get it back, besides canadians have good benefits better then america

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Japan also took heat about their recent rugby BY Japan for having to many foreigners!

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I actually thought he was Japanese - I thought he was a Vietnamese refugee or something. If he does take the Japanese option, he can always do the token gaijin taranto TV thing when he retires. Works for a lot of the other gaijin hacks on the screen!

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Can does Zichi but Japan does not. There would be no way of him hiding it like many "halfu" kids do when they hit 20.

Buraku, he would need to speak Japanese and from what I have read, I doubt he does. Why doesn't his Japanese partner take on Canadian cit? Makes more sense in the long run!

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Can does Zichi but Japan does not. There would be no way of him hiding it like many "halfu" kids do when they hit 20.

Buraku, he would need to speak Japanese and from what I have read, I doubt he does. Why doesn't his Japanese partner take on Canadian cit? Makes more sense in the long run!

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Says here "However, he said, he had some reservations about becoming Japanese because Japan’s immigration law rules out dual nationality, meaning he would have to give up his Canadian citizenship."

If they met through a Canadian coach, train in Canada, little Ms. Japanese should change hers!

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I HATE how Japan just hands these out to anyone wanting to jump ship... while the rest of the hard working foreigners in Japan have no access at all to change nationalities so easily.

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A flag of convenience. Shouldn't be done unless he's willing to give up his Canadian nationality forever. It makes a mockery of the sport (any sport) to change your nationality for just one competition in the hopes of winning a medal.

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It also makes a mockery of the refugee status his parents would have come into the country as. Nice way to show thanks for taking his parents in and looking after them.

It does make a mockery - We have to wait 10 years to get PR if not married and this guy hasn't even lived here but yet... if it gets them a medal...

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“I’m seriously considering (seeking Japanese nationality) for this season to see how it goes,”

Ummm, Tran, if you honestly want to become Japanese and live, work, and breathe the air here than I say go for it, and be proud. If it's just a whim and something you want to 'see how it goes' I say stick with the Canuck citizenship -- you're skating career won't last much longer and then you'll be screwed. You say you have reservations, then don't do it!

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I laughed at that. Not exactly like he gets a trial period. This kid obviously hasn't thought this through.

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just don't tell the government when you turn 20... oh wait

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I suggest Tran's next skating routine theme song is "Turning Japanese" by the Vapors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqZ_dC1T7pA&feature=related

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Should a nation not import talent that can be used to represent it in a given sport? I got a question for you, why shouldn't one of the many talented players in Brazil play for another nation, instead of wasting away in the lower leagues and holding to a false hope they would be chosen for Brazil one day?

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I'd much rather be Canadian. I know Japanese citizenship is NOT the way to go.

Now if there is a big payday in it for Tran to make the switch then by all means he should do so.

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My oldest daughter keeps her American and Japanese Passports. None says anything at the ports of entry for either side. A passport is a legal document owned by the country of issuance. It is against international law for another country to take it away. If they do or did, you just apply for a new one. You do not have to tell the Japanese govt. anything about your other passport. Maybe some one here knows more about the legalities of this.

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You do not have to tell the Japanese govt. anything about your other passport.

The last time my son renewed his Japanese passport the application form specifically asked whether he held any other nationality. Japan cannot legally take away your non-Japanese passport, but if you don't want to risk losing your Japanese passport when it comes out that you lied to get it, you do have to tell the Japanese government about your other passport.

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Any sane person would choose the Canuck passport over a Japanese one - that's for sure and certain - unless you were thrown a few million bucks in inducements, which this Mervin Tran cat may well have been offered. Good luck to the young kid in his choice. I say go with the Canucks, Merv.

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I saw the pair skate and my immediate reaction was, it is too bad he doesn't have citizenship. I hope Japan lets him in.

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cleo@

The last time my son renewed his Japanese passport the application form specifically asked whether he held any other nationality.

so, what exactly does your comment mean? Your son does have another nationality (or passport) or are you just simply offering us points listed on applications?

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There are a number of famous Japanese who have surrendered their Japanese passports--a Japanese female ice-skater turned Russian (last year) so she could appear in the Olympics, a Japanese man, as of Nov 9, 2011 (less than two weeks ago), turned Cambodian so he could run in a marathon--the list of Japanese turned "other" is longer than you might think, so to insinuate that losing a/"your" Japanese passport is highly suspect. I checked and my Japanese wife, who has renewed her Japanese passport a number of times has never had to answer a question on any application as to whether she has held any other nationality, My in-laws, also Japanese haven't dealt with that "held other" nationality question either each and every time they renewed. I suspect Mr Cleo probably hasn't seen that question either and my suspicion is Mr Cleo "JR" has recently turned 20 (renewed his passport since "coming of age" and when renewing his passport (because he is, hmhmhmhm, excuse me, half) possibly met with this question and since he has come of age must decide his nationality. Maybe not, it doesn't matter, but to write that that question is on an application for renewal of a Japanese passport application is misleading.

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so, what exactly does your comment mean?

It means that MaboDofulsSpicy is mistaken in thinking that 'you do not have to tell the Japanese govt. anything about your other passport'. If you don't tell them about your other nationality when you apply for a Japanese passport, you're likely to get done later for obtaining a Japanese passport under false pretences.

to write that that question is on an application for renewal of a Japanese passport application is misleading.

It's not misleading at all - it's what's on the application form, and no, they don't have a separate application form for haafs.

A sample of the application form - http://www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.jp/issuance/index.html

Bottom right corner of the application form, it's there in blue and white - 現在外国の国籍を有していますか。(該当する枠内に✓印を記入してください) はい□ いいえ□  「はい」の場合どの国の国籍ですか (Do you at present hold a foreign nationality? (Tick the appropriate box) Yes/No: If 'Yes', the nationality of which country?)

What skaters or anyone else surrendering their Japanese passports has to do with anything, I don't know; I've made no comment or insinuation about Japanese who have turned. If they've taken foreign nationality, then they have to surrender their Japanese nationality, that's the law, not an insinuation.

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Mabo@

Maybe some one here knows more about the legalities of this.

I will never profess to know all, but here is the info on Japanese citizens and the passport issue. Sorry it is in nihongo only:

http://www.geneve.ch.emb-japan.go.jp/image/pdf/jp_national.pdf

By the way, ports of entry have no reason to ask if you provide a "valid" passport, just make sure your daughter doesn't mistakenly pull both passports out at the same time in the States, although she is safe until age 21 (I think if still in college it is extended). Bottom line in the Japanese--if/when a Japanese surrenders his/her Japanese passports, naturally he/she can reapply for Japanese citizenship, but there are conditions--see the pdf above.

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