Can I take the Japanese nationality?

Question

Hi... My grandfather was japanese, and my grandmother's parents were also japanese. For some odd coincidence, both families moved to Mexico and got married there. My mother resigned the japanese nationality when she turned 18, accepting the mexican nationality. She told me when I was younger something about us not being "registered", and last week I was talking with some friends that recommended me to do some research. I have researched some but can't quite get concrete answers... i keep getting things like "Koseki Tohon", that I am guessing now its the registry?? So question is...do i have to be "registered" there? or can i register now? can my mom do it? can my grandmother?? even if i could, must i live in japan to take the nationality?? (i would like to have both nationalities because I identify with both, not necesarilly to live there, and i also have lots of friends in mexico with the japanese nationality)

ANY help would be really appreciated... thank you

Kiyoshi

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Additional Info

Thanx for the answer ny!
This is pretty much why my mother resigned, she was not given the option to take both nationalities... however, I don't know if that's old rules, since I have several friends with dual nationality (mexican/japanese and canadian/japanese), so im sure it is possible to have dual =)

Answer 1

If you were not born in Japan to Japanese parents who are citizens of Japan, you will be considered a foregner. Therefore you would be subject to the same conditions as foreigners are subjected to. If you are receiving the Koseki Tohon from the Japanese government, that means that you are on their list of people born into international marriges. At this point, you have a theoretical Japanese citizenship. Which means you do have dual citizenship for the time being. But the Japanese government requires people like you (and my kids as well) to choose ONE nationality at the age of twenty. You could fill in the Koseki Tohon and then secretly keep your Mexican passport. I have heard of people doing that.

Good luck.

Answer 2

OK so this is what I heard.
I've never looked into it because I don't know who to ask and I also don't want to lose my citizenship to either country if it turns out to be incorrect....

I have dual citizenship of USA and Japan. And the common knowledge is that Japan law states that you have to choose to either give up your Japanese citizenship or keep it and give up the foreign citizenship when you turn 20.
BUT this law was made in 1980 (Or somewhere around there) and it only applies to people who were born after the law was made. So people who were born before then are not exactly allowed but are not required to choose either.
At least this is what I was told.
Like I said, I didn't talk to anyone in Japan so I can't say for certain.

ADDITIONALLY - (I should have put this on my original post)
I have shown both my passports (US and Japan) when I entered Japan in the past. Not because they asked, but because I had them both rubberbanded together when I traveled.
The immigration officer in Japan (The dude who stamps your passport) only said "Oh you have dual citizenship?" and I just said yes and that was it. (This was when I was 25) so I never chose or will choose to drop my Japanese citizenship. I've never received a notice, never had someone tell me I had to choose or anything. So that's my story.

Answer 3

Japan don't permit to have multi nationalities even now. If one turns 18 or 20 years old ( I don't remember exactly ), he/she has to choose the nationality he/she wants.

If you want to get a Japanese nationality, you have to abandon your Mexican nationality. The nationality has something to do with 戸籍 (Koseki). I can say it's very difficult to get a Japanese nationality.

Citizenship is another story. You have to live in Japan to get Japanese citizenship. The citizenship has something to do with 住民票 (Jyumin-hyou). Getting Japanese citizenship is not so hard.

Regarding your friends, I think your friends have Japanese nationalities and Mexican citizenship unelss they are under 20 years old.

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Oops, I have to define what the citizenship is. I meant it as the right to live and work in the country.

Answer 4

the Japanese naturalization is obtained by "jus sanguinis".
it is necessary to gather a numerous quantity of documents to request the naturalization and the knowledge of the Japanese language is also required and it is necessary to be able to read and to write at least in the level of the 3er grade of the primary school, slow more than 1 year since one makes the application until the permission is granted.

Japan don't permit to have multi nationalities.
it will lose their origin nationality.

Answer 5

Inquire at the Japanese Embassy in your country..Japanese nationals don't have dual citizenship and remain to stay mostly being a Japanese citizen even they live in another country, in your case, your mother has abandoned her citizenship,,so she is not registered anymore in koseki tohon. ask your friends if they have dual citizenship...I asked this to my Japanese friend already and she told me..they are not allowed to have dual citizenship.. and they remain Japanese nationals though they are living more than decade in another country..
Check out the Embassy requirements to apply for citizenship.. in Japan.
You have the possibility to become a citizen and they would find your roots if you begin the processing to become one, but I suggest you to inquire direct to Japan Embassy because laws sometimes change and there is a certain age which you can choose your nationality, don't take risk... it is better to inquire early then decide what you need to do..sometimes it takes an Immigration Lawyer to do the process, or do it by yourself or ask any family members...I hope your mother could help you what you need to do because she can write Japanese and you need a lot of Japanese translation if you start doing this change of nationality.
Living in Japan would get you a permanent residency, not a citizenship....only the person who applies for citizenship and completed the requirements are entitled to..
Don't get confuse...not because you live in Japan you can get citizenship..it is not easy..you have to make time and effort and money and relations, jobs..living, working or studying in Japan are one of these...
I would say your friends would choose their nationalities if they reach the age of 18...still..they can't have dual if they choose to be a Japanese national.
I can't give you the perfect answer, but hope this give you certain time to decide what to do next...and answerers below have given another opinion that you could look up...
I appreciate you take time to read this..but you will learn and know more by the time you are ready to take the steps...

Answer 6

Unless both your parents were Japanese, you can't be Japanese. You'd be "mixed"...And to be a citizen you have to be born of Japanese parents and be born in Japan. Non Japanese born in Japan don't get citizenship handed to them like they do in the US.

Answer 7

Why not ...They take ours