Japan to give nationality to illegitimate children: Nikkei

Monday 21st July, 08:05 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

noborito at 01:34 PM JST - 21st July

It's 2008. Genetic testing, paternity testing, etc. They've been around for years. How about doing what most of the real world does. Automatic nationality "where" you are born, and by paternity. Could Japan handle such a case. I always think it's interesting to hear "homogeneous" when in fact Japan and America are the same. Made up from people all over the world. (Well for Japan, all over Asia) This law only protects men from "well" those weekend sex trips to the Philippines, Thailand etc. Who wants some kid coming up to your house when they are 18 saying "Hi Dad".
lipscombe at 02:34 PM JST - 21st July

the nationality based on bloodties argument is just against every historical precedent in every country across the world. how far back do they want to go to find a 'homogenous' race? dodgy ground and plain idiocy in 2008 considering Japan's future
stanoue at 08:56 PM JST - 21st July

Rats. There goes my great excuse for a quick registry marriage on our next trip to Japan to avoid the need for an oopsy shot-gun one somewhere down the track...
helloklitty at 10:04 PM JST - 21st July

How could they have thought otherwise all these year?

It would be interesting to know where the "rest of the world" stands on this and other citizenship issues.
kimigano at 12:33 AM JST - 22nd July

This is wrong. It opens up the door for all kinds of fraudsters to pay homeless men to say they fathered a child, which then makes that child a Japanese citizen. Courts and society need to look at these cases with suspicion.
sensei258 at 06:24 AM JST - 22nd July

For the sake of those children, this is a good thing. They did not choose to be born into that situation. But, shame on those who create a life (or end one for that matter) for their convenience.
borscht at 06:59 AM JST - 22nd July

kimigano,

The last thing Japan needs is another citizen, that's for sure. Especially one that isn't 'pure' Yamato. And if you wish, you can always have what is called a 'blood test' to check for paternity. Oh, wait. You live in Japan. I'll explain more slowly. A 'blood test' is one way to check to make sure the homeless man is actually the biological father of the 'less than pure' child.
kimigano at 07:17 AM JST - 22nd July

borscht,

What you're talking about is called a 'paternity test' or a 'DNA test' and it's done with cheek cells, not blood.

What are you talking about?
Triple888 at 07:23 AM JST - 22nd July

Good decision.
Hughgarse at 12:39 PM JST - 22nd July

welcome to the 21st century Japan.. Hope you enjoy your stay..
reddragonguy at 10:11 AM JST - 24th July

The Japanese lawmakers can change the law overnight but the fact is these children shall never be absorbed by the Japanese society due to their half japanese ethnics! The japanese society was the most exclusive to foreign backgrond people in the world but still she was regarded as 'democratic', very lovely isnt it?
cleo at 10:19 AM JST - 24th July

the fact is these children shall never be absorbed by the Japanese society due to their half japanese ethnics!

The fact is you don't know what you're talking about. Both my kids have what you call 'half japanese ethnics', very visibly, and they have had no problems at all making their way in Japanese society.

The children mentioned in the article may have problems on account of their illegitimacy, which is sad, but hopefully that aspect of society is also changing now. The kids had no say in who their Mum went to bed with.
kimigano at 12:02 PM JST - 24th July

The fact is you don't know what you're talking about. Both my kids have what you call 'half japanese ethnics', very visibly, and they have had no problems at all making their way in Japanese society.

Do you have some proof of this claim?
cleo at 12:05 PM JST - 24th July

Just two very well-adjusted, well-integrated, successful kids.
kawaiitenshi at 01:06 PM JST - 24th July

A lot of people suggest half japanese kids will never be accepted... however this is not the case. I'm not exactly living in a big city here, but no one has ever pointed out the fact my daughter is "only half" Sure some people may have bad experiences, but we have had nothing but positive ones... I think the apparent "problems" with having a half japanese kid are about as played up as the stories of "used panty vending machines"