Job Discussion Forums

[Gordon]

That's scary Paul, almost makes you want to live in Saudi Arabia. On second thought, maybe not.

[Sherri]

Yes, Paul, very scary and so hard to fathom. One piece of advice I would give to the non-Japanese spouses out there reading this forum is to get a permanent resident visa as soon as possible. If you stay on a spouse visa and you get divorced you will lose your right to stay in Japan in addition to all the problems you mentioned. In any case I have made up my mind to leave Japan (w/husband and kids) in the near future, I'm tired of all these hassles. I'm tired of not being real.

[ScottishMike]

I hate not being real.

But then, I live in a small-ish town, and know that as revenge, I can do what I want and get away with it, cos I`m not real.

[Gordon]

Sherri,
How long have you been in Japan?

[Sherri]

Too long obviously, since 1991.

[Gordon]

Sherri,
Where will you go?

[Sherri]

I am considering going back to the States as I haven't lived there since 1981 so going back would be like living in a foreign country. I am also considering new Zealand. I am still in the research stages but hope to be out within the next 18 months. The older you are the longer it takes to move I think. I have to consider not just myself but 2 small children and a husband.

Thanks for asking Gordon.
S

[Sherri]

Good news (maybe) for stateless children in Japan:


IN FROM THE COLD:Court awards nationality to 2 stateless boys
The Asahi Shimbun
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Hundreds of other abandoned children may be affected.

In landmark cases last month, family courts awarded citizenship to two stateless boys, opening a door of opportunity for hundreds of other children without nationality living in Japan.

Most of these stateless children were born to foreign mothers and Japanese fathers who refused to acknowledge them.

Legislation has been especially tough on children abandoned by both parents, making it very difficult for them to establish citizenship in Japan.

But last month, family courts in Hachioji, Tokyo, and Yokohama granted Japanese nationality to two Japanese-Filipino children, opening a new path to recognition for unfortunate children otherwise lost in a tangle of regulations.

Fathered by Japanese who did not acknowledge or take responsibility for rearing the children, the two boys, aged 9 and 14, live in orphanages.

Their Filipina mothers could not be located after being deported, making it impossible for the boys to apply for citizenship in their mothers' homeland.

When a child's parentage is clear, nationality can be established by applying to the Justice Ministry or related embassies with the required paperwork.

But, for an abandoned child, this is an almost impossible step.

The courts, however, decided the boys ``had no place to make a living other than Japan,'' and decreed they deserved consideration. The courts based their conclusion on a clause in the Nationality Law-``when born in Japan and both parents' whereabouts are unknown''-that the Supreme Court ruled in 1995 was sufficient grounds for establishing nationality.

While the Supreme Court ruling took about three years to be finalized, the family courts this time took only seven months to rule.

One reason cases like these were never before brought to family court was for fear the children would be deported as part of the due process.

``I'm guessing this is the first case where a court has agreed to establish Japanese nationalities for children born to mothers who were in Japan temporarily,'' commented Kensuke Onuki, the lawyer who represented the two boys. ``It's great news, opening doors to other children nationwide who are in the same boat.''

Indeed, the ruling does now make it possible for some dreams to come true.

An avid baseball player, the 14-year-old beamed and said, ``I want to become a professional ballplayer and be able to play in Japan-U.S. games.''

According to the most recent survey, conducted by the former Ministry of Health and Welfare, back on Oct. 1, 1999, there were 264 stateless children living at orphanages nationwide.

Twenty percent of those children were under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Jido Sodan Center, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

``There are plenty of cases where the children remain hidden, especially if the parent is an illegal resident,'' said Yutaka Banba, an official at the child welfare center run by the Tokyo metropolitan government. ``The figures are just the tip of the iceberg.''

With no nationality, these children can't apply for passports, and will no doubt face extra obstacles at every turn in their lives, including marriage and career.(IHT/Asahi: October 20,2003) (10/20)