High-fidelity MS Word Japan naturalization forms

A helpful reader who is going through the naturalization process generously donated his Microsoft Word based blank and sample naturalization forms for distribution on this blog.

We already have web page sample versions at our Documents and Forms page, which are derived from the examples in the てびき {tebiki} (guidebook). These are useful for referring to, browsing and viewing without needing to use any extra software. They can even be viewed with many mobile phone browsers.

However, these word processor versions are more suited for direct editing, printing, and submitting directly to the 法務局 {hōmukyoku} (Legal Affairs Bureau).

The use of word processed forms is permitted for everything except the 動機書 {dōkisho} (Motivation Essay), which must be handwritten — similar to how many Japanese companies still want you to handwrite a form based 履歴書 {rirekisho}. For the case of naturalization, though, I don't think they're judging your handwriting.

The map of your home and business can be a printout of a computer generated map, pasted or embedded into the map form.

I realize not everybody owns or uses Microsoft Word, so this week I will convert them to OpenDocument Format (which newer versions of Microsoft Office and Word support too) and upload & post the conversions. They will be conversions, which may not have as high of a fidelity as the original Word documents, but they should be more than good enough. Additionally, these will be indexed in our Forms and Docs page eventually as well.

The sample documents provided are interesting and unique because they are filled out from the perspective of a U.S. citizen; in contrast the examples in the てびき {tebiki} (guidebook) use a more typical example of a naturalization candidate: a South Korean.

Microsoft Word version	English name
必要書類一覧表 {hitsuyō shorui ichiranhyō}	Table of Necessary Documents
帰化許可申請書 {kika kyoka shinsei-sho}	Naturalization Permission Application Form (blank)
帰化許可申請書 {kika kyoka shinsei-sho}（例 {rei}）	Naturalization Permission Application Form (SAMPLE)
親族の概要 {shinzoku no gaiyō}（日本 {nihon}）	Family Outline (within Japan)
親族の概要 {shinzoku no gaiyō}（例：日本 {rei: nihon}）	Family Outline (SAMPLE: within Japan)
親族の概要 {shinzoku no gaiyō}（例：海外 {rei: kaigai}）	Family Outline (SAMPLE: outside Japan)
履歴書 {rirekisho}（その１ {sono ichi}）	Personal History (part 1)
履歴書 {rirekisho}（例：その１ {rei: sono ichi}）	Personal History (SAMPLE: part 1)
履歴書 {rirekisho}（その２ {sono ni}）	Personal History (part 2)
生計の概要 {seikei no gaiyō}（その１ {sono ichi}）	Living Expenses Outline (part 1)
生計の概要 {seikei no gaiyō}（その２ {sono ni}）	Living Expenses Outline (part 2)
事業の概要 {jigyō no gaiyō}	Business Outline
自宅付近の略図 {jitaku fukin no ryakuzu} 勤務先（取引先）付近の略図 {kimmusaki (torihikisaki) fukin no ryakuzu}	Rough Sketch of Vicinity of Home Rough Sketch of Vicinity of Employment (Place of Business)