What if you committed some transgression in your past? Such as a speeding ticket or a parking fine? What about something more serious? Can you still naturalize?

prison in Ōsaka

When I first decided to naturalize, I showed up unannounced at the 法務局国籍課 {hōmukyoku kokusekika} (Legal Affairs Bureau, Nationality Section} and stated that I wanted to naturalize but I didn't know what to do or what the procedure was and therefore I'd like a pamphlet, instruction book, and ideally somebody that could answer my questions.

The first thing the clerk asked me, before answering any of my questions or providing me with any information was:

"Have you ever overstayed your visa or have committed a crime, either here or overseas?"

I was a little taken aback by the question. I'm used to getting asked if I can eat with chopsticks or how, after almost two decades of living here, "do I like Japan?" Did I look like a ex-felon? Should I have dressed nicer? Should I have shaved? Anyway, I tried to confidently answer without hesitating, "No."

The man smiled and gave me a friendly colorful pamphlet and said, "Normally, you need to call and book an appointment in advance and this takes anywhere from two to three weeks per appointment. But you're in luck! Today we have a cancelation! Do you mind waiting for the 3pm slot?" And so it began.

The moral of this story is: the nationality department takes that "be of good character" requirement very seriously. It's more important than having a decent job. However, I've received a bunch of emails, a few comments, and read a few comments on other blogs about if you really have to be squeaky clean to get Japanese citizenship. While I don't have any personal experience with applying with a less than spotless legal record, I've done a little research into the extreme limits of qualifications.

• If you have been formally, in a court of law, been convicted of a crime, you can attempt to apply for naturalization after ten (10) years has passed since the sentence, punishment (fine), or penalty (such as jail time) has finished.
  
  And even if ten years has passed, it will still be very difficult.
  
  However, if you were caught shoplifting, for example, and the police let you go with just a warning and they didn't formally charge you, it is still possible to naturalize.
• If you have been caught overstaying your visa (even for a day), you will need ten (10) subsequent continuous years of good residency status before you should even consider applying for naturalization.
• If you have filed for personal bankruptcy, you will need a minimum of two (2) years since the time you have cleared yourself from your financial responsibilities.
• While it's not good to have any parking fines or minor speeding violations (they will check and you will need to get a certified copy of your driving record and list all the fines, parking or otherwise, that you've been assessed), it's not necessarily a show-stopper.
  
  However, a pattern of multiple speeding violations, a major moving violation, or driving under the influence will probably disqualify you.
• Having relatives or friends who are known felons or members of organized crime, domestic or international (i.e. the Japanese yakuza, the Italian mafia, the Chinese triads), will not disqualify you. However, if you are seen to be somehow giving or receiving aid, money, or have a roommate who is a part of these groups, your naturalization application process is going to be quite harsh and strict.
  
  Don't knowingly give or receive English lessons to the mob.
• It goes without saying, since the naturalization oath is about protecting and swearing to the Japanese Constitution, that if you have ever, directly or indirectly, taken part in any activity (including espionage or being a spy) that works to destroy the Constitution or Japanese government, even if you've never been convicted of a crime, you're out.
  
  Sorry, overseas Aleph members.
• Your taxes (both personal, at the national and local level, as well as business taxes) need to be in order. So long as you haven't been prosecuted and/or convicted of not paying your taxes, getting your back taxes, if any, all paid and in the clear is a prerequisite. You will need to go to the 区役所 {kuyakusho} (ward office / city hall) and obtain proof that your taxes are in order as part of the application process.
• Previously, they did not check whether you were properly paying into a Japanese 健康保険 {kenkō hoken} (national/social health insurance) system or the 国民年金 {kokumin nenkin} (national pension system). They do now. As long as you haven't gotten in trouble for not being part of it, getting your duties in order (properly joining both and paying up to current required levels) should be all that is needed.

Again, the "good character" part of the application is the one part where they don't mess around. Unlike your previous visas, where they may have been concerned as to whether you were employed or were a "skilled worker," naturalization is all about promising to obey the supreme law of the land and getting all the rights granted by the supreme law for Japanese citizens (the right to vote, the right to hold office, the right to be a lay judge, etc).

Ultimately, if you want to be part of the 99%+ of the applicants that are accepted on the first try and you want to do your naturalization yourself sometime in a few years, stay away from the rowdier foreigners on weekend nights where you could be inadvertently drawn into a fight, stay away from cars and use public transportation if you know you have a lead foot and you just can't help it, drink in moderation if you know you're a mean drunk, and never forget to renew your visa or pay your taxes, your pension, or your Japanese health insurance.

But... if your record is even a tad less than spotless, I'd recommend using a lawyer experienced with these sort of matters (hopefully, he/she has lunch and drinks with the nationalization clerks and bureaucrats semi-regularly) if you're determined to naturalize. You'll need that lawyer just to get past Question #1. And even then, don't get your hopes up too high. But is it impossible? Apparently, no.

Good luck. You're going to need it.