Becoming Japanese

When we first started putting up scanned paper forms in our Docs page a few years ago, it was possible to make Google Docs based text files using raw HTML , which allowed us to do some pretty advanced formatting for many of the naturalization application forms that we wanted to distribute (which aren't easily available from other sources). Using web browser friendly HTML made sense at the time for two reasons: it allowed accessibility from mobile devices that didn't have word processor programs, and it allowed the text in the documents to be easily searchable from the web. Times have changed, though, so we're changing with it. We've completely redone the Docs page , adding Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word documents for many of the forms (and we will continue to add more). We've even added some documents that weren't there before (such as the Korean applicant samples from the てびキ { tebiki } (Handbook). We've also linked many of the documents to correspo...

You will submit a lot of paperwork for your naturalization application. At the top of the application, however, will be a simple one page form that serves as the "header" document for all the "support" forms and documents detailing your finances, your entrances and exits to Japan, your family, etc. This form is called 帰化許可申請書 { kika kyoka shinseisho } (Naturalization Permission Application Form). It's called "Permission Application" ( 許可申請 { kyoka shinsei } ) because an successful approval of this form does not actually create your 戸籍 { koseki } (family register). An application that is approved by the Ministry of Justice ( 法務省 { hōmushō } ) creates and gives you the "breeder document" called the 帰化者の身分証明書 { kikasha no mibunshōmeisho } (Proof of Naturalized Person Identity Document). You use this form exactly once: you take it to the 戸籍課 { kosekika } (family register section) of your local 区役所／市役所 { kuyakusho/shiyakusho } (Wa...

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 ...