Japan is currently engaged in a debate that I’m quite interested in: the subject of dual nationality. Currently, when a child is born with parents from Japan and the U.S. they get citizenship in both countries until the age of 22, at which time they must choose between the two. Since both Japan and the U.S. are a part of my kids, I’d love it if they could enjoy the benefits of citizenship in both countries all their lives rather than having to give one or the other up. The United States has no problem with allowing dual citizenship — Governor “Shuwa-chan” retains his Austrian citizenship, for example — but the problem is good old xenophobic Japan, which officially refuses to recognize more than one nationality at a time. Happily, this rule seems to be a good example of tatemae (ta-teh-MAH-eh), something we pretend is true even though we know it’s not, rather than honne (HON-neh), the truth or the way things really are. In other words, holders of dual nationality are required to choose one by the age of 22 and surrunder the other country’s passport, but if you don’t, make sure you don’t tell the Japanese government about it. Japan is exceedingly good about vague stuff like that.
