Japanese-Philippine child can claim nationality
Publish date: 21 April 2005
Issue Number: 1320
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Corruption
In a landmark ruling, a Tokyo District Court has said it is unconstitutional for the government to refuse Japanese nationality to a seven-year-old boy of Japanese-Philippine parenthood born out of wedlock and later recognised by his Japanese father.
In terms of Japans Nationality Law, a child will be given Japanese nationality if either of the parents in a legal marriage is Japanese, reports The Japan Times. A child born out of wedlock can obtain Japanese nationality if the father acknowledges the child before birth, but not if the child is recognised after birth. It is unreasonable not to grant Japanese nationality for the reason that his parents are not married, presiding Judge Toshihiko Tsuruoka said in his ruling. Full report in The Japan Times
