Become a citizen:
1) Were you born in Japan to one or more Japanese citizen parents?
2) Were you born in Japan to one or more Japanese citizen parents?
3) Were you born in Japan to one or more Japanese citizen parents?
If you answered 'no' to any one of these, then no, you can not become a Japanese citizen.
That's not true at all. There are many cases where permanent residents have become citizens. Is it easy? No. Are there many reasons why it is not for most gaijin? Yes. Can it be done with skill and perseverance? Hell yeah.
You can get a work visa, a travel visa, a spousal visa, but that's it. Even if you get married to a Japanese citizen, have TEN children and 'think' you own a car and a business (which legally you don't - both must be owned by a Japanese citizen), then still no.
OK 1) Don't forget the education visa and the permutations on those others. It's important to note that the work visa's are more specific to general groupings of professions.
2) Permanent residents can own property, let alone citizens.
Sorry buck-rogers, speaking Japanese has dick-all to do with becoming a Japanese citizen.
There is a language requirement, actually, amongst a list of others, but it's the same as expected of the average high school graduate. But since it also requires reading and writing aptitude you are correct that speaking [alone] has dick-all to do with it. But that's stretching it.
If your parents aren't Japanese, then neither are you. Your children CAN be Japanese, if you marry a Japanese citizen. But you have as much chance of becoming a "Japanese citizen" as I do of being r***ing by Godzilla.
Culturally speaking, yeah, there's no chance to blend in and be seen as a part of the Yamato-soul or other some such nonsense. But can it be legally done? It has and it will again, barring another Tokagawa-like isolation.
"Basically: Are you qualified for a job? Yes? Then you probably will get it if you are more qualified than the last guy."
Probably have to be much better if the guy is Japanese. I'll cop to their blatant racism. Since I am going as a Doctor of Dental Surgery, I'll not have to worry about it as much as others, but no huge CEO jobs without the trails blazed beforehand.
If a man from Greece moves to Florida and can speak "Hello" and "My name is Ishmael" but no other English, do you think anyone other than basic labor jobs will hire him? Seriously?"
With a bachelors there have been a few jobs open traditionally, but I think language and culture knowledge, not to mention a willingness to always learn and be polite help more than a masters degree. But you must at least have that 4 year diploma if you want to stay employed and in Japan.
If your university/college is recognized by the Japanese government, then your degree is as good as any other. But don't kid yourself while beating off at mom and dads house... if you do not have a company in Japan willing to sponsor you, then you ain't getting in with a work visa.
1) Accredited college degrees from the US are always acknowledged in Japan. And full degrees of accredited universities in Japan are acknowledged in the US. But credit hours may or may not be seen as valid. So if you think you want to transfer, get your associates, bachelors or masters before you move. But if you already have the schooling you need, your degree will work there.
I checked on this myself, in the case I want to finish grad school in Niigata. It would get me some immersion after all my language and cultural book learning.
2) You can always find work for a foriegn company that has offices in Japan. I've got one friend who is doing that through a large computer company.
3) Certain Japanese companies will sponsor you. But for that, you've got to network and specialize your skills. Best of luck.
Why not stay in America? Move to another location? If you think that moving to Japan will solve all of your woes and make you 'supa-sta white boy!' then you're mistaken unless you REALLY REALLY REALLY want to contract gonorrhea and chlamydia from a Yomamnba who'll spread her legs for any American and is already carrying 'the drip' from her last Nigerian escapade from yesterday.
While I agree that there are some very stupid otaku-types with even dumber reasons for going to Japan, there are some very noble, well reasoned and genuinely awesome reasons for doing so. I think it's a little disingenuous to lambaste someone because he's somewhere and has his sights on being somewhere else someday. As hard work foresight and perseverance, and you get growth.
Stay in America... ...Hell, you came to a cartoon porn website to ask for questions on moving to Japan... that says a LOT to me. Not that there's anything wrong with this site, it simply shows me that you aren't really serious.
And we're discussing this on a porn site. Are we not serious? Are we not men? (A: We are DEVO) But on to your points:
1) You said you WOULD NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE in the USA....
So you haven't already?
2) You RELY ON YOUR PARENTS...
Are you 15? Christ... I had to pay my entire tuition myself when I went to college.
We all start somewhere dude. And most of us do rely on parents, to greater or lesser extent until we are into our twenties. Of course it's awesome that you could pay for your own tuition! But the costs are so ridiculous now that it's not an option for the vast majority. I'm up to my eyeballs in debt, and I'm fine with that.
3) I'm going to say this in the nicest possible method... GROW UP AND GROW A PAIR. I say this because from what you have mentioned, I get the distinct impression that you are under the legal age (can not vote, buy cigarettes or drink) and have no life experience. That is the LAST thing that I want to see more of in Japan.
So are people not supposed to travel until middle age? I'd be more worried about the idiots that have no wish to learn the language or culture, like many of the servicemen posted there and some of those English teachers. As they are the vast majority of those who screw up in Japan and make us look bad, we should worry about them. We shouldn't bother trying to discourage others from coming if they're willing to learn the culture.
There you go. No sugar coating. Just fact after cold hard and dream-destroying fact.
Your facts were a collection of harsh opinions and also false presumptions about the naturalization process. Do everything right, and after you've been married to a Japanese person for 3 years and/or worked for the same employer for 10 years, you have reached the basic requirements to become a permanent resident. And that's all that most gaijin would ever need, and more than most need.
As a final render of this vat of disgust, I want to know one thing...
Why do you want to come to Japan so badly? Do you REALLY REALLY REALLY like anime and cosplay girls?
Again, many have higher goals. For example, I don't really care for most Anime, or Japanese pop culture. I agree with many of the core beliefs inherrent in the social contract of Japanese society. I'll even accept second class status to be able to give medical care to those that need it. I'm even giving up huge profits here in the states to accomplish that.
And even if this kid is the biggest J-dork in the world, that doesn't give you the responsibility to rip him down. One's goals are one's own. I don't disagree with everything you said here, but let us try to be constructive here.
Sorry to take umbrage for my first post! Be well all.
