Hell freezes: gaijin can vote?

[Taro Toporific]

Japan poised to give foreigners voting rightsMainichi Shimbun, Japan, Oct. 20, 2003
More than 1,500 prefectural and municipal governments have adopted resolutions asking the national government to give local electoral rights to foreigners with permanent residency status...About 1.85 million foreign nationals are registered in Japan as of the end of 2002, and 713,775 of them have been given permanent residency status.

[Big Booger]

Japan poised to give foreigners voting rightsMainichi Shimbun, Japan, Oct. 20, 2003
More than 1,500 prefectural and municipal governments have adopted resolutions asking the national government to give local electoral rights to foreigners with permanent residency status...About 1.85 million foreign nationals are registered in Japan as of the end of 2002, and 713,775 of them have been given permanent residency status.

What is the value of permanent residency? What do you have to give up to get it? Sorry to get off topic.

I think this is a step in the right direction, but i still feel you should be a citizen of the country in order to vote...

I wouldn't want some permanent resident non-citizen voting in America... that is the benefit of being a citizen.

[AssKissinger]

Japan poised to give foreigners voting rightsMainichi Shimbun, Japan, Oct. 20, 2003
More than 1,500 prefectural and municipal governments have adopted resolutions asking the national government to give local electoral rights to foreigners with permanent residency status...About 1.85 million foreign nationals are registered in Japan as of the end of 2002, and 713,775 of them have been given permanent residency status.

What is the value of permanent residency? What do you have to give up to get it? Sorry to get off topic.

I think this is a step in the right direction, but i still feel you should be a citizen of the country in order to vote...

I wouldn't want some permanent resident non-citizen voting in America... that is the benefit of being a citizen.

I agree BB. I can see some advantages to getting a permanent visa. Most obviously if you buy property. Plus, in order to get a home loan I think maybe you need one. Also, for lifers whose spouse may die first. I'm not sure what the laws are concerning this...

[Taro Toporific]

What is the value of permanent residency? What do you have to give up to get it? .

Not in 10,000 years will they ever give permanent residency (handicaped need not apply) but permanent residency is saves heaps money and GRIEF!
No 8,000yen visa fees and no re-entry visa renewal ever again. You can get collect a pension, unemployment , workmans comp, etc. with much greater ease. And you don't have to "give up" your real passport. ]i]San-sei[/i]Korean friends say it's 110% better than becoming a citizen: "Who'd ever wanna join the Club Nihon?"

I wouldn't want some permanent resident non-citizen voting in America... that is the benefit of being a citizen.

Note this is only "local electoral rights to foreigners with permanent residency status". Alien voting rights for your "neighborhood" only makes a lot of sense and is possible in many places in Europe. Actually it's American that's odd about this citizen crap.

[Big Booger]

What is the value of permanent residency? What do you have to give up to get it? .

Not in 10,000 years will they ever give permanent residency (handicaped need not apply) but permanent residency is saves heaps money and GRIEF!
No 8,000yen visa fees and no re-entry visa renewal ever again. You can get collect a pension, unemployment , workmans comp, etc. with much greater ease. And you don't have to "give up" your real passport. ]i]San-sei[/i]Korean friends say it's 110% better than becoming a citizen: "Who'd ever wanna join the Club Nihon?"

I wouldn't want some permanent resident non-citizen voting in America... that is the benefit of being a citizen.

Note this is only "local electoral rights to foreigners with permanent residency status". Alien voting rights for your "neighborhood" only makes a lot of sense and is possible in many places in Europe. Actually it's American that's odd about this citizen crap.

Hasn't America always been odd? I might look into this permanent residency, after I chat with the wife about it.. though I'm sure my family stateside will have a fit.

I'll never renounce my citizenship for Japan.. no way in hell.

[Steve Bildermann]

I never applied for PR.

I think it was on my third go round with the three year visa that the immigration guy said did I want a PR, I said yes and he stamped it there and then.







<--- Oh BTW anybody notice that cool blue notice under my avatar.

Thank yee kindly Ultra

[Taro Toporific]

I never applied for PR.
I think it was on my third go round with the three year visa that the immigration guy said did I want a PR, I said yes and he stamped it there and then.

Arrrrg. The dread case-by-case again.

Your "three go rounds with the three year visa" is just about right for APPLYING for permanent residency (it'stheoretically possible in only 5 years). But as have said before, 3 years ago on the week I applied for permanent residency they had a huge crackdown and rejected all PR applications. Now three years later, my laywers have found out informally that I should not even bother to try to apply since I'm an "undesirable." Oh well, at least it was cheap consulation to learn the truth. I'lll learn to love my 3-year Pet License.

<--- Oh BTW anybody notice that cool blue notice under my avatar.