Key Facts
• Four Filipino-Japanese individuals, aged 79-82, filed for Japanese citizenship.
• They submitted applications to family courts in Tokyo and Okinawa.
• Born to Japanese fathers and local mothers before WWII, they were left behind due to war.
• Lack of documentation post-war left them stateless for decades.
• DNA tests confirmed their blood ties to Japanese relatives.
• A support group, the Filipino-Japanese Legal Support Center, advocates for their case.
• Lawyer Hiroyuki Kawai emphasized the urgency due to their advanced age.
• Many in similar situations passed away without fulfilling their wish for citizenship.
Summary
Four elderly Filipino-Japanese individuals, aged 79 to 82, have petitioned family courts in Tokyo and Okinawa to obtain Japanese citizenship. These individuals, born to Japanese fathers and local Filipino mothers before World War II, were left behind in the Philippines due to the chaos of war, including their fathers’ deaths or forced repatriation. Post-war, they faced statelessness due to a lack of documentation. Recent DNA tests have confirmed their familial ties to Japanese relatives, strengthening their case. The Filipino-Japanese Legal Support Center, a support group, is advocating for their recognition, with lawyer Hiroyuki Kawai highlighting the urgency of their situation given their advanced age. Many others in similar circumstances have passed away without achieving their goal of citizenship. The petitioners hope the courts will grant their request before it is too late.
