Overview
- The Tokyo District Court, which ruled Tuesday, rejected an African-born refugee's lawsuit seeking to overturn the government's refusal to grant him Japanese nationality.
- Judge Okada Yukito found the man lacked Japanese ability at a level that poses "no hindrance to daily life," a practical standard authorities use even though the law sets no language test.
- The plaintiff said he met the law’s listed conditions and cited the Refugee Convention, arguing the denials were unlawful and left him unable to travel easily, open bank accounts, or pursue work at international bodies.
- The government said naturalization approvals fall within very broad executive discretion and the court backed that view, saying the state is not constrained by the convention when applying it.
- The decision follows an April shift in Justice Ministry practice that raised the de facto residency expectation for naturalization to in principle 10 years, signaling tighter screening.