ABSTRACT
Yumi Lee expresses the basic reasons why most, but far from all, of the Korean community has always been unwilling to naturalize under the conditions demanded by Japan. Japan committed indescribable brutality and sordid acts including massacre, plunder, and rape during Second World War against Asians. What is more, they do not take responsibility for what they did; they act overbearingly. Lee believes the Naturalization Law of Japan is a denial of humanity. Unlike other countries, Japan does not separate race and nationality. Although the requirement for a Japanese style name has now been deleted, it remained a requirement that the name intended after naturalization be submitted with the original application. This amounts to informal pressure to adopt a Japanese name. The 1984 revision of the Nationality Law has abolished fingerprinting and introduced sex equality. Motives for naturalization can vary widely, but perhaps the most widely mentioned motive is concern for one’s children’s future.
