International marriage (Japan)

This article is about marriage between a Japanese and a non-Japanese in accordance with the formalities provided by the law of Japan or of a foreign land. Procedures and rules mentioned in this article are mainly those of Japan, but in some cases other requirements are imposed by the homeland of the non-Japanese spouse, or by the foreign land where the concerned couple marry.

In General

The legality of a marriage for each spouse is determined by the homeland law of the spouse.[1]

History

Marriage between a Japanese national and a non-Japanese person was first officially permitted by act of law on March 14, 1873[2] (6th year of the Meiji Period). This day is informally known as International Marriage Day (国際結婚の日) and coincides with the modern White Day.

Entering law before the former Meiji Constitution (1889) and the former Nationality Law (1899), international marriage at the time required both a permit and surrender of recognised social standing (分限).

Homeland law

According to an Act of Japan on general rules,[1]

Required translation

Each paper, document mentioned in this article as required by Japan, if not written in Japanese, needs to be accompanied with translation into Japanese; one of the concerned persons can themself be the translator; their name must accompany the translation.[3]

Legal documents

When a Japanese and a non-Japanese are intending to marry [3]

Japanese regulations

Notification

If a couple including a Japanese citizen marry in Japan, the marriage is to be in accordance with Japanese law.[1] Thus Japan requires notification of the marriage.[3][4][5] Japan's diplomatic establishments abroad can not legally accept a notification of a marriage of this type.[3]

Competence certification as to the concerned non-Japanese

Japan requires competence certification as to the concerned non-Japanese, as a paper in principle, to be submitted;[3] if the homeland (state / nation) is one which doesn't issue this certification,[3]

Family register

The fact the Japanese got married with the non-Japanese is to be recorded in a family register with the concerned Japanese written at its head; if the Japanese is one not written at the head, a new family register for the concerned couple is to be created.[3][4]

Family name

While a rule of Japan for the common surname (i.e. family name) is not applied to the couple, the concerned Japanese can change his or her surname to that of the concerned non-Japanese spouse by filing notification as such. This notification, if not within 6 months of the day the marriage became effective, needs permission in advance from a family court.[3][6]

International marriage in accordance with the formality of a foreign land

This section is about marriage between a Japanese and a non-Japanese in accordance with the formality of a foreign land (state / nation).

Competence certification as to the concerned Japanese

If competence certification as to the concerned Japanese is required, the Japanese can request this certification as a paper

this certification paper is called "Kon'in-Yōken Gubi Shōmeisho" (婚姻要件具備証明書?) in Japanese.[3]

Certification as to the marriage

By a delivery of an authorized copy of certification as to the marriage issued by the foreign land (state / nation), the marriage is regarded under law of Japan as one in accordance with the formality of the foreign land.[3]

Notification

Japan requires the authorized copy of certification as to the marriage

within 3 months of the day the marriage got effective; when the authorized copy of certification is legally accepted, the fact the Japanese got married with the non-Japanese is to be recorded in the family register of the concerned Japanese.[3]'

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Act on general rules for application of law (法の適用に関する通則法) (Act No.78 of 2006): Chapter 3: Sections 5 and 7. The last effective revision was enforced on 1 January 2007.
  2. ↑ http://www.bunzo.jp/archives/entry/000595.html
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 法務省民事局. "国際結婚，海外での出生等に関する戸籍Ｑ＆Ａ". the site of the Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  4. 1 2 Family register act (戸籍法 Kosekihō) (Act No.224 of 1947): Articles 6, 16, 74. The last effective revision was enforced on 1 October 2007.
  5. ↑ Civil Code (民法 Minpō) (Act No.89 of 1896): Part IV: Chapter 2. The last effective revision was enforced on 1 January 2007.
  6. ↑ Ito, Masami, "Marriage ever-changing institution", Japan Times, November 3, 2009.
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